EPA Cleanup Plan will Address Source of Arsenic Contamination at the Vineland Chemical Superfund Site in Vineland, New Jersey
NEW YORK - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized its cleanup plan to address arsenic contamination at the Vineland Chemical Co., Inc. Superfund site in Vineland, New Jersey. This comprehensive plan targets arsenic-contaminated saturated soil beneath the groundwater table, which continues to contaminate groundwater, sediment, and nearby floodplain areas.
“Finalizing this cleanup plan marks a critical step in addressing a vexing and persistent source of arsenic contamination at the Vineland Chemical site,” said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. “Arsenic-contaminated soil beneath the groundwater table continues to affect groundwater, sediment, and nearby floodplain areas. EPA’s plan directly targets that remaining source, builds on decades of cleanup progress, and will help protect human health and the environment for years to come.”
The finalized plan includes ongoing monitoring and evaluation to ensure the effectiveness of these actions. EPA will continue to assess the site after the cleanup to determine if further remediation is needed.
Key cleanup actions include:
- Treating contaminated underground areas to prevent arsenic from migrating from soil into groundwater.
- Pumping air into the ground in one section to stabilize contamination.
- Injecting iron-based materials in another area to immobilize arsenic and prevent its movement.
- Installing a horizontal hydraulic barrier underground in a third area to stop arsenic from accumulating in floodplain soil and sediment.
- Restoration of wetland areas affected by the cleanup.
The Vineland Chemical Company, Inc. operated from 1949 to 1994, producing arsenic-based herbicides and fungicides. Improper storage of byproduct arsenic salts led to widespread contamination of soil, groundwater, sediment, and floodplain areas. EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List in 1984 and has since completed major cleanup milestones, including demolition of contaminated buildings, a “soil washing” process to remove arsenic, treatment of over 400,000 tons of arsenic-contaminated material, and construction of a groundwater pump-and-treat system now operated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
The Record of Decision and supporting documents will be available on the Vineland Chemical Co., Inc. Superfund site profile page.
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