Source: Pocono Record (Stroudsburg, PA), January 19, 2015
Posted on: http://envfpn.advisen.com
The Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced a proposed settlement with several companies in connection with a large groundwater contamination Superfund site in Warren County, New Jersey.
The EPA added the Pohatcong Valley Groundwater Contamination Superfund site to the Superfund National Priorities List on March 30, 1989, because of elevated levels of volatile organic contaminants present in the aquifer. These contaminants were detected in public supply wells in Washington Township, New Jersey. These wells treat the contamination to meet drinking water standards before the water is distributed. The entire site includes a groundwater contaminant plume nine miles long by 1 1/2 miles wide, covering about 2,746 acres.
Trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE), both of which can pose human health threats, were found in the aquifer, the sole source of drinking water for the area.
The proposed settlement is with Pechiney Plastic Packaging, Alba Americas, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co., Citigroup, and Rexam Beverage Can Co.
Under the proposed settlement, Pechiney will have primary responsibility for cleaning up contaminated soil and groundwater at the site, connecting some residents to public water to avoid contaminated groundwater, and operating systems to capture vapors that are getting into a manufacturing facility. As a precaution, Pechiney is continuing to monitor for vapor intrusion into homes at the site. In addition, the EPA will receive approximately $29.5 million for certain past costs. Pechiney will also perform current and future cleanup work estimated to cost $62.5 million and will pay EPA’s future oversight costs.
As part of the settlement, the EPA will recover civil penalties from Pechiney to resolve allegations that Pechiney violated a previous EPA order by failing to make satisfactory progress on a portion of the cleanup at the site. Pechiney will pay a cash penalty of $282,000. Pechiney will also restore and preserve approximately 60 acres of land, valued at $1.1 million, in Warren County, through a supplemental environmental project. This land will be converted to native grassland and will become part of the Morris Canal Greenway. The land will be managed by Warren County through its existing relationship with the New Jersey Youth Corps of Phillipsburg, a “second chance” program for young adults that provides opportunities to earn a GED while providing a valuable service to the community.