Pioneer Metal Finishing Inc. sits at 2034 Coles Mill Road in Franklinville, Gloucester County, New Jersey. The facility ran as an electroplating operation starting in the late 1950s. For roughly two decades, it discharged untreated waste into an unlined trench connected to an adjacent wetland. Treatment systems came online in the mid-to-late 1970s, and by 1981 a closed-loop system ended all effluent discharge. Electroplating stopped around 2005, and the site has since been used for powder coating. EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List in September 2021.
The contamination covers soil, sediment, and wetlands near the facility. Key contaminants include chromium, copper, nickel, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Levels exceed what is considered safe for human health and wildlife. The affected wetland connects to Scotland Run, a stream that feeds additional wetlands and Timothy Lake about one mile away. Timothy Lake is used for swimming, boating, and fishing.
EPA conducted a removal action between August 2018 and August 2019, taking out over 100 tons of hazardous waste and cyanide-contaminated debris, including roughly 20,000 gallons of liquid waste. Additional removal work is planned, with EPA oversight scheduled from September 3 through September 10, 2025, followed by another EPA-led removal phase estimated to run from September 2025 through November 2026. A Remedial Investigation began in July 2021 and is ongoing. It is being conducted alongside a Feasibility Study to identify cleanup methods for the entire site. No remedy has been selected yet, and physical construction of the cleanup has not begun.
Current data is not sufficient to confirm whether human exposure pathways are under control or whether contaminated groundwater migration has stabilized. Cleanup goals have not been fully achieved, and required land-use controls may not yet be in place. One business currently operates on the property, employing nine people and generating about $830,000 in annual sales.
Community members can stay informed by contacting EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator. EPA developed a Community Involvement Plan in April 2023 to help the public follow decision-making during cleanup. Residents can also contact the Remedial Project Manager with questions about the technical side of the cleanup.
