The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed a cleanup plan to address contaminated soil, sediment and ground water at the Roebling Steel Co., site in New Jersey. The plan includes capping the 34-acre slag-dump area of the site, which was originally slated for excavation and treatment prior to capping.
“The ongoing EPA cleanup at the Roebling Steel site – to which we’ve already committed $50 million – will ultimately make it possible to return the entire property to safe and productive use,” said EPA Regional Administrator Jane Kenny. “The work called for in this proposed plan, combined with the completion of ongoing work, will conclude the cleanup of this massive and complicated site.”
Under the proposed plan, EPA will cap contaminated soil throughout the site and the slag area with soil or asphalt. Areas covered with a soil cap will be replanted. The Agency will monitor the cap to ensure that it remains in place.
The Roebling Steel Co. is an approximately 200-acre abandoned industrial property adjacent to the Delaware River. The facility was used from 1906 until 1982 to fabricate steel products, generating significant quantities of liquid and solid wastes, which were disposed of on site or in the Delaware River and Crafts Creek.
EPA has been cleaning up the site in phases. To date, the Agency has removed more than 4,100 drums containing corrosive and toxic materials, almost 120 tons of base neutral solids, nearly 46,000 gallons of transformer oil and over 430 tons of transformers from the site. Nearly 270,000 gallons of tank liquids and 1,351 tons of tank sludge, as well as over 1,000 tons of heavy metal, asbestos and chemical- containing dust piles were removed.
In addition, 126 tons of burned tires and 261 tons of recyclable tires were taken off site. Reuse was possible as well for over 5,000 gallons of acid, three pounds of metallic mercury and 10 compressed gas cylinders. The Agency also removed 91,592 linear feet of asbestos, and excavated and disposed of about 780 cubic yards of contaminated soil from two parks bordering the southern edge of the site. EPA installed a perimeter fence and security guards to restrict access to the site.
Currently, site buildings are being decontaminated and demolished; then materials are sorted and recycled or disposed of. In addition to this ongoing activity, EPA is working on the historic restoration of the Main Gate House and Ambulance Garage.