EPA Finalizes Cleanup Plan to Address Contamination on Properties at the Former Kil-Tone Co. Superfund Site Floodplain in Vineland, New Jersey
NEW YORK - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its cleanup plan for removing arsenic- and lead-contaminated soil from floodplain properties along the Tarkiln Branch in Vineland, New Jersey. The finalized cleanup plan calls for excavating contaminated soil transport off-site for disposal and restoring affected residential and commercial properties. EPA’s plan will protect human health and address contamination resulting from the former Kil-Tone Company pesticide manufacturing facility, while the agency continues its broader investigation of sediment, surface water, and groundwater at the site.
“When I visited this community with U.S. Representative Jeff Van Drew, I reiterated EPA’s mission to protect our air, land, and water, and the Superfund cleanup in Vineland reflects that mission in action,” said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. “We are taking decisive action to safeguard Vineland families from arsenic and lead in soil. Finalizing the cleanup plan marks an important milestone, allowing us to move forward with cleanup for the properties needing urgent attention and continuing our commitment to address contamination from the former Kil-Tone facility.”
EPA has identified approximately 55 floodplain properties where arsenic and lead in soil are present at levels requiring remediation. Cleanup activities on private properties will proceed only after obtaining owner permission and will be conducted in coordination with property owners. EPA’s finalized plan calls for excavating the full extent of contaminated soil, followed by off-site disposal. All impacted properties will be restored after cleanup. While EPA expects to clean up all the contaminated material from the floodplain properties, the remedy also provides for additional measures such as deed notices and long-term maintenance to make sure the remediation is protective if there are any properties where full cleanup is not possible.
The former Kil-Tone Company operated its pesticide manufacturing facility at 527 East Chestnut Avenue in Vineland from the late 1910s to the early 1930s, releasing arsenic and lead that contaminated the facility, nearby properties, and downstream areas along the Tarkiln Branch. The site was added to the National Priorities List in 2016. EPA has already completed cleanup at 85 residential properties, with additional work ongoing at the former facility and surrounding non-residential properties. Now that the cleanup plan has been issued, EPA can begin remediation of floodplain properties immediately while other investigations continue.
The finalized cleanup plan and supporting documents will be available on the Kil-Tone Superfund site profile page.
Background
Since the 1970s, EPA has worked alongside partners at the federal, state, Tribal, and local levels to protect children’s health and make progress in reducing lead exposures and lead-related health risks. Despite improvements over the last 50 years, ongoing exposures to lead where our families live, work, and play present a health risk, especially to children.
To combat this issue, in 2025 the Trump EPA reestablished a committee of senior leaders across the agency’s program offices and ten regions to drive success in reducing children’s exposure to lead. This renewed agency-wide focus is centered around strengthening cooperative federalism, streamlining actionable risk communications, and unleashing private sector innovation to protect human health and the environment.
Please see epa.gov/lead for additional information.
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