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Hazardous Waste Cleanup: ICI Explosives USA Incorporated (Formerly: Expert Management, Incorporated) in Reynolds, Pennsylvania

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Cleanup Status

After prior removals of hazardous wastes and contaminated soils and several groundwater investigations at the former ICI Explosives USA Inc. facility, the final remedy is complete and consists of institutional controls to eliminate exposures to any contamination remaining on-site. These controls require deed notices barring residential or residential-type land uses of the Facility property and prohibiting groundwater use.

The Facility received a release of liability from PADEP through Pennsylvania's Act 2 program for two of the four parcels at this site, in September 1998 and January 2002. The other two parcels did not seek release of liability under Act 2. EPA's Final Decision of Corrective Action Complete with Controls for the Facility became effective September 28, 2007.

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Site Description

Interactive Map of ICI Explosives USA Incorporated in Reynolds, Pennsylvania


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The property has been used for explosives manufacturing since 1907, when the Potts Powder Company started operations to support the commercial coal industry in the region. In 1913 Atlas Powder Company purchased the operations and continued manufacturing. In 1971, ICI Americas, Inc. purchased Atlas Powder Company and sold off most of the manufacturing operations in 1973. These "sold" operations formed a new Atlas Powder Company. ICI Americas repurchased these Atlas Powder Company assets in 1990 and renamed the facility ICI Explosives USA Inc. in 1992. The explosives manufacturing operations ceased in the mid-1990s.

In 2001, ICI Explosives USA Inc. changed its name to E-One Holdings Inc. and divested this property to a new subsidiary, Expert Management Inc. In December 2002, EMI became a wholly owned subsidiary of ICI Americas Inc., and is no longer associated with E-One Holdings Inc. EMI has sold the property.

Two of the parcels are currently owned by Copperhead Chemical Company; one is owned by Bella Terra Farms; and one was transferred to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

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Contaminants at this Facility

Primary contaminants at the Facility included lead, mercury, arsenic in soil and groundwater and trichloroethene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) in groundwater. Facility contaminants have been eliminated by requiring institutional controls that prohibit groundwater use and restrict the Facility property to non-residential purposes.

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Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility

Institutional /Engineering Control Summary
Restrictions or Controls that Address: Yes No
Groundwater Use
X
 
Residential Use
X
 
Excavation
 
X
Vapor Intrusion
 
X
Capped Area(s)
 
X
Other Engineering Controls
 
X
Other Restrictions
 
X
    • Institutional Controls restrict groundwater use to non-potable and non-agriculture uses and also land use to non-residential use for the entire facility.

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    Land Reuse Information at this Facility

    The site is being reused.

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    Site Responsibility at this Facility

    Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action activities at this facility have been conducted under the direction of EPA Region 3.

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