Part of East Rutherford Superfund site taken from priority cleanup list
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has removed a portion of the Universal Oil Products Superfund site in East Rutherford from its list of priority cleanup sites.
The delisted area, known as Area 2, spans 17 acres and has undergone extensive soil and groundwater cleanup to safeguard public health and the environment, said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia.
For the former chemical manufacturing plant site, the transformation signifies a milestone in environmental remediation efforts. “EPA has successfully removed the threat of hazardous chemicals from the soil and groundwater in this portion of the site,” Garcia said, noting the area’s conversion into a bustling shopping center.
The Universal Oil Products Superfund site, situated near Route 17 and Paterson Plank Road, encompasses about 75 acres of marshes, tidal waterways, highways and commercial properties. Over the years, operations by multiple companies led to contamination with substances including lead, PCBs, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds.
Since its addition to the National Priorities List in 1983, both the EPA and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection have spearheaded numerous cleanup initiatives at the site. These efforts included soil excavation and off-site disposal, installation of protective covers, groundwater treatment, and the implementation of institutional controls to restrict contamination access.
The successful achievement of cleanup objectives in Area 2 has paved the way for its redevelopment into a thriving commercial hub, featuring a home improvement store and a restaurant.
The EPA’s proposal for the partial deletion of Area 2 from the priorities list, initiated on Aug. 16, 2023, garnered no public objections during the comment period, which ended on Sept. 15, 2023.
The priorities list, covering some of the nation’s most severe contamination cases, sees sites or segments removed when further cleanup is deemed unnecessary for human and environmental protection. However, the EPA pledges to conduct periodic reviews to ensure continued safety.