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EPA Expands Cleanup for Hoboken Superfund Site

Release Date: 08/04/2004
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(#04125) NEW YORK, N.Y. -The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will expand the cleanup at the Grand Street Mercury Superfund site in Hoboken, New Jersey to remove additional contaminated soil discovered during the demolition of the on-site buildings. The Grand Street site, located at 720 and 722-732 Grand Street in Hoboken, consists of a former industrial building that was converted into residential/studio spaces, a townhouse intended for residential conversion, and an adjacent asphalt-covered parking lot. Mercury, believed to be associated with prior manufacturing operations, was found throughout the site in January 1996. "At each stage of the Grand Street cleanup, EPA has taken steps to fully protect area residents," said EPA Regional Administrator Jane M. Kenny. "This latest action will provide additional protections for utility and construction workers at the site." When mercury contamination was discovered, EPA relocated residents living in a building on the site, secured the buildings, sampled, and removed contaminated materials. In September 1997, EPA placed the site on its Superfund National Priority List. EPA's 1997 cleanup plan required permanent relocation of residents, decontamination and demolition of buildings, site sampling and the evaluation of adjacent residential properties. The cleanup plan also called for the excavation and disposal of on-site soils with average concentrations of mercury greater than 23 parts per million. In April 2003, EPA expanded its cleanup to require the excavation of soils from adjacent residential properties where any sample contained mercury greater than 23 parts per million. EPA relocated the residents, and the General Electric Company, the potentially responsible party acting under an EPA Order, demolished the two buildings. After the demolition, however, mercury was found in the underlying soil. While it is unlikely that residents will be exposed to this subsurface soil, utility and construction workers could come into contact with the contamination, and EPA is now further expanding the cleanup to remove this soil. Copies of site-related documents and an explanation of the modified cleanup plan are available for public review at: City of Hoboken Public Library 500 Park Avenue Hoboken, NJ 07030 EPA's New York office 290 Broadway, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10007 Any questions regarding the changes to the cleanup may be addressed to: Remedial Project Manager, Ms. Farnaz Saghafi U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10007-1866; fax (212) 637-4429; telephone (212) 637-4408 or email to saghafi.farnaz@epa.gov