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EPA Earmarks Additional $10.7 Million for Ongoing Cleanup of Creosote-Contaminated Properties in Manville

Release Date: 09/16/2002
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(#02094) NEW YORK, N.Y. — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Jane M. Kenny was joined today by U.S. Representative Michael Ferguson and local officials in Manville to announce an additional $10.7 million to continue the cleanup of creosote-contaminated properties in this residential community. The Agency plans to excavate an estimated 105,000 tons of soil from a buried creosote waste lagoon and canal on Valerie Drive by the summer of 2004. The area is part of the Federal Creosote Superfund site, added to the national priorities list (NPL) of the most hazardous waste sites in the country in 1999. “EPA added Federal Creosote to our national priorities list of Superfund sites in record time and immediately put the cleanup of this residential community on a fast track,” said Regional Administrator Jane M. Kenny. “When people are affected by hazardous waste where they live, the Agency moves quickly to protect their health and the quality of their daily lives. The new funding allows us to continue the accelerated cleanup of the site.” In the early 1960s, the Claremont housing development was built over a former railroad tie creosoting facility in Manville, formerly owned by the Federal Creosoting Company. Of the 137 residential properties in the development, 86 are in need of cleanup. Cleanup work has been completed on 23 properties and cleanups are currently ongoing at eight properties. During the first phase of the cleanup, a system was installed to remove the water from the soil in a buried creosote waste lagoon located beneath eight properties on East Camplain Road. To keep the excavation dry, more than 36 million gallons of water was pumped out, treated and discharged into the storm sewers. EPA then excavated an estimated 65,000 tons of contaminated soil -- enough to cover an entire football field to a height of twenty-five feet. This material was disposed of at an approved off-site facility. Families living in eight homes that had to be demolished were permanently relocated. In addition, fourteen neighboring residential properties have also been cleaned up and the affected families are now living on their remediated properties. “We are very sensitive to the concerns of the families who have been directly affected by contamination in their community and our ongoing work,” added Ms. Kenny. “That’s why we will continue to keep local elected officials and community residents up-to-date and involved in the cleanup project.” The Federal Creosote site consists of a 35-acre residential community and a 15-acre shopping mall. In late 1997, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection requested EPA assistance in determining if the presence of creosote in the soils of the development posed a significant risk to public health and the environment. EPA samples taken in the spring of 1998 at numerous residential properties within the Claremont Development found elevated levels of creosote and other compounds in the surface soils on 86 residential properties. The agency sampled sub-surface soils to further delineate the extent of the contamination. These investigations and subsequent study led to the cleanup that is now underway. The new funding brings the total for the cleanup of the Federal Creosote site to $84.8 million since the cleanup work began in 2000. From October 1, 2001 to today, the Agency has dedicated more than $77.5 million for NPL site cleanups in New Jersey. There are now 115 sites on the NPL in New Jersey. Nineteen Superfund sites have already been cleaned up and deleted from the list. Long-term cleanups have been completed at 48 sites and are ongoing at 51 of the NPL sites in the state. Study and design activities are underway at the remaining sites. Since 1980, when the federal Superfund program began, EPA has committed $1.84 billion to NPL Superfund site cleanups in New Jersey. During that period, EPA reached settlements valued at approximately $986 million with private parties responsible for New Jersey site cleanups. The settlements require the responsible parties to clean up toxic waste in New Jersey communities under EPA supervision, and also allow the government to recover federal funds used in the cleanups.