The Precision National Plating Site is located at 198 Ackerly Road, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, approximately 10 miles north of Scranton, Pennsylvania. The property measures 46 acres, approximately five acres of which were used for site operations and the remainder of which are undeveloped and largely wooded. A 45,000 square foot operations building that was demolished in 2000 was the principal structure on the site. Portions of the concrete slab floor remain and are utilized as a staging area for materials during cleanup.
The site began operation as a chromium electroplating facility for locomotive crankshafts in 1956. This operation continued when Precision bought the facility in 1971. Precision operated an industrial component reconditioning facility on site from 1971 until 1999. Site operations ceased in April 1999.
In September of 2005, EPA approved a Remedial Action Plan, submitted on behalf of Precision National Plating by the Retec Group. The Plan details procedures for use of calcium polysulfide to reduce the hexavalent chromium in the soils and groundwater to trivalent chromium, a less toxic form of chromium, which will precipitate and remain in the soil/bedrock matrix.
In July 2006, Precision injected calcium polysulfide into source areas at the site. The goal of the treatment was to reduce hexavalent chromium levels in soil to below 60 mg/Kg, and hexavalent chromium levels in Ackerly Creek to below 11 ug/L.
In March 2007, Precision began excavation of the basement of the former facility. The purpose of the removal was to mitigate impacts by potentially contaminated soils beneath the basement. Any visually contaminated soil and concrete encountered during the excavation was shipped offsite to an appropriate disposal facility.
Additional site investigation activities were performed in the Fall of 2007 and February/March 2008. The soil boring, rock coring and groundwater sampling activities completed in October 2007 and March 2008 confirmed that residual source contamination remains at the Site in the shallow weathered and competent bedrock (18 - 30 feet below the ground surface).
In August 2008, Precision began using calcium polysulfide in-situ chemical injections to treat these residual areas of contamination in the shallow bedrock. Hexavalent chromium levels dropped in Ackerly Creek due to chemical injection treatments in July 2006, the basement excavation in March 2007, and subsequent injection activities.
Precision and EPA signed an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent on May 3, 2012. On July 30, 2012, Precision's contractor, Arcadis U.S. Inc, submitted a new Response Action Plan, detailing ongoing activities. Multiple rounds of calcium polysulfide injections were conducted beginning in the Fall of 2012 and ending in the Fall of 2020. Residual contamination remains in the rock formations near to Ackerly Creek
Semiannual and/or quarterly sampling events occur to document hexavalent and total chromium levels throughout the site in absence of ongoing injection activities. Injections have been effective at the former site footprint and nearby areas. Some hexavalent chromium continues to persist in isolated areas and further downgradient towards Ackerly Creek.
In 2021, due to the continued attainment of the 11 ppb action level for Ackerly Creek, EPA approved Precision's request to reduce surface water sampling for total chromium and hexavalent chromium from 4x/year to 2x/year. Split sampling continued in January and July. The January 2025 sampling event was completed on January 29, 2025. This will be the final sampling event overseen by EPA.
On December 21, 2024, the PA Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) published a notice in the PA Bulletin inviting comments on a proposed Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act Consent Order and Agreement (CO&A) with Precision to assume oversight of any future remediation activities. The comment period ended on February 19, 2025; however, PA DEP determined that an amendment and reissue of the CO&A with an additional comment period was necessary. The second comment period ended on June 18, 2025, with no significant comments received and the CO&A is now final. PA DEP will assume oversight of the Site, effective immediately. Once Precision submits its Final Report that all obligations have been completed pursuant to the terms of a 2012 Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent for Removal Response Action (ASAOC), EPA will provide Precision with a notice of completion of the ASAOC.
Sampling will continue under PA DEP oversight. Future injection activities are unlikely as the remaining impacted areas are near the creek.
The lagoon treatment system and seep shed treatment system will continue operation. Systems will be maintained monthly including sample collection.
PA DEP will assume all project oversight going forward.
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