Schuylkill Metals Corp.

Overview

Schuylkill Metals Corp. is a 17.4-acre former battery recycling facility in Plant City, Florida. It operated from 1972 to 1986 and was placed on the EPA's National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983 after waste disposal practices contaminated the soil, sediment, surface water, and groundwater. The site has since been fully cleaned up and was deleted from the NPL in August 2001.

Contaminants of concern include antimony, cadmium, chromium, lead, and sodium. Lead is present in sediment, soil, and groundwater. Antimony is found in groundwater and soil. Chromium and sodium appear in groundwater. Cadmium is found in soil. Early investigations found lead and chromium in groundwater above Florida's primary drinking water standards, and surface soil and sediment posed risks to people and wildlife in the area.

Cleanup work began in June 1992 under a plan EPA finalized in 1990. The potentially responsible parties excavated over 266,000 tons of contaminated soil and sediment, consolidated and stabilized it into a covered, vegetated monolith, and ran a groundwater pump-and-treat system from 1994 to 1996 that processed 15 to 18 million gallons of wastewater. By September 1998, all construction was complete and 11 acres of wetlands had been restored as wildlife habitat. The potentially responsible party continues to fund monitoring and reimburse EPA for oversight costs.

Today, the entire site is fenced and secured. A restrictive covenant limits use of the on-site monolith, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection enforces institutional controls protecting the restored wetlands. Area residents and businesses use the public water supply, not on-site groundwater. The Southwest Florida Water Management District requires its approval for any new wells in the area. EPA's most recent Five-Year Review, completed in August 2021, found that the cleanup continues to protect human health and the environment. The next review is expected between August and October 2026.

Community members can follow site updates through EPA public notices and meetings. Site documents are available at the Bruton Memorial Library at 302 West McLendon Street in Plant City, Florida. For questions, contact EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.