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EPA Earmarks $78.6 Million in FY'98 For Hazardous Waste Cleanup Work At 11 Federal Superfund Site in New Jersey

Release Date: 10/05/1998
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(#98143) NEW YORK, N.Y. -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that $78.6 million has been committed to hazardous waste cleanups at eleven federal Superfund sites in New Jersey. The money was earmarked during the federal 1998 fiscal year, which runs from October 1, 1997 to September 30, 1998, and is funding the start-up of new cleanups, new phases of site cleanups and the continuation of on-going long-term cleanups. The total includes a state contribution of up to10% for cleanup work at each of the funded sites.

"I am extremely pleased at the success we have had in receiving the funds needed to clean up these sites and in moving them toward cleanup, " said EPA Regional Administrator Jeanne M. Fox. "These funds for the cleanup of New Jersey Superfund sites represents more than 20% of the $400 million that was available for Superfund cleanup work nationally."

In New Jersey, there are now 111 sites on the National Priorities List (NPL). Fourteen Superfund sites have already been deleted from the NPL. Long-term remedies have been completed at 19 sites and actual cleanups are ongoing at 57 of the NPL sites in the state. Study and design activities are underway at the remaining sites.

The Region secured more than $34 million to start new cleanups at six sites in the state. These include a total of $15 million for a new phase of cleanup that involves the excavation, removal and out-of-state disposal of radium-tainted soil from under the streets of Montclair/West Orange ($10 million) and Glen Ridge ($5 million). As previously announced in February, $10 million has been made available for the innovative cleanup of contaminated soil now underway at the Pepe Field Superfund site in Boonton. In a new $2.1 million cleanup, contaminated soils will be removed and disposed of at the Cosden Chemical Coatings Corporation Superfund site in Beverly. EPA has committed $7 million for a new soil cleanup at the Nascolite Corporation Superfund site in the cities of Millville and Vineland. In addition, the agency budgeted $357 thousand for a new soil cleanup at the Brook Industrial Park Superfund site in Bound Brook.

"The annual receipt of federal Superfund dollars is vital to New Jersey's cleanup program, both for publicly funded projects and as important leverage when negotiating responsible party cleanups. New Jersey is a leader in the number of sites cleaned up with federal dollars. We welcome continued federal funding and will proceed efficiently with remediation projects throughout the state," said New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Shinn.

What follows is a breakdown of how the rest of these available funds will be spent to continue on-going work:

At the U.S. Radium Superfund site in Orange, $15 million has been committed for the cleanup of commercial properties and the former company plant property.

Funds totaling $12.2 million have been provided for the purchase of the Grand Street Superfund site property in Hoboken, and the temporary and permanent relocation of the affected residents.

In Glen Ridge, approximately $12 million has been made available to continue the cleanup of radium-contaminated properties in that community.

Almost $2.7 million was used to pay for the permanent relocation of the affected family, buyout of the property and the remaining soil cleanup at the Asbestos Dump Superfund site in Millington.

EPA has committed $1.3 million to the Lang Property Superfund site in Pemberton Township for the operation of an extraction and treatment system for contaminated groundwater.

The Agency has committed $1 million for the operation of an extraction and treatment system for contaminated groundwater at the Bog Creek Superfund site in Howell Township.

Since 1980, when the federal Superfund program began, EPA has reached settlements in New Jersey with potentially responsible parties involved in federal Superfund sites valued at approximately $800 million. The settlements require the responsible parties to clean up toxic waste in New Jersey communities under EPA supervision, and also recover from the responsible party the federal Superfund Trust resources EPA has expended to clean up a site.

For more information contact:
Mary Helen Cervantes-Gross, Press Office
EPA Region 2
290 Broadway
NY, NY 10007-1866
Voice: 212-637-3673 FAX: 212-637-4445 E-Mail: cervantes.mary@epamail.epa.gov