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EPA Adds Crown Vantage Landfill to the Superfund List

Release Date: 04/27/2005
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For Release: Wednesday, April 27, 2005

(#05042) NEW YORK -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the listing of the Crown Vantage Landfill site in Alexandria Township, New Jersey to its National Priorities List (NPL) of the most hazardous waste sites. EPA has done work at the site to address erosion at the landfill caused by flooding.

"EPA has been able to respond quickly to shore up the landfill after heavy rains," said Acting EPA Regional Administrator Kathleen C. Callahan. "This listing sets us on a path to a long term cleanup."

The Crown Vantage Landfill is an inactive, 10-acre industrial landfill located within a flood plain of the Delaware River in Alexandria Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. The site contains ash, sludge, drums, and miscellaneous metal construction debris. EPA inspected the site after it flooded in 2004, and discovered that it had eroded, revealing drums, paper, foil-backed paper, glass, and flyash. Sampling of the waste and surrounding soils indicated elevated levels of semi-volatile organic compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phthalates, polychlorinated biphenyls, and metals.

In November 2004, EPA completed shoring up specific areas of the Crown Vantage Landfill that were severely damaged by flooding. In addition, EPA repaired flood- damaged sections of the fence along the northern and southern edges of the site and placed warning signs along the perimeter. The site recently flooded again, and EPA is assessing the site for damage.

A number of potential threats to people and the environment are posed by the site. People eat potentially contaminated fish caught in the river. In addition, drinking water is drawn from the Delaware River 9.5 miles downstream of the landfill. Federal and state-listed threatened species are also documented within the area.

The Crown Vantage Landfill began operations in the 1930s and continued to be used until the early 1970s. The landfill contains waste materials from an adjacent paper mill, as well as from other mills that operated in the area. These paper mill-related wastes include flyash from coal burning, drums containing press room wastes such as varnish, shellac, methyl ethyl ketone, toluene, inks, and dyes, as well as paper fiber sludge and rolls of paper and aluminum foil-laminated paper. The landfill also contains steel and fiber barrels and pallets; construction and demolition debris such as concrete, duct work, piping, and machinery parts; and household garbage and rubbish including appliances and furniture.

EPA periodically proposes sites to the NPL and, after responding to public comments, designates proposed sites as final. Sites that are designated as final are eligible for funds to conduct long-term cleanups. The addition of this site brings the total number of NPL sites in New Jersey to 113.

The notice of the proposal to list the Crown Vantage Landfill, as well as other site- related information, can be found at https://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/npl/current.htm.