Order Directing OxyChem to Design the Remedial Action to Clean Up Highly Contaminated Sediments in the Upper 9 Miles of Lower Passaic River, New Jersey
On March 2, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a unilateral administrative order (UAO) directing Occidental Chemical Corporation (“OxyChem”) to perform the remedial design for the upper nine miles of the Lower Passaic River Study Area of the Diamond Alkali Superfund site in Newark, New Jersey. The remedial design work follows EPA’s September 2021 record of decision (ROD) and addresses the highly contaminated sediment that is a source of contamination throughout the river. The UAO, valued at $92.7 million, is the eighth largest UAO in the Superfund program history.
On this page:
- Information about OxyChem
- Information about the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site
- Overview of the Unilateral Administrative Order
- Contact Information
Information about OxyChem
The Diamond Alkali Company, later purchased by and merged into OxyChem, owned and operated the manufacturing facility located in Newark, New Jersey in the 1950s and 1960s. The facility manufactured agricultural chemicals including herbicides used in "Agent Orange", a defoliant chemical that removes leaves from trees and plants. A byproduct of the manufacturing was 2,3,7,8-TCDD (dioxin), the most toxic form of dioxin. OxyChem is a global manufacturer of vinyls, basic, and specialty chemicals used in diverse products ranging from pharmaceuticals to water disinfectants and detergents to electronics.
Information about the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site
The Diamond Alkali Superfund site consists of the former manufacturing facility at 80-120 Lister Avenue in Newark, New Jersey, the Lower Passaic River Study Area (LPRSA), and the Newark Bay Study Area. EPA divided the Diamond Alkali site cleanup into four distinct phases, called operable units (OUs): the 80-120 Lister Avenue facility (OU1), the lower 8.3 miles of the Lower Passaic River (OU2), the entire 17-mile LPRSA (OU4), and the Newark Bay Study Area (OU3). The LPRSA includes the 17-mile tidal stretch of the river from Dundee Dam to Newark Bay and tributaries. The area surrounding the site is densely populated and heavily industrialized.
The Diamond Alkali Superfund site includes the lower 17 miles of the Passaic River. Although most of the contaminated sediment is in the lower 8.3 miles, the contamination in the upper nine miles continues to impact the river's ecosystem and surrounding communities. Following EPA approval, the final design report will include site-wide monitoring plans, health and safety plans, and a detailed outline of the cleanup plan, including specific details on how the cleanup will be conducted. More information can be found in the press release or on the Superfund site’s profile web page.
Overview of the Unilateral Administrative Order
Under the UAO, OxyChem is required to prepare work plans and perform a preliminary investigation, including studies to assess the river bottom, shoreline, and other aspects of the river in preparation for cleanup. The cleanup plan that OxyChem will be designing is an interim action, meaning that when the cleanup has been completed, EPA will evaluate the results and may determine that further work is necessary to address any remaining contamination in this section of the river.
Contact Information
For more information contact:
Community Involvement Coordinator
Shereen Kandil
U.S. EPA
Region 2
290 Broadway New York, NY 10007-1866
Kandil.Shereen@epa.gov
(212) 637-4333
Remedial Project Manager
Alice Yeh
U.S. EPA
Region 2
290 Broadway New York, NY 10007-1866
Yeh.Alice@epa.gov
(212) 637-4427
Remedial Project Manager
Eugenia Naranjo
U.S. EPA
Region 2
290 Broadway New York, NY 10007-1866
(212) 637-3467
Naranjo.Eugenia@epa.gov
Remedial Project Manager
Diane Salkie Sharkey
U.S. EPA
Region 2
290 Broadway New York, NY 10007-1866
(212) 637-4370
Salkie.Diane@epa.gov