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Recovery Funding for Superfund Cleanups
National Information
Putting people to work to clean up our land and revitalize communities
EPA’s Superfund program has located, analyzed and worked to cleanup thousands of hazardous waste sites since 1980. Today, Region 2 has 214 toxic and hazardous waste sites on the Superfund National Priority List (NPL).
The American Recovery and Investment Act will direct additional dollars to help protect people and the environment from contamination at our worst sites by expediting the pace of cleanup so our land and environment will more quickly be ready to return to productive use.
Funding for site cleanups helps create construction jobs as well as future economic development. It also helps to involve states, Tribes, local communities and other partners in formulating plans for the future use of these once off-limit properties.
Recovery Act Superfund Cleanup Projects Where You Live
EPA has announced new funding through the Recovery Act for the Superfund sites listed below. The money will be used to begin hazardous waste clean-ups at these sites, or to accelerate clean-ups already underway. It will also jumpstart the local economy by creating jobs in these areas.
- Old Roosevelt Field, Garden City, NY
- Lawrence Aviation, Port Jefferson, NY
- Welsbach, Camden & Gloucester City, NJ
- Vineland Chemical, Vineland, NJ
- Roebling Steel, Florence, NJ
- Horseshoe Road, Sayreville, NJ
- Cornell-Dubilier, South Plainfield, NJ
- Imperial Oil, Morganville, NJ
- Price Landfill, Pleasantville & Egg Harbor, NJ
- Emmell’s Landfill, Galloway, NJ
- Monitor Devices, Wall, NJ
Old Roosevelt Field
Site Description
Roosevelt Field and its predecessors were used for aviation activities from 1911 until 1951. The U.S. military began using the Hempstead Plains Field before World War I, and in 1918, the Army changed the name of the airfield to Roosevelt Field. After World War II, the site became a commercial airfield until it closed in the early 1950s and was redeveloped into a large regional mall and office park. Chlorinated solvents, including trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), were disposed at unknown locations on the ground. As a result of these practices, TCE and PCE are the site’s major contaminants, affecting ground water. The site is located primarily in a residential setting.
Cleanup Activities to Date
Since adding the site to the National Priorities List in 2000, EPA has investigated the extent of ground water contamination near and around two municipal water supply well fields. EPA also has completed the design of a ground water extraction and treatment system to control the downgradient migration of groundwater contamination toward the Garden City well field.
Recovery Act Project Activity
EPA will use the estimated $5-10 million in Recovery Act funds allocated to this site to accelerate the cleanup of the contaminated ground water and to protect two municipal well fields that extract water from the site’s sole-source aquifer. EPA anticipates that accelerating the cleanup of the ground water will eliminate the need for treatment of the public water supply in the future. Given the risks associated with chlorinated solvent contamination in groundwater, shortening the cleanup time frame will be protective of the more than 8,000 people who get their drinking water from the public water supply.
To learn more about this site please visit our Old Roosevelt Field Web page. You can see an aerial view of this site if you have Google Earth 
installed on your computer.
EPA has also recently issued a Press Release on this project.
Lawrence Aviation
Site Description
The Lawrence Aviation Industries (LAI) site encompasses approximately 126 acres in Port Jefferson Station, NY. The site property includes an inactive manufacturing complex, which historically produced titanium sheeting for the aeronautics industry. The complex consists of 10 buildings, to the west of which lies an abandoned, unlined, earthen lagoon that received liquid wastes. The site also includes a down-gradient contaminated ground water plume, located north of the LAI building complex, which is primarily a residential area. Residential single-family homes are located east and west of the site. The site’s affected media include site soils, ground water, surface water and down-gradient site sediments.
Cleanup Activities to Date
EPA added the site to the National Priorities List in 2000. Prior to listing, EPA conducted a removal action to provide bottled water and, subsequently, to connect homes with private wells affected by ground water contamination to public water supplies. In 2004, EPA conducted another removal action to un-stack and re-stage approximately 1,300 drums, containers and cylinders containing various flammable solids, acids, bases and unknown compounds. EPA disposed of most of the drums and containers off‑site. In 2005, in a third removal action, EPA transported a 13.5-ton shipment of transformers and capacitors filled with suspected polychlorinated biphenyls liquids off-site for disposal. In 2006, EPA selected the long-term cleanup approach for the site, which calls for soil excavation, ground water treatment and in-situ chemical oxidation. EPA has started the soil excavation part of the cleanup plan and has installed vapor intrusion mitigation systems at four locations.
Recovery Act Project Activity
EPA will use the up to $5 million in Recovery Act funds allocated to this site to implement a portion of the ground water remedy for the site, which consists of an extraction and treatment system and the in-situ chemical oxidation process. These actions, aimed at source control, will prevent the further migration of ground water contaminants beyond the LAI plant site boundary. Over time, the actions also will eliminate further contamination of down-gradient surface waters and sediments in Old Mill Pond and Old Mill Creek in Port Jefferson.
To learn more about this site please visit our Lawrence Aviation Web page. You can see an aerial view of this site if you have Google Earth installed on your computer.
EPA has also recently issued a Press Release on this project.
Welsbach
Site Description
The Welsbach Company and the General Gas Mantle Company were involved in the production of gas mantles from the late 1890s to 1941. In the production process, the manufacturers used thorium to make the mantles glow brighter. In addition to thorium, the waste materials used in the mantle manufacturing process contained another radioactive element, radium. Both thorium and radium give off gamma radiation and radon gas as part of the radioactive decay process. It is believed that waste materials from both Welsbach and General Gas Mantle were used as fill materials in the Camden and Gloucester area. Besides the two gas mantle facilities, four nearby residential areas exhibit elevated levels of gamma radiation.
Cleanup Activities to Date
Since adding the site to the National Priorities List in 1996, EPA’s response actions have included two removal actions to address elevated gamma radiation levels from residential properties and a public park. EPA also has demolished the radiologically contaminated General Gas Mantle building in Camden and has excavated and disposed of approximately 122,000 cubic yards of radiologically contaminated soils from residential properties. In addition, EPA’s excavation and disposal activities have included addressing nearly 18,000 cubic yards of soil on the future site of a Gloucester City middle school.
Recovery Act Project Activity
EPA will use the more than $25 million in Recovery Act funds to clean up the radiologically contaminated soils around the former General Gas Mantle facility in Camden, a designated Brownfields Showcase Community. The EPA believes the cleanup of the General Gas Mantle property will serve as a catalyst for redevelopment of the area.
To learn more about this site please visit our Welsbach Web page. You can see an aerial view of this site if you have Google Earth installed on your computer.
EPA has also recently issued a Press Release on this project.
Vineland Chemical
Site Description
The site of the former Vineland Chemical Company’s operations is in a mixed industrial and residential setting. From 1950 until it abandoned the plant in 1994, the company manufactured arsenic-based herbicides at the site. Because of improper storage and handling of arsenic-based salts, the plant property (54 acres), nearby marsh/wetland sediments, area ground water and sediments of the Blackwater Branch, Maurice River and Union Lake are contaminated; arsenic is the major contaminant of concern.
Cleanup Activities to Date
EPA listed the site on the National Priorities List in 1984 and has been addressing it in two stages -- immediate actions and four long-term cleanup phases. Through these long-term actions, EPA’s efforts are focused on source control, contaminant migration management and the cleanup of marsh/river and lake sediments. To date, EPA has demolished and removed contaminated buildings on the plant site property, and removed and disposed of hazardous chemicals stored/abandoned on the site. EPA also constructed a ground water extraction and treatment system, which has been operating since 2000, to control the off-site migration of ground water contamination. Through use of a state-of-the-art soil washing system, EPA has processed over 400,000 tons of arsenic-contaminated soil/sediments and returned 95 percent of the material to the site as clean backfill. Finally, EPA has completed cleanup of the first of three sections of the Blackwater Branch through a combination of soil washing and off-site disposal.
Recovery Act Project Activity
EPA will use the $10-25 million in Recovery Act funds allocated to this site to speed up the cleanup of the remaining stretches of Blackwater Branch. The associated contaminated sediments are the major remaining source of arsenic contamination to the Maurice River (designated as a scenic river) and Union Lake (the second largest lake in NJ). EPA anticipates that speeding up the cleanup of the Blackwater Branch will reduce the overall cleanup of the site by approximately two years.
To learn more about this site please visit our Vineland Chemical Web page. You can see an aerial view of this site if you have Google Earth installed on your computer.
EPA has also recently issued a Press Release on this project.
Roebling Steel
Site Description
The Roebling Steel Co. site is an inactive steel production facility that was used from 1906 until 1982. Steel production resulted in the generation of significant quantities of waste materials that were disposed of on-site and discharged to Crafts Creek and the Delaware River. Contaminants of concern are inorganics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Residential areas of the Village of Roebling border the site, which is zoned for general manufacturing. Contaminated media include on-site buildings, site-wide surface and subsurface soils, river and creek sediments, and sporadic areas of ground water. The Village of Roebling and Florence Township obtain their potable water from public supply wells located about two miles west of the site.
Cleanup Activities to Date
Since adding to the National Priorities List in 1983, EPA has completed several cleanup actions: the removal of laboratory containers and drums containing corrosive and toxic materials, acid tanks, and compressed gas cylinders; the demolition of 48 on-site buildings, excavation of contaminated soil from portions of the site; and installation of a 3,000-foot shoreline wall to stabilize the slag area. EPA also has cleaned 70 buildings and sources of contamination, including removal of underground chemical lines and seven storm sewer piping and discharge outfalls in the Delaware River and Crafts Creek. In addition, five acres of soil have been capped and the New Jersey Transit River Line Roebling Station stop has been constructed.
Recovery Act Project Activity
EPA will use the more than $25 million in Recovery Act funds allocated to this site to remove approximately 242,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediments from the Back Channel Delaware River and Crafts Creek. The sediments are contaminated with varying degrees of metals, including, lead, copper and zinc, and PAHs. The project will include the following activities: dredging and dewatering contaminated sediments, placement of sediments in the slag area, stabilization of Back Channel shoreline, and wetland restoration of impacted areas. EPA expects that cleanup of the contaminated sediments will speed up the overall site cleanup, which may increase reuse and redevelopment potential.
To learn more about this site please visit our Roebling Steel Web page. You can see an aerial view of this site if you have Google Earth installed on your computer.
EPA has also recently issued a Press Release on this project.
Horseshoe Road
Site Description
The Horseshoe Road site is a 12‑acre property located in Sayreville, NJ, near the Raritan River. The site contained three buildings that were owned by the Atlantic Development Corporation and leased by many companies from the early 1950s to the early 1980s. The various operations over time included the production of roofing materials, sealants, polymers, urethane and epoxy resins, resin pigments and wetting agents. The site contaminants include volatile organic compounds (VOCs), metals, pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The former chemical processing site includes three adjacent areas that EPA grouped together as one site on the National Priorities List (NPL). The area around the site includes residential properties as well as business, commercial and industrial areas. About 63 residential properties are located within a half mile of the site, and about 14,000 people obtain drinking water from public wells within four miles.
Cleanup Activities to Date
EPA listed the site on the NPL in 1995, and has been addressing it in several stages that include initial and as well as long-term cleanup activities. Cleanup actions undertaken have included demolition and removal of contaminated buildings, and removal and disposal of hazardous chemicals stored/abandoned on-site.
Recovery Act Project Activity
The up to $5 million in Recovery Act funds allocated to this site will be used to speed up the cleanup of the remaining on-site soils that act as a source of contamination to the ground water and surface water, which drain into the Raritan River.
To learn more about this site please visit our Horseshoe Road Web page. You can see an aerial view of this site if you have Google Earth installed on your computer.
EPA has also recently issued a Press Release on this project.
Cornell-Dubilier
Site Description
Cornell Dubilier Electronics, Inc. operated at the site from 1936 to 1962, manufacturing electronic parts and components, including capacitors. The company dumped material contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other hazardous substances directly onto site soils during its operations. The site is currently known as Hamilton Industrial Park, and since, Cornell-Dubilier Electronics departure, has been occupied by numerous commercial businesses. EPA has detected PCBs in the, ground water, soil and in building interiors at the industrial park and at nearby residential, commercial and municipal properties. EPA also has detected PCBs in the surface water and sediments of the Bound Brook, which crosses the site’s southeast corner. A pre-1991 investigation conducted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in the vicinity of the former CDE facility revealed significant ground water contamination consisting mainly of the volatile organic compounds, trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene. Due to widespread contamination, residential wells in the area were closed and residents hooked up to a city water supply.
Cleanup Actions to Date
Since adding it to the National Priorities List in 1998, EPA has been addressing the site using both short- and long-term cleanup actions. Short-term actions have involved interior cleaning of PCB-contaminated dust from 15 homes and the excavation of PCB-contaminated soil from 18 residential yards. Long-term actions have included relocation of 13 active businesses from the industrial park and the demolition and removal of 18 contaminated buildings. Soil and debris from an area at the industrial park designated as the capacitor disposal area has been excavated and disposed of off-site.
Recovery Act Project Activity
The more than $25 million in Recovery Act funding for this site will be used to accelerate the cleanup of the contaminated soil and debris, which are principal threat wastes, at the former CDE facility. Contaminated soils will be treated on-site using low temperature thermal desorption. Soils that cannot be cleaned through on-site treatment will be transported off-site for disposal. Addressing the contaminated soils will allow redevelopment to begin at the industrial park, which is part of a Borough of South Plainfield-approved redevelopment plan.
To learn more about this site please visit our Cornell-Dubilier Web page. You can see an aerial view of this site if you have Google Earth installed on your computer.
EPA has also recently issued a Press Release on this project.
Imperial Oil
Site Description
The 15-acre Imperial Oil Co./Champion Chemicals site is located in a mixed residential and agricultural setting. Contamination at the site is the result of improper disposal of hazardous materials including waste piles that were the byproduct of spent oil reclamation activities. The area of contamination includes plant property (15 acres), adjacent wetlands, a stream (Birch Swamp Brook), off-site residential properties and underlying ground water. The major contaminants of concern are arsenic, lead and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Cleanup Actions to Date
EPA listed the site on the National Priorities List in 1983. Since that time, site cleanup actions have included the excavation and disposal of 660 cubic yards of PCB-contaminated material and the removal of over 25,000 gallons of PCB-contaminated oil through a floating product extraction and treatment system. EPA also cleaned up four adjacent residential properties. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection implemented the cleanup of the wetlands, brook sediments and additional residential properties in 2004. In 2008, EPA completed the demolition of on-site structures including all production, storage and maintenance buildings as well as an above-ground tank farm.
Recovery Act Project Activity
EPA will use the more than $25 million in Recovery Act funds allocated to this site to speed up the cleanup of the remaining contaminated soil components, which are the major source of contamination to the ground water beneath the site. Accelerating the cleanup of the site soils is expected to reduce the overall site cleanup cost and hasten the reuse/redevelopment of the site.
To learn more about this site please visit our Imperial Oil Web page. You can see an aerial view of this site if you have Google Earth installed on your computer.
EPA has also recently issued a Press Release on this project.
Price Landfill
Site Description
The 26-acre site located in Pleasantville contains an inactive landfill. While in operation, it accepted industrial chemicals, septic tank and sewage wastes, sludge, greases and oils. Some liquid wastes were poured directly into the landfill, while others were buried in 55-gallon drums. During operations, it is estimated that over nine million gallons of chemical wastes were disposed of at the site. As a result of these activities, volatile organic compounds and heavy metals contaminate the ground water. Land use in the immediate area consists of residential properties, small business properties, sand and gravel excavations, and undeveloped rural lots. In addition to ground water, soil and fill material present at the landfill are also contaminated.
Cleanup Activities to Date
EPA added the site to the National Priorities List in 1983. The cleanup of the site is being addressed through immediate actions to eliminate exposure to contaminated ground water , and long-term cleanup actions to control the source of contamination and to restore ground water quality. In 1980, drinking water from tank trucks was provided to residents threatened by site-related ground water contamination. Thirty-seven residences were subsequently connected to the New Jersey Water Company system. The site threatened the Atlantic City drinking water supply until relocation of the water supply wells was completed in 1985. In 2000, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) constructed a pilot-scale ground water remediation system on the site property. NJDEP continues to operate this system.
Recovery Act Project Activity
EPA will use the $10-25 million in Recovery Act funds allocated to this for construction and operation of a ground water extraction and treatment system near the site property. This system will control further migration of ground water contamination. After implementation of the source control action, which includes capping of the landfill, a ground water remedy will be put into place to address the down-gradient portion of the ground water contaminant plume. The goal of this remedy is aquifer restoration. Speeding up the implementation of the source control action will reduce the cost associated with restoring the aquifer.
To learn more about this site please visit our Price Landfill Web page. You can see an aerial view of this site if you have Google Earth installed on your computer.
EPA has also recently issued a Press Release on this project.
Emmell’s Landfill
Site Description
The 38-acre site was the location of a septic landfill from 1967 until 1979, when the property was abandoned. The landfill operations involved discharging septic and sewage sludge into trenches and lagoons. The site’s contamination resulted from disposal of other chemical wastes at the landfill, including paint sludge. Contaminated media include soil on the site property and ground water present in the unconfined aquifer’s shallow and deep zones. Volatile organic compounds are the major contaminants in ground water, and the soil is contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls. Ground water in the vicinity of the site is used as drinking water. Two residential wells contained site-related contaminants at levels in excess of drinking water standards, prompting EPA to provide an alternate water supply.
Cleanup Activities to Date
EPA listed the site on the National Priorities List in 1999. From August 1999 through March 2000, EPA conducted a short-term removal action, which resulted in the excavation and off-site disposal of 438 drums and 28,046 cubic yards of contaminated soil. During the summer of 2003, 36 residences in the vicinity of the site, which were threatened by site-related ground water contamination, were connected to the municipal water supply.
Recovery Act Project Activity
The $1-5 million in Recovery Act funds allocated to this site will be used to speed up the cleanup of PCB-contaminated soil remaining at the site. The funds will support the start of excavation and off-site disposal of contaminated soil, backfilling of the excavated soil and re-vegetation of the affected area. This action will alleviate potential risks associated with direct contact with PCB-contaminated soil and the potential inhalation of contaminated dust. While addressing the site’s contaminated soil, EPA will begin interim cleanup activities to address ground water, which calls for the on-site construction of a ground water extraction and treatment system to control movement of the contaminated ground water off of the site property.
To learn more about this site please visit our Emmell’s Landfill Web page. You can see an aerial view of this site if you have Google Earth installed on your computer.
EPA has also recently issued a Press Release on this project.
More Information
Explore this link to learn how the Superfund Program implements the Recovery Act:
To learn more about general Superfund issues in Region 2, see:
