Route 940 Drum Dump

Overview

The Route 940 Drum Dump is a 2.5-acre property in Pocono Summit, Monroe County, Pennsylvania. During the 1970s, up to 600 drums of unknown materials were stored there. By early 1983, state officials found that some drums had been buried on site and detected volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals in soil and groundwater. About 4,200 people relied on private and small public wells within three miles of the site, putting their drinking water at risk. Residents also faced potential harm through direct contact with contaminated soil and air exposure.

The site contains more than 60 contaminants spread across soil, groundwater, and surface water. Soil holds pesticides such as chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endosulfan, and heptachlor, along with VOCs including trichloroethane, toluene, and xylene, and metals such as arsenic, beryllium, and lead. Groundwater contains trichloroethane, trichloroethene, dichloroethane, toluene, xylene, and metals including arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, and manganese. Surface water shows contamination from delta-hexachlorocyclohexane.

Cleanup started in 1983 under state supervision. Landmark International removed 100 drums and stockpiled contaminated soils. From 1983 to 1984, EPA removed buried containers, broken containers, full bottles, and non-hazardous waste drums, disposing of them in an approved landfill. In 1988, the stockpiled soil was shredded and neutralized. EPA completed its site investigation in 1992 and determined no further cleanup actions were needed. The selected remedy for Operable Unit 1 is No Further Action Monitoring, meaning ongoing monitoring but no additional remediation. Construction was completed in September 1992, and the site was deleted from the National Priorities List in November 2000.

The site is in strong shape today. EPA has determined that human exposure is under control, with no unacceptable exposure pathways and the site safe for current use. Contaminated groundwater is stabilized in its original area. The site achieved ready-for-reuse status in June 2006, and as of December 2024, one business operates on site, employing five people and generating roughly $905,000 in annual sales. EPA continues monitoring to confirm contaminated groundwater stays contained.

Community members with questions can contact EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or the site's Remedial Project Manager directly. The EPA's Superfund Community Involvement Program also offers ways for residents to stay engaged as monitoring continues.