Superfund Sites in Reuse in New Jersey
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American Cyanamid Co.
American Cyanamid Co.The American Cyanamid Co. Superfund site in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey housed numerous chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturing operations for over 80 years. Improper waste storage and disposal contaminated surrounding soil and groundwater. In 1983, EPA added the 575-acre site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL). In 1996, EPA selected a remedy for the 140-acre portion of the site known as the Hill Property, which called for no further action with groundwater monitoring. After ensuring that the property posed no current or future risks to human health and the environment, EPA deleted this portion of the site from the NPL in December 1998. EPA, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and local community members worked together to pave the way for the construction of the Bridgewater Promenade. This multi-use commercial complex provides retail, hotel and office space. A 6,300-seat minor league baseball stadium also opened on the property in 1999.
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Asbestos Dump
Asbestos DumpThe Asbestos Dump Superfund site consists of an 11-acre property in Millington, New Jersey and three separate satellite sites: 1) the 12-acre White Bridge Road site, 2) the 30-acre New Vernon Road site, and 3) the 7-acre Dietzman Tract site within the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge (GSNWR). From 1927 until 1975, an asbestos products manufacturing plant operated at the Millington site, and owners disposed of asbestos waste materials at the four site locations. EPA added the entire site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. To clean up the Dietzman Tract, owned by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), DOI removed piles of asbestos, buried drums and lead-contaminated soils. DOI solidified and stabilized asbestos-containing materials in the ground and covered the area with a soil cap. To ensure long-term protection, DOI regularly inspects the cap and monitors groundwater, surface water and sediments. EPA removed the White Bridge Road site from the NPL in 2002, and removed the remaining sites from the NPL in 2010. A residential property and horse farm are now located on the White Bridge Road site. In 2002, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acquired a 25-acre portion of the New Vernon Road site, which is now part of the GSNWR. Four large commercial buildings, currently used for business offices, are now located at the Millington property.
For more information:
- Redevelopment of the Asbestos Dump Superfund Site (PDF)(1 pg, 309 K, About PDF)
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Bog Creek Farm
Bog Creek FarmThe Bog Creek Farm Superfund site covers a 4-acre area on a 12-acre former farm in Howell Township, New Jersey. Between 1973 and 1974, the property owner dumped toxic material on the property, which contaminated the groundwater, sediment and soil. Site investigations in the early 1980s found volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in on-site groundwater and surface water; VOCs, phthalates, and pesticides in site sediments; and VOCs, pesticides and heavy metals in site soil. EPA placed the site on the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. In 1984, the site owner removed contaminated materials and, in 1989 and 1990, EPA removed and burned contaminated materials from the soil and capped and reseeded the cleaned up area. To clean the groundwater, EPA constructed a slurry wall and installed a groundwater treatment system that operated for ten years. In 2004 and 2005, EPA removed and disposed of more contaminated soil. In 2011, EPA installed a small, automated treatment plant to address ongoing groundwater contamination. A 181-acre tract of land covered with wetlands sits next to the site. EPA determined that this 181-acre acre, originally part of the site, did not endanger human health of the envrionment. After receiving this property as a donation, Howell Township worked to develop portions as athletic fields. EPA worked closely with the Township to complete soil removal efforts and demolition work on this area so it would be ready to redevelop as athletic fields for a public park.
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Brick Township Landfill
Brick Township LandfillThe 42-acre Brick Township Landfill Superfund site in Brick Township, New Jersey operated for more than 30 years, accepting sewage, solids, bulk liquids and other wastes. Brick Township acquired the property in 1973 and continued operations until the landfill closed in 1979. Years of dumping resulted in contaminated groundwater, sediment and soil. Residential areas and new development surround the site. About 58,000 people live within three miles of the site, and groundwater is the source of public and private drinking supplies for many. Restrictions are in place to prevent use of public or private wells that are within the area of contaminated groundwater. EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. After site investigations, EPA selected a final remedy in 2008. Brick Township initiated design and cleanup activities in 2009. In 2011, the Township entered into an agreement with Standard Alternative, LLC, to allow the company to lease the site property to install a field of solar panels. The field contains over 28,000 panels and produces 7.8 megawatt-hours of electricity per year. The solar array will save Brick Township about $13 million in municipal energy costs over 15 years.
For more information:
- Brick Township Goes Solar: Redevelopment of a Superfund Site (PDF)(14 pp, 6 MB, About PDF)
- Press Release: Former Brick Township Superfund Site Gets Remake as Solar Power Farm; Panels Provide Energy to Government Building, Local Parks
- News Article: ‘A Shining Example:’ EPA Lauds Brick For Landfill-Turned-Solar FieldExit
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Brook Industrial Park
The 4.5-acre Brook Industrial Park Superfund site is located on the northern bank of the Raritan River in the Borough of Bound Brook, New Jersey. The site included three buildings: the Stirling Center, the Blue Spruce International building and the National Metal Finishings Corporation building. Beginning in 1971, several companies used the site for industrial, chemical, and pesticide production and storage operations. Between 1980 and 1988, investigations found leaking drums and illegal waste discharges at the site. Contaminants also discharged into the Raritan River. Industrial operations contaminated soil, groundwater and surface water. EPA placed the site on the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1989. Beginning in 1994, EPA demolished and disposed of contaminated materials and soils, and installed a groundwater treatment system and a long-term monitoring plan. Today, Jame Fine Chemicals, Inc. (JFC) and National Metal Finishings Corporation operate at the site. EPA’s cleanup allowed the two businesses to continue operating throughout site cleanup activities. JFC operates a pharmaceutical manufacturing operation. National Metal Finishings Corporation performs metal plating processes. The Stirling Center building also contains offices and storage space for various businesses.
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Burnt Fly Bog
The Burnt Fly Bog Superfund site is 60-acres in Marlboro, New Jersey. Oil waste reclamation activities and unlined waste oil lagoons resulted in surface water and soil contamination. EPA placed the site on the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) led the source area clean up. Cleanup included removing wastes and contaminated soil, filling in excavated areas with clean soil, and covering the area with a clay cap and tall grass. EPA addressed the remainder of the site, removing and disposing of contaminated sediment off site. EPA also restored and created additional on-site wetlands. An Islamic cemetery uses part of the site.
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Chemical Leaman Tank Lines, Inc.
The Chemical Leaman Tank Lines, Inc. Superfund site is located near the town of Bridgeport, New Jersey. The 45.5-acre site includes an industrial tanker terminal and open wetlands. In 1961, Chemical Leaman Tank Lines, Inc. began operating a facility to wash and rinse tanker trucks. Company operators emptied wastewater into lagoons around the surrounding wetlands. Liquid sludge that accumulated at the bottom of the lagoons and additional holding tank spills eventually contaminated the groundwater supply. After the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection found contamination in wells of neighboring properties, EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1984. Cleanup activities address contaminated groundwater, soils and the wetlands that surround the site. From 1987 to 1995, EPA connected neighboring residential homes to the public water supply, eliminating risks to human health from contaminated groundwater. A groundwater extraction, treatment, and reinjection system continues to clean up contaminated groundwater. EPA also restored the wetlands area. Current land use zoning allows for light industrial operations. Quality Distribution, Inc. continues operating a tank rinsing facility on the Chemical Leaman Tank Lines, Inc. site.
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Chemsol, Inc.
The 40-acre Chemsol, Inc. Superfund site is located in Piscataway, New Jersey. From the 1950s through 1964, Chemsol, Inc. operated a chemical solvent processing facility on site. Workers blended, mixed and separated liquid solvents and various flammable materials. Several recorded accidents occurred on site, including fires and explosions. In 1964, a chemical gas release forced an emergency evacuation of nearby residents. After the incident, the Township of Piscataway ordered Chemsol, Inc. to shut down. EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) directed the new owner of the site, Tang Realty, to investigate the soil and groundwater contamination. Tang Realty installed 40 monitoring wells and then removed contaminated soils in 1988. By 1994, EPA completed construction of a groundwater treatment plant. In 2011, agencies decided to double the capacity of the treatment plant to expedite the cleanup. Cleanup activities included full restoration of wetland areas disturbed during soil removal activities. The wetland areas now provide green space for Piscataway.
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Cooper Road
Cleanup of the Cooper Road Superfund site allowed for the site’s reuse as part of an expanding residential development in Voorhees Township, New Jersey. In 1982, local authorities found several dozen vials containing hazardous liquids at the site; some vials had broken, leaking liquids into soil on site. In 1984, EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL). The State of New Jersey oversaw cleanup activities, including removal of about 200 cubic yards of contaminated soil and other materials and disposal of the soil and materials off site. Residential developments within the site area receive drinking water from the public water supply. Following cleanup, EPA confirmed that no contamination remained on site and deleted the site from the NPL in 1989. Today, the site is part of a residential housing development.
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Cornell Dubilier Electronics, Inc.
An electronics parts manufacturing company started operating at the Cornell Dubilier Electronics Inc. Superfund site in Middlesex, New Jersey, in 1936. Common operations included handling transformer oils. Workers disposed of contaminated materials onto site soils. Cornell Dubilier Electronics ended operations in 1962. Afterwards, the property became the Hamilton Industrial Park. EPA investigated the site in the mid-1990s. Investigations found contamination in soils, buildings and groundwater, as well as in nearby Bound Brook. EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1998. EPA’s first phase of cleanup activities included cleanups at residential, commercial and municipal properties near the former Cornell Dubilier Electronics facility. In 2006, facility cleanup began. EPA relocated the commercial tenants of Hamilton Industrial Park. Cleanup activities at the former facility started with building demolition. EPA then excavated, treated or properly disposed of contaminated soil. Lastly, EPA capped the property. In 2009, the site received $30 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds. This helped speed cleanup of remaining soil and debris. The Borough of South Plainfield has identified the former CDE facility as a redevelopment area. While EPA continues to address other portions of the site, EPA completed cleanup of the former facility property in 2012.
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CPS/Madison Industries
The 35-acre CPS/Madison Industries Superfund site consists of two neighboring chemical manufacturing facilities in Old Bridge Township, New Jersey. Since 1967, CPS Chemical and Madison Industries produced, processed and stored various chemical substances on site. Substances included fertilizers, pharmaceuticals and lubricants. Site operators improperly handled and disposed of chemicals into the public sewer system. Over time, these actions resulted in contaminated groundwater and sediments in nearby ponds and waterways. EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in September 1983. State and federal agencies required CPS Chemical and Madison Industries to install a groundwater treatment system. The treatment system began operating in 1991 and continues today. The companies also funded a protective modification to the public well water system. Installed in 1994, this makes sure the drinking water supply does not endanger human health. Madison Industries continues operating on the property. Old Bridge Chemical, a related company that processes copper, also operates on site. The companies enforce health and safety measures to protect workers employed in their buildings.
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Curcio Scrap Metal, Inc.
The 1-acre Curcio Scrap Metal, Inc. Superfund site is located in Saddle Brook Township, New Jersey. In 1952 Curcio Scrap Metals, Inc. (CSMI), a scrap metal salvaging and recycling company, began operating on the site. In 1981, CSMI expanded operations to a neighboring lot. The following year, while processing used electrical transformers, operators unknowingly spilled oil and liquid substances onto the ground. After determining the contamination posed a threat to public water supplies, EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in July 1987. CSMI and SECO, the original owners of the electrical transformers, agreed to assist with the site’s cleanup. In 1991, EPA issued a cleanup plan to address contaminated soil, groundwater and surface water. Three years later, EPA testing showed that the cleanup successfully neutralized the contamination. Long-term groundwater monitoring continues. Today, CSMI and the Cirello Iron and Steel Company actively operate on site, collecting and compacting scrap metals. The scrap metal yard contains 10,950 square feet of warehouse and office space.
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Curtis Specialty Papers, Inc.
The Curtis Specialty Papers, Inc. Superfund site is located in a mixed-use area in the Borough of Milford and Alexandria Township in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Surrounding land uses include residential, commercial/industrial, agricultural and recreational uses. The site is a former paper mill located along the Delaware River. The paper mill operated for about 90 years until 2003. The 86-acre paper mill area included buildings, a power plant and a wastewater treatment facility. As a result of poor waste handling and disposal, site soils and groundwater became contaminated. EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 2009. EPA worked with two cooperative potential responsible parties on several early response actions to start cleaning up the site. Cleanup activities includes removal of underground and aboveground storage tanks, disposal of drums containing chemicals, and demolition of several buildings. The parties also removed lead-based paint, asbestos and contaminated upland soil. A creek discharges into the Delaware River at the northern end of the site. Cleanup efforts involved removing contaminated sediments, stabilizing the bank, and restoring the creek with native vegetation. In addition to creek restoration, a former outdoor basin area now serves as revegetated, open habitat space. In 2003, the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office determined that the site is eligible for the National Register of Historic Properties as the Curtis Paper Mill Historical District. As cleanup continues, EPA will continue to work with site stakeholders on safe reuse of the site while preserving the site’s historic significance.
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Denzer & Schafer X-Ray Co.
The 5-acre Denzer & Schafer X-Ray Co. Superfund site is located in the Bayville area of Berkeley Township, New Jersey. From the 1970s until 1991, on-site operations included microfilm processing and the reclamation of silver from microfilm and X-ray negatives. Disposal of materials in the facility’s sanitary septic system and incineration of film contaminated site groundwater with heavy metals and volatile organic compounds. EPA placed the site on the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. The cleanup plan required groundwater and surface water monitoring, and in response to state concerns, EPA performed a removal action at the site in 1996. In the mid-1990s, a local developer demolished the site’s buildings and shipped the debris off site for proper disposal. In 1998, EPA deleted the site from the NPL. Following site demolition, the developer abandoned the property. Today, Berkeley Township uses the site to store road construction materials.
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De Rewal Chemical Co.
The De Rewal Chemical Co. Superfund site occupies about 8 acres in Kingwood Township, New Jersey. From 1970 through 1973, De Rewal Chemical Company stored chemical wastes on site. Several chemical spills in 1973 led to soil contamination, and the company ended operations. EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1984. Since initial cleanup activities began in 1990, EPA has removed 60,000 tons of contaminated soil. EPA installed a groundwater treatment system that treated 50,000 gallons of water per month. During cleanup activities at the site, EPA recovered approximately 3,000 American Indian artifacts. EPA transferred all of the artifacts to Kingwood Township. The Kingwood Township Municipal Building now displays the artifacts for public viewing. The State of New Jersey obtained a conservation easement from the Township in January 2002. The conservation easement includes parts of the site in the Delaware River Greenway and restricts activities that might hinder public use of the open space. In November 2002, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) purchased a portion of the site to conserve as open space. The community uses this space for passive recreational activities, such as dog walking, bird watching and bike riding. EPA completed remedy construction at the site in 2003.
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Diamond Alkali Co.
The Diamond Alkali Superfund site is located in Newark, New Jersey. The site includes the location of a former pesticide manufacturing plant, the surrounding properties at 80 and 120 Lister Avenue, a 17-mile tidal stretch of the Lower Passaic River and Newark Bay. Manufacturing operations occurred at the land part of the site for over 100 years under multiple companies. Many other businesses also relied on the river and the bay for waste disposal during the industrial revolution. Over the years, dioxin, metals, pesticides and other hazardous substances contaminated all three portions of the site. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1984. EPA, in partnership with state and federal agencies, the potentially responsible parties (PRPs) and a community advisory group (CAG), is addressing the site’s cleanup. The CAG includes members of the local community, environmental groups, residents, local businesses and municipalities. Completed cleanup activities include large efforts in 2001, 2012 and 2013. In 2001, land cleanup included the capping of contaminated soil and debris, construction of a slurry wall and floodwall and ground water treatment. Cleanup activities in 2012 and 2013 included removal and disposal of dioxin-contaminated sediments from two areas of the river. Cleanups for the remainder of the river and the bay are still in the planning phases. The cooperative efforts of the government partners, the PRPs and the CAG have supported more than just the site cleanups. These efforts enabled local job creation and the designation of the Passaic River as an Urban Waters Federal Partnership project. As recipients of an EPA Urban Waters grant, Ironbound Community Corporation and the City of Newark worked together on riverfront tours, walkshops, boat tours and educational workshops. They designed these projects to bring locals to the river to learn about its past, present and future. In 2012, the County of Essex and the City of Newark opened the first segment of Newark’s riverfront park with over 12 acres of athletic fields, playgrounds and walking paths. The second segment of Newark’s Riverfront Park opened in August 2013 as part of a riverfront festival. The park provides 4 acres of open space and features a bright orange boardwalk, a floating boat dock, a dancing pavilion, and walking and biking paths. The park also provides outdoor public space to help the community re-establish its connection to the Passaic River.
For more information:
- Redevelopment of the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site (PDF)(1 pg, 367 K, About PDF)
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Fair Lawn Well Field
The Fair Lawn Well Field Superfund site is located in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. The site consists of four municipal wells as part of the Westmoreland Well Field, two of which supply drinking water to the residents of Fair Lawn. In 1982, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) site investigations discovered volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in these supply wells. NJDEP identified two companies located in the Fair Lawn Industrial Park as the main source of groundwater contamination. EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in September 1983. Cleanup activities included the removal of contaminated soil and drums and groundwater monitoring and treatment. After EPA identified a third potentially responsible party (PRP) in the Industrial Park, the three PRPs agreed to install additional monitoring wells and conduct sampling of groundwater and vapors. Following additional investigations, EPA will choose a final cleanup plan to address remaining site contamination. Ongoing treatment of the affected wells provides the public and residents with safe drinking water.
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Federal Creosote
The Federal Creosote Superfund site occupies about 50 acres in a residential and commercial area in Manville, New Jersey. A coal tar wood treatment facility operated on site from 1911 to 1956. After operations ended, a developer purchased the site property and built the Claremont residential neighborhood in the 1960s. This residential area included 137 single-family homes. The remaining 15 acres of the site became the Rustic Mall, a commercial shopping area. EPA’s investigations showed that creosote materials and contaminated soils from the wood treating facility remained at the site prior to redevelopment. EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1999. Site cleanup addressed residential areas, soil contamination at the mall and site-wide groundwater. EPA permanently relocated 24 property owners and demolished 18 homes. This allowed for removal of soil and materials for treatment and off-site disposal. EPA also cleaned up 93 residential properties, while allowing for continued residential use at these properties. A long-term groundwater monitoring program and groundwater use restrictions continue to protect human health and the environment. The site remedy is consistent with the future uses in Manville's Town Center redevelopment plans. To date, a developer has rebuilt 10 of the 18 demolished homes. Future redevelopment will include green space, residential housing and revitalized commercial space on the Rustic Mall portion of the site.
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Glen Ridge Radium Site
The 130-acre Glen Ridge Radium Superfund site is located in Essex County in northeastern New Jersey. The site includes 430 residential and 14 municipal properties. In the early 1900s, radium processors disposed of radium-contaminated waste materials, coal ash and trash at the site. These activities resulted in widespread radioactive soil contamination. In the 1920s, residential developers used contaminated materials to fill in low-lying areas and built many homes on contaminated fill. In a few instances, developers mixed contaminated materials mixed with cement for sidewalks and foundations. In 1983, the State of New Jersey identified a number of homes with high levels of radon gas, radon decay products, and indoor and outdoor gamma radiation. EPA placed the site on the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1985. Cleanup work began in 1990 and included removal and off-site disposal of radium-contaminated soil. Afterwards, workers restored properties. Cleanup work ended in 2004 and EPA deleted the site from the NPL in 2009. The successful cleanup of the site allowed the continued use of several public parks and streets and allowed hundreds of residents to continue living safely in their homes.
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Higgins Disposal
The 37.6-acre Higgins Disposal Superfund site is located in Franklin Township, New Jersey. From the 1950s to 1982, the property owner operated a waste disposal business on the site. The business included the operation of an unpermitted landfill, a waste transfer station and a container storage area. In 1985, testing found volatile organic compounds in area residential wells. In response, the state notified all affected residents to use bottled water or install whole-house water treatment systems. A 1990 investigation identified the waste disposal facility as the source of contamination. EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) that year. Initial cleanup activities included, removing and disposing of contaminated soil and removal of over 23,000 waste containers from the site. By April 1999, affected residents received extensions and connections to the public water supply. On-site treatment of contaminated groundwater has continued since February 2006. Successful cleanup of the site enabled beneficial reuse of the property. Today, the owner’s family maintains a residence, a horse riding facility (Hasty Acres Riding Club) and a truck repair shop on site.
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Higgins Farm
The 75-acre Higgins Farm Superfund site is located in Franklin Township, New Jersey. A waste disposal business operated on Laurel Avenue about 1 mile from the site. According to local residents, the waste disposal operator used Higgins Farm for the disposal of business wastes. During the 1960s, workers also used municipal sludge and penicillin wastes as fertilizers on the farm. In 1985, the Franklin Township Health Department conducted sampling of a nearby residential well and found high levels of chlorobenzene. Further investigations led to the discovery of a drum burial dump at the site, about 40 yards from the contaminated well. State site investigations in 1986 determined that site activities resulted in the contamination of soil and groundwater with volatile organic compounds, pesticides, dioxins and metals. EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1989. Cleanup activities included the closure of affected wells, the connection of affected homes to public water and ongoing groundwater treatment and monitoring. EPA’s cleanup plan enabled the continued use of the site throughout the cleanup process. Today, the Higgins family continues to operate a large portion of the site as a cattle farm.
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Imperial Oil Co., Inc./Champion Chemicals
Imperial Oil Co., Inc./Champion ChemicalsThe 15-acre Imperial Oil Co., Inc./Champion Chemicals Superfund is located in Morganville, New Jersey. Many industrial companies operated at the site, including Imperial Oil Company. Companies produced pesticides and reprocessed waste oil. General operations and waste disposal practices led to contaminated groundwater and soils at the site. EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. EPA and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) immediately removed contaminated soils and buried drums. Cleanup of nearby residential homes and the surrounding wetlands began in 1992. Additional cleanup included installation of an oil extraction and treatment system and a water treatment system. In 2008, EPA demolished remaining buildings and storage tanks. In addition, fencing and well water restrictions reduce potential risks to human health. In 2009, funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) supported further cleanup. This included removal of 185,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and restoring wetlands. Working with NJDEP, EPA created protected wetland areas and two separate wildlife habitats for box turtles. The wetlands now support the local box turtle population as well as other wildlife. About six to eight acres of the site is currently on the market as developable land for residential or commercial use.
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Jackson Township Landfill
Jackson Township LandfillThe 135-acre Jackson Township Landfill Superfund site is located in Jackson Township, New Jersey. The site was originally a titanium ore-mining pit before the Township began using it as a municipal landfill in 1972. The Township used 20 acres of the area to dispose of liquid septic tank and coffee product waste until closing the landfill in 1980. In 1977, after residents complained of poor water quality, tests revealed contamination in the groundwater. As a result, in 1980, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) provided an alternate water supply for residents with contaminated wells. EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. The Township conducted site and well investigations. The results showed that levels of contaminants in the groundwater have been decreasing since the early 1980s. Therefore, EPA selected a long-term monitoring plan to ensure that the site does not pose a threat to the surrounding community. EPA deleted the site from the NPL in September 1995. Air and groundwater monitoring continue at the site. A local Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) chartered club, the Ocean County Modelers club, uses a portion of the property as a flying field.
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Krysowaty Farm
The 1-acre Krysowaty Farm Superfund site in Hillsborough Township, New Jersey operated as a waste disposal area from 1965 until 1970. Site operators dumped, crushed and buried drums of paint and dye wastes at the site along with demolition debris, tires, automobiles, bulk wastes, solvents and waste sludge. In 1979, odors in well water spurred a site investigation, which found contamination in groundwater, soil and debris at the site. EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. Cleanup activities at the site began in 1984. This included removing and disposing of drums and contaminated soil and wastes. The cleanup plan also included filling and covering the site with clean soil and re-seeding areas with new vegetation. Additionally, the Township provided alternate water supplies to nearby residents until they built a permanent alternate water supply. EPA removed the site from the NPL in 1989. A garden center and nursery formerly operated on site, but now a private residence occupies that area.
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Landfill & Development Co.
The Landfill & Development Company Superfund site is a former landfill located in Burlington County, New Jersey. The 200-acre site operated as a sand and gravel pit from the early 1940s until about 1968. The Landfill and Development (L&D) Company began landfilling at the property from 1971 until 1981. Investigations by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) found site-related contamination in the groundwater. EPA listed the site on the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. The L&D Company began cleanup efforts in 2006. Cleanup has included drilling of new wells for affected residents and an ongoing groundwater pump-and-treat system. Burlington County uses parts of the site as a greenway. The Public Service Electric & Gas Company built a solar farm on the site, adapting the array design to protect the cap over landfill wastes. The solar array includes 42,000 panels, producing enough power for 2,000 households.
For more information:
- Redevelopment of the Landfill & Development Co. Superfund Site (PDF)(1 pg, 2.7 MB, About PDF)
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Lightman Drum Company
The Lightman Drum Company Superfund site covers about 15 acres along Route 73 in Winslow Township, Camden County, New Jersey. In 1974, the Lightman Drum Company operated an industrial waste hauling and recycling business. In the late 1980s, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection found contaminated groundwater and soil at the site. EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1999. In 2007, a group of potentially responsible parties removed contaminated soils and a former underground storage tank. To address soil and groundwater contamination on the property, the same group constructed a soil vapor extraction and air sparging system in 2013. The system continues to operate. Downgradient from the Lightman Drum property, groundwater monitoring in continues. Throughout these activities, United Cooperage operated a business for buying and selling drums and barrels. They operate on an uncontaminated portion of the site. Business operations include the storage of drums and tractor-trailers.
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Lipari Landfill
Lipari LandfillFrom 1959 until 1971, the 16-acre Lipari Landfill Superfund site operated as a landfill in Gloucester County, New Jersey. The landfill accepted industrial waste materials and emitted noxious vapors that caught fire on several occasions. After it closed in 1971, the landfill continued to emit chemical odors and fumes, resulting in respiratory problems for some nearby residents. Landfill wastes also contaminated surface water, groundwater, sediment and soil. In response, EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. EPA immediately installed a fence around the landfill and contained the landfill to prevent further contaminant migration. Cleanup activities included treatment of contaminated groundwater and removal and treatment of contaminated sediments from wetland areas. EPA worked to create partnerships among the Borough of Pitman, affected communities surrounding the site, the State of New Jersey and the potentially responsible party (PRP). The partnership enabled cleanup to proceed in a manner compatible with the local community’s redevelopment plans. EPA and the PRP cleaned up Alcyon Lake, a formerly contaminated area, and returned it to its former beauty. The lake reopened to the public in 1995. The community restored an adjacent racetrack property formerly used by EPA to manage the contaminated lake and marsh sediments during cleanup of Alcyon Lake. The property is now part of Alycon Park and features baseball fields, softball fields, a football field, two tournament-sized soccer fields, a picnic pavilion, bike path, concession stand, wildflower meadow, open play area, a nature trail, a paved and lighted parking lot and restored streams and marshes. Today, Alcyon Lake and Alcyon Park offer a safe recreational area for Pitman residents.
For more information:
- Redevelopment of the Lipari Landfill Superfund Site (PDF)(1 pg, 119 K, About PDF)
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Matteo & Sons, Inc.
The 80-acre Matteo & Sons, Inc. Superfund site is located in Thorofare, New Jersey. The Matteo family acquired the property in 1947 and operated a landfill on site until 1984. Current site uses include a junkyard and a metals recycling facility. Past site activities included lead recovery from batteries, disposal of crushed batteries in nearby wetlands and the burning of battery casings. Site operators also disposed of drums and barrels containing industrial waste. In 1997, an investigation showed that site activities resulted in soil contamination. EPA placed the site on the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 2006. Initial cleanup activities included removal of contaminated soil. EPA also installed a fence to restrict site access. After further study, EPA will select a final cleanup plan. EPA and the site owner are working together to allow the continued operation of the on-site junkyard and metals recycling facility.
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Maywood Chemical Co.
The Maywood Chemical Co. Superfund site includes portions of the Boroughs of Maywood, Lodi and Rochelle Park, New Jersey. The original 63-acre Maywood Chemical Works began manufacturing a wide variety of chemical additives and products in 1895, including radioactive thorium from 1916 through 1955. Site disposal activities allowed contaminants in fill material to spread via stream runoff. This resulted in soil and groundwater contamination. EPA placed the site on the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. EPA selected a cleanup plan to address radiological site contamination and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducts radioactive soil cleanup work. Ongoing cleanup activities include removal and disposal of contaminated materials and restrictions on land use. The potentially responsible party will address non-radiological contamination at the site. EPA’s cleanup process has allowed the continued use of the site throughout investigation and cleanup efforts. The continued use of the site provides the community with valuable public services and amenities. Today, the Stepan Company manufactures specialty chemicals on 19 acres of the site. Additional site uses include 60 residential properties and 33 commercial or government properties. Local government land uses on site include three parks and a fire station.
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Montclair/West Orange Radium Site
The 120-acre Montclair/West Orange Radium Superfund site is located in Essex County, New Jersey. The site area included 469 residential and 10 municipal properties. In the early 1900s, radium processors disposed of waste materials on undeveloped land at the site. These activities resulted in widespread radioactive soil contamination. In the 1920s, residential developers used contaminated materials to fill in low-lying areas and they built many homes on the contaminated fill. In a few instances, developers mixed contaminated materials into cement for sidewalks and foundations. In 1983, the State of New Jersey identified a number of homes on the site with high levels of radon, as well as indoor and outdoor gamma radiation. EPA placed the site on the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1985. Cleanup activities that began in 1990 included removal and disposal of radium-contaminated soil. Afterwards, workers restored properties. Cleanup work ended in 2004 and EPA deleted the site from the NPL in 2009. The successful cleanup of the site allowed the continued use of several municipal parks and streets and allowed hundreds of residents to remain in their homes.
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Myers Property
The 5-acre Myers Property Superfund site is located in Franklin Township, New Jersey. Since the 1920s, numerous companies manufactured chemicals and pesticides on the property. Site activities resulted in the contamination of soil and groundwater with volatile organic compounds and pesticides. EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. Early cleanup activities included the removal of contaminated soil, drums and debris and placing a fence around contaminated areas. Additional cleanup activities included removing contaminated soil, treating and monitoring groundwater and cleaning up contaminated buildings. The successful cleanup of the site enabled the beneficial reuse of part of the property. A privately owned portion of the site is fenced and a state-owned recreational trail that runs through the site is open for public use.
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Pepe Field
E.F. Drew Company used the three-acre Pepe Field Superfund site in Boonton, New Jersey as a landfill for almost 30 years. From the 1920s until 1950, the company disposed of unknown quantities of processing waste from oil and cleaning product manufacturing. The site remained vacant until the Town of Boonton (the Town) purchased the property in the mid-1960s for recreational purposes. The Town covered the site with soil and built recreational amenities. However, because of the biological decay of waste material beneath the field, strong toxic odors affected the site. In 1969, the Town closed the recreational facility for many years. In 1983, EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) and began cleanup activities at the site. These activities included leachate collection and treatment, and stabilization and removal of wastes. Workers also installed a landfill gas collection and treatment system. Groundwater monitoring continues. The cleanup activities included measures to restore the recreational amenities of the park. The on-site recreational facility, restored and reopened in 2000, includes a little league field, walking paths, a playground, a basketball court, gazebo and concession stand. EPA also transferred ownership of an adjacent residential property from the federal government to the Town of Boonton for use in conjunction with the park. In 2003, EPA deleted the site from the NPL. Today, the site, formerly a city eyesore, provides field space for residents of Boonton to enjoy baseball.
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Pijak Farm
The Pijak Farm Superfund site occupies approximately 87 acres in Plumstead Township, New Jersey. From 1963 to 1970, a specialty and research chemicals disposal facility dumped drums and free-flowing liquids into a natural ditch at the site. Operators then covered the ditch with soil. In 1980, state officials and EPA identified contamination in groundwater. The community used groundwater for drinking water, crop irrigation and livestock watering in surrounding agricultural areas. EPA listed the site on the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. Cleanup activities included the removal of waste material and contaminated soil with off-site disposal. Groundwater monitoring showed the success of the cleanup. In 1997, EPA deleted the site from the NPL. EPA’s cleanup allows residents and farmers in the surrounding area to continue living and working safely on site.
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PJP Landfill
PJP LandfillThe 87-acre PJP Landfill site in Jersey City, New Jersey, originally included an area of salt meadows. In 1932, local parties condemned a portion of the site for the construction of the Pulaski Skyway. The PJP Landfill Company operated a commercial landfill at the site, accepting chemical and industrial waste from 1970 to 1974. Subsurface fires, created by spontaneous combustion of subsurface drums and landfill materials, often burned on a 45-acre portion of the site. The fires emitted large amounts of smoke. In 1982, EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) extinguished the subsurface fires and capped the 45-acre area by 1986. Cleanup activities also included excavation and collection of about 1,033,000 cubic yards of contaminated materials. NJDEP installed a gas venting system and then replanted the capped area with grass. In 1995, the site underwent several additional cleanup activities including additional excavations, installation of drainage ditches and gas venting systems, and implementation of a wetlands assessment and restoration plan. In 2008, AMB Corporation (now owned by Prologis) purchased a portion of the site to construct a warehouse facility. Completed in 2014, the warehouse and transfer station now contain several businesses. A small portion of their property near the Hackensack River is a public walkway. In June 2012, Waste Management constructed a landfill cap on a portion of the property. Jersey City now owns this area and the City plans to construct a park and nature center in the future.
For more information:
- Reuse and the Benefit to Community: PJP Landfill Superfund Site (PDF)(11 pp, 2.2 MB)
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Radiation Technology, Inc.
The 263-acre Radiation Technology, Inc. (RTI) Superfund site is located in Rockaway Township, New Jersey. Before 1972, activities at the site included the testing and development of rocket motors and propellants. Since 1972, site operations included radiation sterilization and production of architectural products and hardwood flooring. Operators stored and disposed of waste drums containing solvents and other organic chemicals. These activities resulted in soil and groundwater contamination. EPA placed the site on the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1984. Cleanup involved removing drums and contaminated soil from the site. A responsible party is currently conducting a pilot test for the groundwater remedy. Currently, the majority of the site is not in use. Sterigenics International operates in buildings on a portion of the site. The firm uses radiation to sterilize food, cosmetics and medical devices. EPA’s cleanup plan will enable continued business operations throughout site cleanup.
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Ringwood Mines/Landfill
The Ringwood Mines/Landfill Superfund site is located in Ringwood Borough, New Jersey. The site includes 500 acres of historic iron ore mines. From the 1700s until the early 1900s, mining operations took place at the site. Beginning in the 1960s, Ford Motor Company’s Mahwah facility used the site as a disposal area for paint sludge and other waste. EPA identified widespread contamination in soil and groundwater, prompting EPA to add the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. After completing cleanup activities, EPA deleted the site from the NPL in 1994. After the site’s deletion from the NPL, the discovery of additional contamination at the site, prompted EPA to restore the site to the NPL in 2006. Since 2004, cleanup activities have included removal of additional landfilled paint sludge and contaminated soil from the site. Today, an industrial refuse disposal area, a municipal recycling center, the Ringwood Borough garage, a state park with rugged forest and open vegetated areas and 50 private homes are located on site. Investigation and cleanup activities continue at the site.
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Roebling Steel Co.
Roebling Steel Co.The 200-acre Roebling Steel Co. Superfund site is located next to the Delaware River in Florence Township, New Jersey. Site operators manufactured steel wire and cable products until the 1980s. In later years, various industrial facilities operated on portions of the site. Site operators stored and buried raw materials and waste products around the property. These waste disposal practices contaminated sediment, groundwater and soil. EPA added the site the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in September 1983. Cleanup activities included removing contaminated materials, demolishing buildings and restoration of the shoreline. Funding from a Superfund Redevelopment pilot grant allowed Burlington County to develop a reuse plan for the site. The reuse plan outlined compatible land uses with cleanup activities. The plan identified several community priorities, including new commercial and industrial development as well as historic preservation. New Jersey Transit leased a portion of the site for the construction of a light rail commuter station stop and parking lot in 2005. Restoration of the historic Main Gate House, completed in 2009, transformed the former gateway to the Roebling Mill into part of the Roebling Museum. The museum provides 7,000 square feet of exhibit space documenting the community’s rich social and industrial history. EPA received $27 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds in 2009. This helped support removal of contaminated creek and river sediment and restoration of the impacted wetlands. Creek and river sediment dredging and restoration activities reached completion in 2013. In 2014, EPA completed cleanup of a 34-acre portion of the site formerly used to store slag waste. The Township successfully integrated this area with an adjacent park where there is a playground and basketball courts. EPA collaborated with Florence Township to ensure the cleanup would support future reuse. The new riverfront park contains paved pathways for passive recreational uses and provides water views in historic Roebling.
For more information:
- Redevelopment of the Roebling Steel Co. Superfund Site (PDF) (1 pg, 477 K, About PDF)
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Spence Farm
The Spence Farm Superfund site occupies 83 acres in Plumstead Township, New Jersey. From the 1950s to the 1970s, disposal activities including dumping of hazardous wastes in drums and in bulk and free-flowing liquid form took place on 20 acres of wooded and low-lying areas of the site. Improper waste disposal practices resulted in contamination of groundwater, soil and sediment. As a result, EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. Cleanup of the site required the removal of all drums and laboratory wastes as well as removal and off-site disposal of contaminated soil. Remedial workers removed waste material and soil from the site. Groundwater monitoring demonstrated that the cleanup activities had addressed contamination at the site. Therefore, in 1997, EPA deleted the site from the NPL. Today, farming activities continue on site.
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Universal Oil Products (Chemical Division)
Universal Oil Products (Chemical Division)The 75-acre Universal Oil Products (Chemical Division) Superfund site is located in the urban industrial borough of East Rutherford, Bergen County, New Jersey. Beginning in 1932, a chemical laboratory operated on the site. Business operations later expanded to include chemical waste handling. Operators created two wastewater lagoons. Universal Oil Products (UOP) bought the property in 1960, and operations ended in 1979. General operations and waste handling practices resulted in contamination of soils and groundwater. EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. EPA conducted early response actions to address contamination in the lagoons. Next, cleanup efforts focused on the upland portions of the site. After the upland cleanup actions reached completion, it allowed for commercial and industrial redevelopment. Reuse activities in 2005 included construction of a Lowe’s home center, a restaurant and a strip mall with several businesses. In 2008, during investigations for the lagoons, wetlands and waterways, early cleanup actions allowed for extension of the New Jersey Pascack Valley Transit Line. This rail line enables visitors to access the nearby Meadowlands Sports Complex and utilizes a portion of the site property. EPA will continue to work with site stakeholders and interested developers to complete the site’s cleanup and to promote productive and safe reuse.
For more information:
- Reuse and the Benefit to Community: Universal Oil Products Case Study (Chemical Division) (2013) (PDF) (11 pp, 1.2 MB, About PDF)
- Superfund Site Profile Page
Vineland Chemical Co., Inc.
In 1990, the Vineland Chemical Company began operating at a 54-acre property in Vineland, New Jersey. The area would later become the Vineland Chemical Co., Inc. Superfund site. The property includes manufacturing and storage buildings, a laboratory and lagoons. The company produced herbicides and fungicides until 1994. Historic operations created soil and groundwater contamination. Nearby water bodies, including Blackwater Branch, Maurice River and Union Lake, also contained contaminants originating from the facility. EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1984. In 2000, a groundwater treatment system began operating at the site. EPA completed cleanup of source soils at the plant site in 2007. In 2009, EPA received funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Funding supported cleanup activities for the river areas of the site. Activities included channel restoration and cleanup of contaminated sediments. The funds also supported restoration of the wetlands with native vegetation. Today, restoration of the Atlantic White Cedar wetlands around the Blackwater Branch floodplain area is complete.
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Vineland State School
The New Jersey Department of Human Services (NJDHS) runs the Vineland State School in a suburban residential area of Vineland, New Jersey on the 195-acre Vineland State School Superfund site. The property formerly included an unregulated incinerator and landfill area associated with the Vineland State School. Site operators used incineration and landfilling to dispose of hazardous materials. Materials included chemicals, pesticides and transformer oil. The state investigated several spills at the site. During their studies, they identified soil and groundwater contamination. In 1983, EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL). EPA, the state and NJDHS worked together to develop a cleanup plan. This allowed NJDHS to continue to care for its patients without interruption during and after the cleanup. Cleanup activities included removal of contaminated soil and placement of a protective soil cover over a portion of the site. In addition, the facility now receives water from the public water supply. After completing cleanup activities, EPA deleted the site from the NPL. The Vineland State School, now the Elwyn New Jersey campus, continues to provide community-based work and adult day programs, outsourcing solutions to regional businesses and employers, community living programs and other services for adults with disabilities in southern New Jersey.
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Welsbach & General Gas Mantle (Camden Radiation)
The Welsbach & General Gas Mantle (Camden Radiation) Superfund site is located in Camden and Gloucester City, New Jersey. The Welsbach Company and the General Gas Mantle Company produced gas mantles at the site from the late 1890s until 1941. The companies used the radioactive element thorium in the production of the mantles because it helped them glow more brightly when heated. In the early 1990s, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) found elevated levels of gamma radiation at the site and in many residential areas. EPA added the site to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1996. In 1999, EPA selected a cleanup plan. This included massive demolition activities and off-site disposal of the General Gas Mantle facility. Cleanup also involved disposal of contaminated soil and waste materials from residential and industrial properties. In 2009, EPA received funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Funding supported cleanup of areas around the former General Gas Mantle facility in Camden. The South Camden Theatre Company, a not-for-profit theatre located in Camden, along with Heart of Camden, a redevelopment organization, broke ground in 2008 on a new theatre. The new theater spans 4,000 square feet and includes 99 seats. The Waterfront South Theatre, which opened its doors in 2010, creates a space for theatre, music and art in downtown Camden. The South Camden Theatre Company and local high school and elementary school programs use the theatre. The local groups worked with EPA throughout the development and construction of the Waterfront South Theatre. While cleanup continues on some areas of the site, redevelopment contributes to the creation of community assets. Two examples include the successful restoration of two radiologically contaminated recreational properties; the William Flynn Veterans Sports Complex and the Nicholson Road Sports Complex. Restoration of the William Flynn Veterans complex included rebuilding three baseball fields, a football practice field and parking area. Restoration of the Nicholson Road Sports Complex included restoring three girls’ softball fields, a little league baseball field, bathroom facilities, and a concession stand. The community celebrated the reopening of the William Flynn Veterans Complex and the Nicholson Road Complex in 2011 and 2014, respectively. In addition, the former Welsbach property is an active port on the Delaware River that contains buildings for storage and warehousing operations.
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