Hazardous Waste Cleanup: AGC Chemicals Americas Incorporated in Bayonne, New Jersey
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Site Responsibility
Cleanup Status
Exxon and ICI are completing cleanup activities at the AGC site. As stated in an agreement between Exxon and ICI, Exxon is responsible for the cleanup of any petroleum or Exxon-related contamination at the site and ICI is responsible for its contamination. After contamination was found at the site during routine inspections by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Exxon conducted numerous investigations at the site.
The investigations included soil sampling, groundwater sampling and test-pit excavations. These investigations were conducted to delineate the contamination at the site. A video inspection of the sewer lines was conducted by ICI to determine where leaks occurred and what lines needed to be replaced. The entire corroded sewer lines were replaced and associated contaminated soil was removed. Contaminated soil associated with the storage tanks has also been removed from the site.
The groundwater Environmental Indicator has not been achieved. Exxon has submitted a Remedial Action Selection Report for Plume 13-ICIC (RASR) and a Remedial Action Work Plan (RAWP) for soils at the AGC site. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has conditionally approved both. The RASR proposes the installation of a cut-off wall, a low-permeability cover, shallow groundwater collection, and removal and replacement of off-site contamination. The RAWP proposes soil excavation and disposal and/or thermal treatment.
Site Description
The facility is located at 229 East 22nd Street, Bayonne, New Jersey. Exxon, formerly Standard Oil, began operations at this facility in the late 1890's. Exxon's use of the site included storage, transfer and distribution of petroleum, and operation of a pump house to transfer petroleum products through a pipeline between the Bayonne and Bayway refineries. Exxon's operations at the site also included the disposal of slop oils, tank bottoms and other refinery wastes in on-site landfills and lagoons. ICI Americas purchased the property from Exxon in four separate transactions between 1965 and 1969. ICI produced one product, polytetrafluoroethylene (Fluon). In 1999, Asahi Glass Fluoropolymers USA, Inc., purchased ICI and is continuing operations at the site. On January 1, 2004, Asahi changed its name to AGC Chemicals Americas, Inc.
The City of Bayonne has informed AGC that an independent developer is interested in redeveloping a portion of the property and that the city may pursue condemnation of the parcel if it is not sold. Concerns remain about the remediation and containment of the non-recoverable product at Plume 13-ICIC and its compatibility with redevelopment plans.
Contaminants at this Facility
Petroleum-related contamination at the site occurred when Exxon operated there. Contamination occurred due to leaks and discharges from petroleum storage tanks, on-site landfills, lagoons and sewer lines. Contamination originating from leaks in a trichloroethylene, carbon tetrachloride, and chloroform storage tank and releases in the processing area, is attributed to ICI operations at the site. Both soil and groundwater have been contaminated with volatile organic chemicals, such as xylene, benzene, chlorobenzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, 1,4-dioxane and naphthalene. Groundwater is also contaminated with PFAS including PFNA and PFOA. Contamination from metals includes, but is not limited to, arsenic, chromium, mercury, zinc, lead, nickel, manganese and cadmium.
Lead, 1,4-dioxane PFNA and PFOA are not bounded by these physical barriers.
Site Responsibility at this Facility
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Corrective Action activities at this facility have been conducted under the direction of EPA Region 2.