City Cast Philly logo
March 30, 2026

How Philly is Cleaning One of its Most Hazardous Sites

City Cast Philly

How Philly is Cleaning One of its Most Hazardous Sites

00:00:00
View all City Cast Philly episodes

For residents of Port Richmond in the Northeast, the Franklin Slag Pile is a familiar sight. It's a huge black mound at the corner of Castor and Delaware Avenues, covered in a tarp, fenced off behind chain link. The pile may not look like much, but the Environmental Protection Agency has deemed it one of the most hazardous sites in Philadelphia. Now, more than 20 years after declaring the Franklin Slag Pile a Superfund site, the EPA says it's going to start cleanup in the coming months. Reporter Jordan Gass-Poore joins senior producer Abby Fritz to talk about why this effort has taken so long and how climate change is making toxic sites in Philadelphia even more dangerous.

Read Jordan’s full report about the Franklin Slag Pile here

Our newsletter has Philly news & events in your inbox every weekday morning.

Call or text us: 215-259-8170

Instagram: @citycastphilly

Support our show and get great perks as a City Cast Philly Neighbor: membership.citycast.fm

Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Hey Philly

Stay connected to City Cast Philly and get ready to join the local conversation.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Latest Episodes

See all
August 3

Stop Complaining About Your Neighborhood: Make Change at These Organizations

What do you do when you want your voice heard on great ideas you have to support your neighborhood? Let's say you want to organize a bloc...

City Cast Philly podcast episode art
August 2

‘Your City Could Be Better’: How One City Beat Restrictive Zoning — Presented By City Cast Philly

Do you know how zoning laws affect Philly’s housing costs? New Haven, CT, has been governed for years by restrictive zoning that made it...

City Cast Philly podcast episode art
July 31

Is Philly Really the Most Walkable City?

For the fourth year in a row, Philadelphia has been crowned the nation's most walkable city. Yet for most locals, walking to work or even...

City Cast Philly podcast episode art
July 30

Your Guide to August 2026 in Philly

While some Philadelphians are still down the shore this summer, there’s plenty of fun events happening in the city in August. We recommen...

City Cast Philly podcast episode art
July 29

How Your ZIP Code Determines 311 Response Times

Missed trash pick-up, abandoned car, fallen tree, and a pothole — what do these all have in common? You call 311 if you want the city to...

City Cast Philly podcast episode art
July 28

LeBron James Hype, Social Media Credibility & Keeping Cabs in Philly

Ever since LeBron James announced he’s going to wear the red, white, and blue Philadelphia 76ers uniform, the Philly and regional impact...

City Cast Philly podcast episode art
July 27

Mayor Parker Talks 250th Outcomes, New City Program & Legacy Work

Summer 2026 has been a historic summer for the city. Reports show 1.4 million people poured into Philly this summer to attend FIFA World...

City Cast Philly podcast episode art
July 26

‘Your City Could Be Better’: The Trick to Getting People To Volunteer — Presented By City Cast Philly

It’s not a given that every Philadelphian will chip in to help their community. In this episode, City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with wri...

City Cast Philly podcast episode art
July 24

FBI Excavates Olney Home, Voter Registration Help & Dating Tips

Philly needs help voting and dating! So host Trenae Nuri and senior producer Abby Fritz are discussing the city’s summer voter outreach s...

City Cast Philly podcast episode art
July 23

Is Philly A Good City For Renters?

May through September is peak moving season in Philly. So, before you lug boxes and furniture into a moving truck, look over contracts an...

City Cast Philly podcast episode art