Background

The borough of Marcus Hook is situated along the Delaware River in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The area has a long history of manufacturing and industry, including the American Viscose Coroporation and the Sun Oil Refinery, both of which are now closed. Marcus Hook is currently home to multiple industrial facilities including the Marcus Hook Terminal, which is a petrochemical processing and storage plant, and Braskem, a chemical manufacturing plant. Just down the road in Trainer Borough, the Monroe Refinery processes jet fuel from crude oil. All of these industrial facilities are located next to residential neighborhoods, schools, daycare centers, and playgrounnds.

In 2019 a group of neighbors from Marcus Hook, Trainer, Linwood, and Upper Chichester started coming together to talk about their concerns. Air pollution seemed to be getting worse with the expansion of local facilities and folks were reporting more health issues. Marcus Hook Area Neighbors for Public Health was formed in 2020 to address residents concerns.

Since then the group has grown to include hundreds of residents as well as community leaders, local organizations, and even some elected officials. MHANPH has worked to raise awareness about the connections between pollution and health impacts, while also teaching residents how to take action such as reporting leaks and spills, and speaking up for the right to clean air, pure water, and a healthy environment. Current projects include local air monitoring, creek cleanups, park revitilzations & organizing to support residents submitting public comments on permit applications.