Old Bridge Superfund Site Gets Final Clean-Up Plan From EPA

OLD BRIDGE, NJ — Last Thursday, Sept. 28, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final clean-up plan to address contaminated soil at the CPS/Madison Superfund site in Old Bridge.

The final clean-up plan will address the soil contamination at the Madison property portion of the site. Most of the property is covered by pavement that acts as a cap, preventing the soil contaminants from spreading.

Under the final clean-up plan, the existing cap would remain in place, said the EPA. The EPA will remove contaminated soil in unpaved areas and transported it to a licensed disposal facility off-site for disposal.

In addition, EPA will file a deed notice with property records to avoid future residential use.

Finally, contractors will monitor sediment and surface water long-term to see if any of the toxins from the site are getting into nearby creeks and river.

The CPS/Madison site covers 35 acres and includes two adjacent facilities, the now-inactive CPS Chemical plant property and the still-operating Madison Industries/Old Bridge Chemical property.

The Madison Industries facility — still in full operation today — produces chemicals for fertilizer, pharmaceuticals and food additives. The Old Bridge Chemicals facility, also still in operation and operated by a related company, produces zinc salts and copper sulfate.

At the CPS facility, which has long since closed, organic chemicals were used in the production of water treatment agents, lubricants, oil field chemicals and anti-corrosive agents. The site operations led to the release of chemicals, polluting the soil, sediment and groundwater with heavy metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

“Finalizing this clean-up plan brings us one step closer to addressing the contamination at this site to protect the people of Old Bridge,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa Garcia. “Our final plan will ensure that the contaminated soil is safely removed, and that the existing pavement cover or cap is maintained and monitored in the long term to prevent any further impacts.”

Visit the CPS/Madison Industries Old Bridge Township, NJ Superfund site to learn more.