Copley Square Plaza sits at 2777 and 2799 Copley Road in Copley Township, Ohio. A former dry-cleaning business, also known as Danton Dry Cleaners, released volatile organic compounds into the ground. EPA added the site to its National Priorities List in April 2005. Cleanup work is divided into two operable units: source control (OU 01) and groundwater remediation (OU 02). Physical construction is not yet complete, and the site has not been deleted from the National Priorities List.
Eleven contaminants have been identified at the site. The main one is tetrachloroethene, also called PCE or PERC. Other chlorinated solvents include trichloroethene, vinyl chloride, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride, chloroethane, chloroform, cis-1,2-dichloroethene, and trans-1,2-dichloroethene. These chemicals are present in groundwater, soil, soil gas, and surface water. The main health risks came from drinking contaminated groundwater or inhaling vapors from the shallow aquifer.
EPA has taken several cleanup steps since the mid-1990s. In 1994, water treatment systems were installed in seven homes with contaminated wells. By 2012, 23 homes were connected to the Akron public water supply. Vapor intrusion systems were installed in some homes, and chemicals and microorganisms were injected into shallow, intermediate, and deep aquifer zones to break down contaminants. The shallow aquifer has seen strong results, with PERC and related chemicals reduced by about 92 to 99 percent. During spring and summer 2024, EPA and Ohio EPA continued shallow groundwater cleanup with additional injections. A second remedial action phase began in August 2025. Soil cleanup is complete with no land-use restrictions needed for soil. The state of Ohio took over operation and maintenance responsibilities for source control in September 2023.
EPA has determined that human exposure is currently under control and that groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. Groundwater use is restricted until cleanup reaches federal drinking water standards. Zoning restrictions prevent residential uses inconsistent with current cleanup levels. Residents and businesses are advised to use public water until groundwater cleanup is finished. Institutional controls are planned to be in place by December 2024. Remedial design for the groundwater unit began in March 2018 and is ongoing. The most recent five-year review was completed in February 2026. An Explanation of Significant Differences for source control is estimated between February and April 2027.
Community members can review site records at two locations: the Copley Township Trustees Office at 1540 South Cleveland-Massillon Road in Copley, and the Fairlawn-Bath Public Library at 3101 Smith Road in Akron. The EPA also maintains key documents and administrative records online. For direct questions, two EPA staff members are available by phone and email.
