Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Worldwide Medicines in Brunswick, New Jersey
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Site Responsibility
Cleanup Status
The site is being cleaned up under the NJDEP Property Transfer Program. Several phases of environmental investigation and cleanup actions have been conducted at the site since 1987.
Much of the impacted soil has been addressed through removal and off-site disposal. Several additional areas are being investigated, evaluated, and cleaned up. BMS is proposing the installation and maintenance of asphalt or other cap materials over remaining soil contamination, as well as site-wide deed notice restricting future land use, as the final soil remedy.
Surface water remedial activities have included removal of impacted sediments, improvements to the site storm water management system, and construction and operation of a groundwater pump-and-treat (P&T) system. Additional surface water monitoring is planned.
BMS installed a groundwater P&T system in 1994 to provide hydraulic control for groundwater contamination associated with two former tank farm areas on the site. This system conveys groundwater to an on-site treatment facility for treatment prior to discharge to the Middlesex County Utilities Authority sanitary sewer system or reused in on-site cooling towers. Groundwater impact at another area on the site is managed under a Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA) program and monitored since 2000. Additional investigation and evaluation of cleanup options in other areas is underway.
Since 2009, BMS has conducted Vapor Intrusion remedial investigations and will continue to monitor and evaluate VI concerns and implement mitigation options.
Site Description
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMS) is located at 1 Squibb Drive in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The site has been an active pharmaceutical manufacturing and research and development facility since it began operation by E.R. Squibb and Sons, Inc. in 1907. In 1989, E.R. Squibb was purchased by the Bristol-Myers Company. The companies merged, creating Bristol-Myers Squibb, Inc. Current operations include more than 40 buildings, involving pharmaceutical research and development, quality control/quality assurance, administrative and technical support for worldwide manufacturing, and global engineering. BMS does not currently manufacture pharmaceutical products at this site for sale to the public.
Contaminants at this Facility
Soil sampling at the site has identified the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), primarily trichloroethene (TCE) and tetrachloroethene (PCE); metals, primarily arsenic, lead, and mercury; semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs); polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); and pesticides.
Surface water sampling has identified VOCs, primarily TCE, PCE, and vinyl chloride (VC); and metals (arsenic). On-site groundwater contaminants include VOCs; and other contaminants including ethyl ether and arsenic.
Site Responsibility at this Facility
Cleanup at the site was initiated in 1987 and 1989 under the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Property Transfer Program. Bristol-Myers Squibb entered into an Administrative Consent Order with NJDEP in 1987.