Settlement Proposed For Superfund Site Near Passaic River In Newark

NEWARK, NJ — Some “important progress” could be made in the effort to clean up a polluted Superfund site on the bank of the Passaic River in Newark if a proposed settlement agreement crosses the finish line, federal and state officials say.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released details about a proposed settlement with Pennsylvania-based PPG Industries Inc. to design and perform a $15.8 million cleanup at the Riverside Industrial Park Superfund site.

Issues at the site include contaminated soil, groundwater, soil gas, sewer water and waste, according to the EPA. See a previous “fact sheet” from the federal agency here.

The proposed consent decree is subject to 60-day public comment period. At the close of the comment period, authorities will evaluate the comments and decide whether to proceed and potentially seek final approval by the court.

View the proposed consent decree online here.

The EPA provided the following background about the site:

“The Riverside Industrial Park Superfund site is a 7.6-acre active industrial property located at 29 Riverside Avenue in Newark, New Jersey. From 1902 to 1971, the Patton Paint Company (which merged into the Paint and Varnish Division of Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company in 1920, later changing its name to PPG Industries, Inc. in 1968) manufactured paint, resins, linseed oil, and varnish. From 1971 to the present day, the site was subdivided into 15 lots and has been used by many companies for a variety of businesses from warehousing and packaging to chemical and cosmetics manufacturing. The soil and groundwater contamination are attributed to historic site operations, accidental spills, illegal dumping, improper handling of raw materials and improper waste disposal.”

Here’s what the proposed cleanup plan is calling for, according to the EPA:

EXCAVATING SOIL – Lead-contaminated soil and fill material around a former manufacturing building at the site will be removed and disposed of off-site. The bulkhead bordering the site along the river will be reinforced or reconstructed, and a site-wide cap will be constructed. To protect the cleanup measures, deed notices will be recorded and amended, and fencing will be maintained and enhanced, as appropriate, across the site.”

VAPORS – Assessing vapors in the soil and the indoor air in occupied buildings on the site and, if needed, installing mitigation systems to protect people in those buildings from vapor intrusion. EPA will require that special systems be installed in any buildings constructed in the future to protect occupants. EPA will establish site-wide deed notices and appropriate restrictions on property use.

GROUNDWATER – Groundwater will be monitored to evaluate changes in groundwater contamination after other components of the remedy are implemented. EPA will also require groundwater use to be restricted.

SEWER – Removing sewer water and solids from an inactive sewer line and transferring it into appropriate containers for off-site treatment and disposal. The sewer line will be closed.

REMOVING WASTE – Transferring waste from underground storage tanks, contaminated soil surrounding the USTs and various waste found across the site into appropriate containers for off-site treatment and disposal.

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said the Passaic River is a “critical natural resource for many overburdened communities,” adding that state officials have been working with the EPA over the last 15 years to ensure that the site doesn’t continue to impact the waterway.

As part of the prosed settlement, the company would pay $2.9 million previously spent by the EPA at the site, and the EPA’s costs of overseeing PPG’s cleanup work. The company would also reimburse approximately $117,000 previously spent by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection at the site.

“This settlement marks important progress in our work to clean up the Riverside Industrial Park and our commitment to protect public health by reducing the potential exposure to toxic contamination,” EPA regional administrator Lisa Garcia said.

“Through the EPA’s Superfund program, we will continue to hold accountable those responsible for the cleanup – not the taxpayers,” Garcia added.

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