Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Chemours Repauno in Gibbstown, New Jersey
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Site Responsibility
Cleanup Status
In 1990, 8,500 tons of sediments were removed from the ditches in the former Nitrobenzene and Pyromellitic Dianhydride/Dimethyl Terephthalate production areas. In the three rounds of site wide investigation completed in 1993, 1996, and 2000 respectively, DuPont screened all Solid Waste Management Units and Areas of Concern for their investigation/remediation priorities and focused on the migration/flow of groundwater and the soils in former production areas.
The currently ongoing fourth round of investigation is to complete the investigation of the remaining two solid waste management units and areas of concern (SWMUs/AOCs) to conduct an ecological risk assessment for the wetlands, streams, and the ditch system. In 1985, DuPont installed a system to pump contaminated groundwater and to treat. The groundwater interceptor system has been in operation since, in conjunction with a groundwater monitoring program.
DuPont will continue the fourth round of investigation. Any other source areas of contamination will be identified and cleaned up. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) will issue a deed notice to restrict any uses of the property that may be a threat to people. DuPont will also continue the groundwater interceptor system together with the site wide groundwater monitoring program to confirm that contaminated groundwater is under control. NJDEP also imposes restrictions on the use of groundwater for as long as it remains contaminated.
Site Description
Chemours Repauno, a former DuPont Company, is located at 200 North Repauno Avenue in Gibbstown, New Jersey. The DuPont Gibbstown plant occupies nearly 1,900 acres along the Delaware River in Gibbstown, Greenwich Township. The plant, which opened in 1880, made a range of products including dynamite, acids, nitrobenzene and other organic compounds. In 1998 and 1999, DuPont sold its remaining business operations (sodium nitrite and industrial diamonds), but retained ownership of the property. On February 1, 2015 Chemours FC, L.L.C. became a new site’s owner.
Contaminants at this Facility
Stormwater and wastewaters generated throughout the site have been discharged to the Delaware River through the discharge pipes (point sources) pursuant to the State of New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES) program. Ditches have been utilized to convey stormwater and wastewaters. Sediments in the ditches and soils at the site are contaminated with nitrobenzene, aniline, diphenylamine, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Groundwater is also contaminated with organic compounds, such as nitrobenzene, aniline, benzene, and tetrachloroethylene. The wastewater ditches at the former Nitrobenzene and Pyromellitic Dianhydride/Dimethyl Terephthalate (PDMT/DMT) production areas are a primary source of the contamination.
Site Responsibility at this Facility
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action activities at this facility have been conducted under the direction of EPA Region 2.