EPA Finalizes Groundwater Cleanup Plan for Chemsol, Inc. Superfund Site in Piscataway, New Jersey
NEW YORK - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized its cleanup plan to address contamination at the Chemsol, Inc. Superfund site in Piscataway, New Jersey. The finalized plan will address contaminated groundwater that has moved beyond the former Chemsol, Inc. facility where the mixing, blending, and distilling of solvents ultimately contaminated the soil, sediment, and groundwater. The plan relies on natural processes already effectively breaking down contaminants in groundwater.
“Today’s announcement marks a significant step in addressing residual contamination at the Chemsol, Inc. Superfund site,” said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. “Under Administrator Lee Zeldin’s leadership, EPA has renewed focus on delivering on its core mission and on moving forward expeditiously on Superfund cleanups.”
EPA has overseen decades of cleanup work at the former solvent recovery and waste reprocessing facility, including the removal of contaminated soil and sediment and the ongoing treatment of contaminated groundwater beneath the site.
The final cleanup plan focuses on contaminated groundwater that has moved under residential properties from the former Chemsol, Inc. facility’s property before the existing cleanup controls were in place. EPA installed the controls to stop further spread of contamination and monitoring shows the levels of contamination in the groundwater that migrated from the Chemsol property are declining. EPA’s final cleanup plan addresses the off-site groundwater contamination through natural processes that will continue to reduce contamination over time. There is no current risk for exposure as homes and businesses near the site are connected to public water, which is secure and sampled under the Safe Drinking Water Act. EPA will regularly monitor the groundwater as part of the plan to track cleanup progress, as well as place restrictions on the use of groundwater.
EPA conducted a 30-day public comment period that included an August 26 virtual public meeting during which EPA received no comments. After the September 11 close of the public comment period, EPA selected the final remedy.
The finalized cleanup plan and supporting documents will be available on the Chemsol, Inc. Superfund site profile page.
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