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Garfield Chromium Ground Water Contamination
Garfield, NJ
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Your Community
Involvement Coordinator
Melissa Dimas (212) 637-3677 dimas.melissa@epa.gov
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At the request of the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will
be conducting a removal assessment regarding chromium contaminated
ground water in the city of Garfield, NJ. As part of this
assessment, EPA will determine which houses and businesses
have basements, water infiltration problems, or sump pumps so
that samples may be taken.
The investigation is expected to begin mid-September. The testing
area includes 614 properties, beginning at Sherman Place and
moving west to the Passaic River. See reverse for a map of the
entire testing area, including the northern and southern
boundaries.
Historically in Garfield, industrial facilities were located in close proximity to residential areas. These facilities included a tannery and chemical plant, and two electroplating companies. Some of these facilities used chromium in their processes, and it is suspected the ground water in the surrounding areas has become contaminated with chromium. In June 1993, chromium contaminated ground water and crystals were discovered in the basement of the Garfield Fire House #3. Since then, several other houses and business have reported elevated levels of chromium in their ground water. EPA will conduct site investigations to determine the potential sources, the extent of contamination, and levels of chromium. If site conditions and results from the investigation meet federal criteria for removal action, clean up measures can be taken.
In the fall of 2008, EPA began its investigation of potential chromium contaminated groundwater in the City of Garfield. Initial surveys of homes and businesses were done to determine which had basements, water infiltration problems or sump pumps so that samples could be taken. Samples were collected between February and March of 2009. At that time 166 properties were tested, generating over 3000 data points.
At this time all data has been received from the laboratories and validated. The processing of all data (maps, photographs, analytical) into an electronic format and entry into the database designed for this project was completed in the end of May.
EPA will now conduct a risk assessment to determine if the site presents a significant human health risk and/or meets the criteria for a removal action under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). Upon completion of this evaluation, and once the risk is determined, the owners of all properties will be notified (in writing) of the analytical results from samples collected on their property and the associated risk. After the risk assessment is complete and residents have been notified of their results, EPA will hold a public information session to discuss the general findings and next steps. The date of this meeting is to be determined.
Chromium Fact Sheet en espaņol
Chromium Fact Sheet
