Eastern Diversified Metals operated a copper and aluminum reclamation facility on a 25-acre property in Rush Township, Pennsylvania from 1966 to 1977. The site was added to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in October 1989 after investigations following a 1979 fire revealed widespread contamination. The site has been divided into four operable units (OUs) covering hotspot areas, groundwater, and two phases of the main fluff pile remediation.
Contaminants found at the site include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in groundwater such as benzene, trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, and carbon tetrachloride. Metals including lead, cadmium, copper, and zinc appear in soil, sediment, and waste materials. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, dibenzofurans, and the phthalate compound bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate have also been detected in soil, sediment, and solid waste. Occasional overflows from an on-site water treatment plant carried contaminated runoff into the Little Schuylkill River.
Cleanup work ran from 1993 through 2008 and included excavation and incineration of contaminated materials, installation of runoff collection and treatment systems, capping of a 60-foot contaminated pile, and enhanced collection of shallow groundwater. Native meadow plants were replanted on the cap to support local wildlife. A leachate collection and secondary treatment system was installed in the southwest corner under a Consent Order. Construction was completed in September 2008. The site achieved sitewide ready for anticipated reuse status in January 2012. Institutional controls restrict on-site land use to industrial or commercial purposes and exclude child care and youth recreational facilities. As of December 2024, two businesses were operating at the site.
The most recent Five-Year Review, completed in February 2023, confirmed that cleanup continues to protect human health and the environment. Human exposure pathways are under control, and contaminated groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. Ongoing monitoring continues, and a plant operator works on site two to three days weekly to keep the treatment system running properly. The next Five-Year Review is estimated between February and April 2028. The site has not yet been deleted from the NPL.
Community members can get involved through the EPA's Community Involvement Program, which supports resident engagement during site cleanups. Public records for the site are available online, at Rush Township Municipal Building in Hometown, Pennsylvania, and by appointment at the EPA Region 3 office in Philadelphia. Questions can be directed to the Community Involvement Coordinator or the Remedial Project Manager.
