EPA Announces Measures to Protect Raritan River from Ground Water Contamination Seeping from the American Cyanamid Superfund Site in Bridgewater Township, N.J. (NJ)
(New York, N.Y.) The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency announced an agreement with the Wyeth Holdings
Corporation, a subsidiary of Pfizer Inc., to install a system for
collecting and treating contaminated ground water from the American
Cyanamid Superfund Site in Bridgewater Township, Somerset County,
N.J. The agreement requires design and construction of this system
to prevent contaminated ground water from seeping into the Raritan
River, Cuckhold’s Brook and Middle Brook. A trench along the
Raritan River will be constructed as an interim solution to block,
capture and prevent ground water from seeping into the river.
Ground water contamination is believed to be partly coming from two
impoundments which are the focus of a separate study intended to
offer a long-term remedial solution to the problem. The water
captured in the trench will be treated and disposed of properly.
Ground water at the site will be tested to evaluate its impact on
the water quality of the Raritan River.
“This agreement requires the company to
build a system that will protect the Raritan River and the people
who enjoy it,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A.
Enck. “When this seepage problem was first identified, a
system was installed on the Raritan River bank using activated
carbon to mitigate the contamination as an emergency temporary
solution. Now we are requiring this further step to prevent further
contamination in the near-term while seeking a comprehensive
cleanup for this site in the long-term.”
The American Cyanamid Superfund site has a
legacy of industrial pollution dating back to 1915. For nearly 100
years, prior owners used the location for manufacturing chemicals.
EPA has supervised the long-term cleanup of the site since 1983
when it was placed on the federal Superfund list because hazardous
chemicals were found in the soil and ground water. The 435-acre
Superfund site contained various areas used for the disposal of
chemical sludge and other wastes. In 1998, EPA delisted 140 acres
of the site from the Superfund list. That land was made available
for redevelopment and now includes the TD Bank Ballpark Stadium.
Soil and ground water at the site are contaminated with
non-volatile inorganic compounds and volatile organic compounds,
which are potentially harmful contaminants that can easily
evaporate into the air. Various contaminants were found onsite
including benzene, which is a cancer-causing chemical. The site,
located on the Raritan River, is secured, largely fenced off and
access is restricted. Since 2009, Pfizer Inc. assumed
responsibility for the American Cyanamid Superfund site as part of
its purchase of the Wyeth Holding Corporation.
Many volatile organic compounds are known to
cause cancer in animals. Some cause cancer in people, while other
volatile organic compounds have no known health effects. Like other
pollutants, the extent and nature of the health effect will depend
on many factors, including the level and length of exposure. Eye
and respiratory tract irritation, headaches, dizziness, visual
disorders, and memory impairment are among the immediate symptoms
that some people have experienced soon after exposure to some
organics. Previous site investigations have found ground water
underlying the site, not considered a source of drinking water, is
highly contaminated with metals and volatile organic compounds,
such as benzene, chlorobenzene, ethylbenzene, xylene. Exposure to
these chemicals can significantly harm human health.
Under today’s agreement, Wyeth will
install a system designed to block, intercept and capture
contamination from seeping ground water that could impact the
Raritan River, Cuckhold’s Brook and Middle Brook. Wyeth has
also agreed to perform two studies. These studies will determine
the movement of the contaminated ground water through the affected
area of the site to discover if there are additional impacts to the
water bodies. Finally, Wyeth agrees to pay all EPA oversight costs
for this action starting from the effective date of the agreement.
In March of this year, Wyeth installed a temporary system on an
emergency basis to mitigate the ground water seeping problem by
installing a system on the Raritan River bank using activated
carbon until a long-term solution could be agreed upon with EPA and
constructed by Wyeth.
A web site to inform the community about the
site is located at: https://www.amcyrestoration.com/.
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