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Final Ground Water Plan for Myers Superfund Site Presented at Public Meeting in Clinton

Release Date: 7/28/2005
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For Release: Thursday, July 28, 2005

(#05086) NEW YORK -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public input on its final cleanup plan for the Myers Property Superfund site in Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. EPA is proposing to continue operation of the ground water extraction and treatment system that has been in operation since 1999.

"Much work has been done to clean up contamination at this site and by continuing to operate this treatment system, EPA is moving toward a final cleanup," said Acting Regional Administrator Kathleen C. Callahan. "I encourage the community to voice their opinions on this final proposed action."

The current system, which addresses both shallow and bedrock ground water contamination, has proved to be effective. Water is currently being pumped from nine extraction wells into a pressurized vessel forcing a stream of air through the ground water, causing pollutants to evaporate. The water is then run through a carbon filter and reinjected into the ground, and the air is treated to remove the pollutants prior to being released. A series of monitoring wells and a number of area residential wells are tested regularly. No site-related contamination has been found in any of the residential
wells.

The seven-acre Myers Property site in rural Franklin Township, Hunterdon County includes approximately two acres of mostly wetland area owned by the state of New Jersey. Cakepoulin Creek, a recreational fishing, trout production stream runs adjacent to the site. Portions of the site were historically used for pesticide and other chemical manufacturing by numerous companies. From 1928 to 1945, several pesticide production companies operated at the site and a chemical company operated there from 1953 to 1959. The site was purchased in 1971 for use as a residence and was sold to the current owner, Arkema, Inc., in 1993. It was included on the Superfund National Priorities List in 1983, and EPA removed contaminated material including soil, drummed waste, asbestos and debris in 1984. Through an agreement entered in 1992, Arkema, Inc. agreed to conduct the remaining work at the site, with EPA review and oversight. After extensive study and evaluations, the company demolished the buildings on the property, removed and disposed of contaminated soil and sediment and began the ground water treatment system. All physical work was completed in Spring 2005.

EPA will explain its proposed cleanup remedy and the alternatives considered at a public meeting on Monday, August 1st at 7:00 p.m. at the Hampton Inn in Clinton, New Jersey. Written and oral comments will be taken at the meeting and throughout the public comment period of July 21st to August 19th, 2005. Copies of site-related documents and the proposed cleanup plan are available for public review at the North County Branch Library, 65 Halstead Street in Clinton; phone: 908-730-6262 and at EPA's New York City office. Written comments can be submitted to Stephanie Vaughn, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10007-1866 or via e-mail at vaughn.stephanie@epa.gov. For more information about this site, please visit the EPA Web site at: https://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/myers_proposal2005.htm.