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EPA Announces $7.5 Million Plan to Strengthen Cleanup System at Carlstadt Superfund Site

Release Date: 09/23/2002
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(#02100) NEW YORK, N.Y. - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a $7.5 million plan to treat and safely contain contaminated sludge and soil at a vacant, six-acre federal Superfund hazardous waste site on Paterson Plank Road in Carlstadt. The Scientific Chemical Processing (SCP) site once housed an industrial waste handling, treatment and disposal operation, which contaminated on-site soil and local ground water with a mix of chemicals, heavy metals and pesticides. The EPA plan will strengthen an existing, interim system established to prevent exposure to and the spread of site contaminants. “These improvements will provide a higher level of safety and a more permanent means of protection for the community,” said EPA Regional Administrator Jane M. Kenny. EPA supervised remedial actions already taken at the site, which included the removal of tanks and drums containing hazardous wastes, installation of a dewatering system and construction of an interim site cap and underground barrier wall. These actions were funded privately by potentially responsible parties as a result of an EPA Superfund enforcement order, according to Regional Administrator Kenny. Under the steps announced today, contaminated sludge on the site will be treated using air stripping - a forced air system that removes contaminants from soil. The material will then be solidified and stabilized to prevent movement off-site. In addition, an improved and more permanent cap to cover the site will be installed to conform with stringent federal requirements. Contaminated shallow ground water will be collected for off-site disposal, and the underground barrier around the site will be strengthened, if necessary, to ensure that any escape of contamination continues to be prevented. “Long-term monitoring procedures will allow us to measure the continued effectiveness of the cleanup system,” said Kenny. At the same time, EPA is overseeing the responsible parties’ expanded investigation of ground water contamination related to the Superfund site, which may be more extensive than previously believed. The contamination is not impacting any drinking water supplies in the area. The State of New Jersey shut down the Scientific Chemical Processing site in 1980. EPA placed it on the National Priorities List (NPL) of hazardous waste sites in 1983. The interim remedy has been in place since 1992.