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Safety-Kleen Envirosystems Company
Other (Former) Names of Site: Balbach Smelting and Refining Corporation Works, Kolker Chemical Company, Inland Chemical Corporation, McKesson Envirosystems Company
| EPA Identification Number: | NJD002153922 | |
| Facility Location: | 600 Doremus Avenue, Newark, New Jersey |
|
| Facility Contact Name: | A. Patrick Nucciarone, Esq., (732) 280-4800 | |
| EPA Contact Name: | Sameh Abdellatif, (212) 637-4103, abdellatif.sameh@epa.gov | |
| New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Case Manager: | Mark Walters, (609) 633-0721 | |
| Last Updated: | October 2005 | |
| Environmental Indicator Status |
Human Exposures Under Control [PDF
76.57 KB, 27 pp] has been verified. |
|
Site Description
The Safety-Kleen Envirosystems Company site is located on approximately 9.5 acres in a heavily industrialized area in Newark, New Jersey. The site is bounded on the west by Doremus Avenue and on the east by the confluence of the Passaic River and Newark Bay. Industrial facilities are located both north and south of the site.
During the 1800s, the site was part of the Balbach Smelting and Refining Corporation Works, which refined lead and copper. The refining operations ceased in 1938 and the ownership was transferred to the City of Newark. It was inactive until purchased in 1952 by the Kolker Chemical Company, which manufactured chemicals at the location, including chlorine, methylene chloride, methyl chloride, chloroform and plasticizers. In 1962, the Kolker Chemical Company merged with Vulcan Materials Company.
In 1974, Inland Chemical Corporation purchased the property, phasing out chemical manufacturing and initiating solvent recovery operations in 1975. In 1976, the southern portion of the property was sold to Darling International for rendering of animal byproducts. Inland and McKesson Envirosystems Company merged in 1981. In October 1982, an explosion and fire destroyed much of the operations at the site and it has been inactive and vacant ever since. In 1987, Safety-Kleen Corporation acquired the stock of McKesson and renamed the company Safety-Kleen Envirosystems.
In 1982, McKesson Envirosystem Company entered into an Administrative Consent Order with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) for investigations of the site. Subsequent investigations and inspections identified a number of units and areas of concerns. In 1993, Safety-Kleen Envirosystems Company and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (which shipped waste to the site) entered into an Administrative Consent Order with NJDEP to conduct remedial investigations and remedial measures, if necessary.
Potential Threats and Contaminants
Due to poor manufacturing operation and maintenance practices, the site's soil and groundwater are contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and volatile and semi-volatile organics, such as methylene chloride, vinyl chloride, chloroform, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, cis-1,2 Dichloroethylene and xylenes.
Cleanup Approach and Progress
Investigations identified seven areas of concern. Contaminated soils in these areas were covered with asphalt caps. Oxydizing agent has been injected through two injection wells into contaminated groundwater in the shallow zone to reduce groundwater contaminant concentrations. The effectiveness of the wells is currently under review.
The company has proposed final remedial measures for the site. They consist of short-term monitoring of groundwater to assess which constituents are of concern and the potential existence of insoluable organics under the site. The company also proposed long term-monitoring, including watching natural attenuation. Safety-Kleen also proposed implementing controls, such as the use of deed restrictions and a designation as an exception area, to restrict uses of groundwater and soils as long as they remain contaminated. The proposal is being reviewed by NJDEP and EPA in conjunction with the review of data collected from the groundwater monitoring program.
Site Repository
Copies of supporting technical documents and correspondence cited in the site fact sheet are available for public review at the following location:
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Division of Solid & Hazardous Waste
Records Center
401 E. State Street, 6th Floor
Trenton, NJ 08625
telephone (609) 777-3373
The inspection of some of the documents cited in the site fact sheet may require a formal request under the United States Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
