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Superfund Case Study
The Diamond Alkali Superfund Site - Newark, New Jersey
Site History & Location
Starting production in the 1940’s, the Diamond Alkali company owned and operated a plant at 80-120 Lister Avenue in Newark, New Jersey. This company produced agricultural chemicals, mainly the herbicide “Agent Orange”, and all the chemicals that went into the process of making it, such as the chemical 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (2,4,5-TCP), the herbicides 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T). By 1971, Diamond Alkali had sold its property, but the damage had already been done.
Timeline of Selected Events In The Recorded History Of The Site
1618 - Dutch establish trading post in the area now known as Jersey City
1666 - British settlers colonize the area now known as Newark 1679 - Land tract known by Native Americans as Aquakanonk, which was to be divided later into Passaic and Clifton, purchased by English and Dutch colonists 1792 - Establishment of the Society of the Establishing Useful Manufacturers, whose funds would be used to establish Paterson, a planned industrial city powered by the Great Falls of the Passaic 1825 - Construction begins on Morris Canal, to run from Phillipsburg, on the Delaware River, to the Passaic River near Newark 1836 - Morris Canal extended to Jersey City 1836 - Newark Township given City status 1845 - Construction begins on Dundee dam 1869 - Front Street Gas Works, a manufactured gas plant, begins operation in Newark 1873 - Town of Passaic incorporated 1889 - Botany Mills factory built in Clifton; employs 6000 workers 1894 - Manhattan Rubber factory built in Clifton; employs 3000 workers 1894 - Acid fumes from Passaic River causes the paint on houses along the River to peel 1896 - State investigating commission created to undertake a comprehensive study of conditions in the Passaic River 1897 - Jersey City abandons use of Passaic River as a public water supply due to poor water quality 1899 - City of Newark abandons use of Passaic River as a public water supply 1899 - State Sewerage Commission established to protect all potable waters in the State of New Jersey |
1901 - U.S. Quarantine Station built in Clifton
1902 - Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners created 1908 - Largest silk mill in U.S., the Henry Doherty Silk Company, built in Clifton; employs 1000 workers 1912 - Paterson Hydroelectric facility installed 1915 - Port Newark opens 1922 - Nearly 1,000 industrial firms are located in Newark; primary industries include clothing and jewelry manufacturers, printing and publishing, foundry products, and leather goods 1924 - Morris Canal drained after expanding railroad routes make it obsolete 1924 - Passaic Valley trunk sewer line completed; carried sewage directly from towns along the Passaic River to New York Harbor 1928 - Newark Airport opens 1935 - Subway opens in bed of former Morris Canal in Newark Mid 1940s - Manufacturing of pesticides and phenoxy herbicides begins at 80 Lister Avenue property 1951 - First leg of New Jersey Turnpike opens 1951 - Diamond Alkali Co. acquires plant at 80 Lister Avenue and begins production of 2,4,5- trichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4,5-T) and other herbicides 1960 - Explosion at Diamond Alkali Plant releases hazardous substances into soils, sediments, and groundwater near the Site 1965 - Massive fish kill occurs, attributed to low dissolved oxygen concentrations 1969 - Passaic River Coalition is created 1982 - First fish consumption advisories for Passaic River issued by the State of New Jersey 1983 - Sampling at Diamond Alkali Plant and surrounding Passaic River shows high levels of dioxin 1984 - Diamond Alkali Superfund Site listed on the National Priorities List (NPL) 1998 - Passaic River named one of nation’s Most Endangered Rivers 2003 - Passaic River among eight selected for a pilot project under the Urban River Restoration Initiative (URRI) |
Site Discovery & Preliminary Assessment/Site Investigation
In 1983, as a result of EPA’s National Dioxin Strategy targeting facilities that produced 2,4,5-trichlorophenol and/or its pesticide derivatives, EPA and NJDEP sampling at the site revealed high levels of dioxin.
Dioxin, pesticides and other hazardous substances have been found in the soil at 80 Lister Avenue and, to a lesser extent, at 120 Lister Avenue, which is the other property of the Diamond Alkaki Company. Other properties in the area also had contaminated soils and debris such as, dioxin, pesticides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other hazardous substances have been found in groundwater at the site. The sediments of the Lower Passaic River and Newark Bay are contaminated with dioxins, PCBs, mercury, DDT, pesticides, metals and other hazardous substances from the site and from industrial activities of numerous companies in the area since the 1800s.
A by-product of the manufacturing the chemicals that formed Agent Oraange was 2,3,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD), the most toxic form of dioxin. These substances have all been found in lower Passaic River sediment and fish/crab tissue as well as on site at 80-120 Lister Ave.
Dioxin, pesticides and other hazardous substances have been found in the soil at 80 Lister Avenue and, to a lesser extent, at 120 Lister Avenue, which is the other property of the Diamond Alkaki Company. Other properties in the area also had contaminated soils and debris such as, dioxin, pesticides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other hazardous substances have been found in groundwater at the site. The sediments of the Lower Passaic River and Newark Bay are contaminated with dioxins, PCBs, mercury, DDT, pesticides, metals and other hazardous substances from the site and from industrial activities of numerous companies in the area since the 1800s.
A by-product of the manufacturing the chemicals that formed Agent Oraange was 2,3,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD), the most toxic form of dioxin. These substances have all been found in lower Passaic River sediment and fish/crab tissue as well as on site at 80-120 Lister Ave.
Impacts of Contaminants
2,3,7,8-TCDD - The U.S. Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry has determined that levels higher than 1,000 ppt in soil require intervention, including research, surveillance, health studies, community and physician education, and exposure investigation
(mg/kg/d) based on liver and kidney pathology in rats
- Known Carcinogen
- Chloracne, a severe acne-like condition, is a the major effect seen from chronic (long-term) exposure to 2,3,7,8-TCDD in humans
- Reproductive effects, including altered levels of sex hormones, reduced production of sperm, and increased
rates of miscarriages, have been seen in animals exposed to 2,3,7,8-TCDD - Human studies have shown an association between 2,3,7,8-TCDD and
soft-tissue sarcomas, lymphomas, and stomach carcinomas
(mg/kg/d) based on liver and kidney pathology in rats
- EPA has classified 2,4,5-trichlorophenol as a Group D, not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity due to
inadequate human and animal data - dermal exposure to 2,4,5-trichlorophenol may burn the skin and produce redness and edema in
humans - It also irritates the eyes, nose, pharynx, and lungs in humans
- Possible Carcinogen
- serious eye and skin irritation among agricultural workers
- In humans, prolonged breathing of 2,4-D causes coughing, burning, dizziness, and temporary loss of muscle coordination
- One study showed that a human given a total of 16.3 grams in 32 days as "desperation therapy" lapsed into a stupor, showed signs of in-coordination, weak reflexes, and urinary incontinence.
- This substance/agent has not undergone a complete evaluation and determination under US
EPA's IRIS program for evidence of human carcinogenic potential. - Intentional overdoses and unintentional high dose occupational exposures to chlorophenoxy acid herbicides have resulted in weakness, headache, dizziness, nausea, abdominal pain, myotonia, hypotension, renal and hepatic injury, and delayed neuropathy
NPL Site Listing Process
The Diamond Alkali Site is Separated into Four Operable Units (OU)
OU 1The 80-120 Lister Avenue properties where the EPA originally conducted studied in 1983 (The image below OU 2 & OU 4 displays where the location of OU 1 can be found. OU 1 is marked by a red star)
OU 2 Sediment of the lower 8.3 miles of the Lower Passaic River (portrayed in image below, outlined in purple)
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OU 3Newark Bay Study Area (The image below OU 2 & OU 4 displays where the location of OU 3 can be found. OU 3 is marked by a triangle)
OU 417 mile stretch of the Lower Passaic River (portrayed in image below, outlined in red)
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OU 1
- From 1984 to 1987, with oversight by NJDEP, Occidental Chemical Corporation (OCC), the corporate successor to the Diamond Alkali/Diamond Shamrock Company, completed a remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS) for 80-120 Lister Avenue
- The RI/FS showed that the 80-120 Lister Avenue properties were contaminated by a large number of hazardous substances including dioxin, semi-volatile and volatile compounds, herbicides, pesticides, PCBs, and metals.
- The contamination affected soil, groundwater, air, surface water, and building structures
- On August 1, 1987, EPA issued the Proposed Plan for 80-120 Lister Avenue, and on September 30, 1987, EPA selected an interim containment remedy for the Lister Avenue facility. The remedy consisted of;
- Capping
- Subsurface slurry walls and a flood wall
- Groundwater collection and treatment system
- Capping
- The remedy prevents exposure to contaminated soil and prevents further releases to the river. This plan is the more short term answer to the remediation of the Diamond Alkali site.
- Construction of the remedy at the 80-120 Lister Avenue facility was carried out by OCC, under EPA oversight. Construction was completed in 2001.
- The most recent Five-Year Review was completed in 2016. EPA is concluding an evaluation of the current availability of technologies that may be appropriate to address the contamination over the long term.
OU 2
ROD Timeline
2007 Initial Focused Feasibility Study draft issued by EPA for Interested Party Review
- Public comments submitted
• 2014 Focused Feasibility Study / Proposed Plan issued by EPA
- Public comments submitted
• 2016 Record of Decision issued
- EPA approaches Maxus, Tierra, and Oxy
- Maxus/Tierra bankruptcy
• September 30, 2016 Settlement Agreement between EPA and Oxy
Remedial Design Objectives
• Expedited, cost effective remedy consistent with the ROD objectives
– Reduce health hazards for people eating fish and crab by reducing the concentrations of the chemicals in sediment
– Reduce the risks to ecological receptors by reducing the concentrations of the chemicals in sediment
– Reduce the migration of chemical-contaminated sediment to upstream portions of the Lower Passaic River, Newark Bay, and the New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary
ROD summary
• Capping with dredging to prevent additional flooding in the lower 8.3 miles
• Deeper dredging in the lower 1.7 miles for navigational purposes
• Dredged materials to be disposed off-site
• Fish/crab consumption advisories remain in place
• Restrictions on dredging/anchoring to protect cap
The process of construction and remediation for the lower 8.3 miles of the Passaic River is still ongoing
2007 Initial Focused Feasibility Study draft issued by EPA for Interested Party Review
- Public comments submitted
• 2014 Focused Feasibility Study / Proposed Plan issued by EPA
- Public comments submitted
• 2016 Record of Decision issued
- EPA approaches Maxus, Tierra, and Oxy
- Maxus/Tierra bankruptcy
• September 30, 2016 Settlement Agreement between EPA and Oxy
Remedial Design Objectives
• Expedited, cost effective remedy consistent with the ROD objectives
– Reduce health hazards for people eating fish and crab by reducing the concentrations of the chemicals in sediment
– Reduce the risks to ecological receptors by reducing the concentrations of the chemicals in sediment
– Reduce the migration of chemical-contaminated sediment to upstream portions of the Lower Passaic River, Newark Bay, and the New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary
ROD summary
• Capping with dredging to prevent additional flooding in the lower 8.3 miles
• Deeper dredging in the lower 1.7 miles for navigational purposes
• Dredged materials to be disposed off-site
• Fish/crab consumption advisories remain in place
• Restrictions on dredging/anchoring to protect cap
The process of construction and remediation for the lower 8.3 miles of the Passaic River is still ongoing
OU 3 & OU 4
OU3, the 17-mile Lower Passaic River Study Area, and OU 4, the Newark Bay Study Area are still in the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) phase.