ENVIRONMENT HEADLINESEnvironment
EPA Proposes Raritan Bay Site to Superfund List
Apr. 9, 2009 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to add shoreline sections of Sayreville and Old Bridge Township to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL). EPA said the listing would enable it to carry out an investigation into the extent of contamination at the Raritan Bay Slag site and to take the proper measures to address the contamination.
“High levels of lead have been found in the slag and other material used in the seawall and a jetty,” said Acting Regional Administrator George Pavlou. “With the listing of this site, EPA will figure out how to safely and effectively deal with this contamination, and we will work with the affected communities to keep them informed as we get the job done.”
The Raritan Bay Slag site comprises three areas with lead-contaminated material, including slag and pieces of battery casings. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) took soil samples in summer 2007 that revealed the presence of high concentrations of lead. NJDEP described the waste material found in the Laurence Harbor seawall as consisting of large pieces of rust-colored slag, as well as battery casing fragments of various sizes.
Based on these findings, the New Jersey DEP worked closely with Old Bridge officials to notify the public in writing about health concerns stemming from the lead waste material and restricted access through signage and some fencing. Due to physical constraints, however, it was not practical to completely fence off contaminated areas and access to these areas remained a concern.
After the New Jersey DEP referred the site to EPA, EPA took samples (September 2008) that revealed that several portions of the Laurence Harbor seawall and the western jetty of the Cheesequake Creek Inlet consist of lead-contaminated slag. Battery casing fragments were also noted in all three areas. While sampling, EPA observed that the tidal Raritan Bay waters come in contact with the slag at the locations of the seawall and the jetty during high tide.
The Raritan Bay is a fishery and a sensitive environment that has been identified under EPA’s National Estuary Program. The bay is also a state-designated water body for the maintenance of aquatic life. Margaret’s Creek is known to be a habitat for state threatened species, and is predominantly a wetland.
EPA’s Removal Action Branch has already begun work by erecting public warning notices in the areas of concern, warning, in both English and Spanish, of the threat posed by the elevated lead levels. Additionally, fencing has been installed to restrict access.
Proposal of this site to the NPL activates a 60-day comment period during which EPA solicits public input regarding the action. Once the site is placed on the NPL, EPA will expand its investigations to further define the nature and extent of contamination.
EPA said that 1596 sites have been listed to date on the NPL, 332 of which have been deleted, resulting in 1264 sites currently on the NPL. There are now 67 proposed sites awaiting final agency action, and a total of 1331 final and proposed sites around the country.