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EPA Proposes Crown Vantage Landfill for the Superfund List

Release Date: 09/23/2004
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(#04145) NEW YORK -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed to add the Crown Vantage Landfill site in Alexandria Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey to its National Priorities List (NPL) of the most hazardous waste sites, making it eligible for federal Superfund dollars. "The addition of the Crown Vantage Landfill site to the National Priorities List is an essential step toward protecting and cleaning up the Delaware River," said EPA Regional Administrator Jane M. Kenny. "Listing Crown Vantage Landfill on the National Priorities List will enable the Agency to further investigate the contaminants entering the river and take steps to protect those who use the river as a source of food, drinking water and recreation." The Crown Vantage Landfill is an inactive, industrial landfill located in Alexandria Township. The landfill encompasses approximately 10 acres within a floodplain of the Delaware River. Ash, sludge, drums, and miscellaneous metal construction debris cover the site. During flooding, contaminated material can potentially wash into the river. Crown Vantage was used as a landfill beginning in the 1930s and continued to be used until the early 1970s. Waste materials deposited at the landfill included those generated at an adjacent paper mill, as well as other mills operated in the area. These paper mill-related wastes included flyash from coal burning, drums containing press room wastes such as varnish, shellac, methyl ethyl ketone, toluene, inks, and dyes, as well as rolls of paper and aluminum foil-laminated paper, and paper fiber sludge from wastewater treatment plant operations. Also deposited in the landfill were steel and fiber barrels and pallets; construction and demolition debris such as concrete, duct work, piping, and machinery parts; and household garbage and rubbish including appliances and furniture. EPA assessments found evidence of recent flooding and erosion of the landfill surface, which revealed the presence of drums, paper, foil-backed paper, glass, and flyash. Sampling results indicated the presence of elevated levels of semi-volatile organic compounds including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and phthalates, polychlorinated biphenyls, and metals in surface soil and waste samples. A number of potential threats to people and the environment are posed by the site. People are known to eat fish caught in the river. In addition, a drinking water intake is 9.5 miles downstream of the landfill. Federally and state-listed threatened species are also documented within the area. Today, the Agency included as final on the NPL another New Jersey site, the White Swan site in Wall Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey. EPA periodically proposes sites to the NPL and, after responding to public comments, designates proposed sites as final. Sites that are designated as final are eligible for funds to conduct long-term cleanups. Together, these two sites would bring the total number of federal Superfund sites in New Jersey to 115.