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| RINGWOOD MINES/LANDFILL | Ringwood, New Jersey | |
| Passaic County |
Site Location:
The Ringwood Mines/Landfill Site is located in an historic iron mining
district in the Borough of Ringwood, Passaic County, New Jersey. The
site spans 500 acres and includes abandoned mine shafts and pits,
inactive landfills and open waste dumps. During the late 1960s and early
1970s, the site was used for various periods of time by the Borough of
Ringwood, Ford and others (including illegal third-party dumpers) for
the disposal of a large variety of waste materials including commercial
and municipal wastes, abandoned cars, appliances, paint sludge and other
miscellaneous waste and debris.
Site History:
The site was added to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983. From
March 1984 through April 1988, Ford, with EPA oversight, investigated
the nature and extent of contamination at the site. The results of this
investigation prompted EPA to order Ford to excavate and dispose of
paint sludge identified at the site, and to require Ford to monitor
ground water and surface water on a long-term basis. Ford performed
cleanup work at the site in 1987-1988, removing 7,700 cubic yards of
paint sludge and soil. In 1990, Ford removed approximately 600 cubic
yards of paint sludge as well as 54 intact and crushed drums.
Results of ground water monitoring conducted well into the 1990s
indicated no presence of a groundwater plume or any other continuing
source of groundwater contamination. EPA deleted the site from the NPL
in 1994, based upon a determination that all appropriate cleanup actions
had been implemented.
In 1995, 1998, and 2004, newly discovered pockets of paint sludge were
discovered at the site, prompting further cleanup actions. Ford, under
EPA direction, is currently excavating the paint sludge. Since December
2004, an additional 16,400 tons of paint sludge and soil have been
removed from the site as part of the ongoing cleanup effort.
Furthermore, in September 2005, Ford entered into an agreement with EPA
to conduct a comprehensive re-investigation of the site, to ensure that
all remaining wastes are identified. EPA is currently overseeing the
re-investigation of the site.
Site Contamination/Contaminants:
Contaminants of concern at the site include industrial paint wastes and
their chemical constituents, including benzene, xylene, and toluene.
Potential Impacts on Surrounding Community/Environment:
The human receptors threatened by these new areas include users of the
state park for general recreation including hiking, wildlife
observation, and hunting and fishing. There may also be potential
surface contamination on some of the residential properties.
Environmentally sensitive areas threatened by the site include the areas
in the state park established to preserve the remaining natural
environment, wetlands, and the fish and wildlife in watershed, and
surrounding lands.
Response Activities (to date):
In the Fall of 2005, the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection (NJDEP) began investigating residential properties for the
presence of paint sludge. NJDEP excavated chunks of visible paint sludge
from areas located on or immediately adjacent to three upper Ringwood
residences. In addition, Ford is currently implementing work plans
approved by both EPA and NJDEP to address remnant paint sludge. Ford has
conducted extensive investigative and removal work activities on the
site over the past several years, including additional sampling and a
site-wide reconnaissance survey. Ford has removed paint sludge and is
currently undertaking focused investigations on the O'Connor Disposal
Area, the Cannon Mine Pit and the Peter's Mine Pit.
[The description of the site (release) is based on information available at the time the site was evaluated with the HRS. The description may change as additional information is gathered on the sources and extent of contamination. See 56 FR 5600, February 11, 1991, or subsequent FR notices.]
For more information about the hazardous substances identified in this narrative summary, including general information regarding the effects of exposure to these substances on human health, please see the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxFAQs. ATSDR ToxFAQs can be found on the Internet at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html or by telephone at 1-888-42-ATSDR or 1-888-422-8737.