Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Chemtura Corporation in Perth Amboy, New Jersey
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Site Responsibility
Cleanup Status
Crompton (then Witco) closed the hazardous waste tank and the drum storage area at the site in 1987. The remedial approach consisted of excavation and off-site disposal of soil containing high concentrations of PCBs. Areas with lower concentrations were capped and their use was restricted to non-residential purposes. The cleanup was completed in February 1999. The company proposed to let the contaminated groundwater degrade and dilute naturally over time. A report that Crompton submitted to support this approach has been approved.
If the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) agrees that groundwater is likely to degrade and dilute naturally, they will grant a conditional no further action determination. The natural attenuation remediation has been approved. The company is still required to notify the local governing bodies of the designation of the Classification Exception Area (CEA) and also to record a deed notice with the county office. After that, they will have to provide NJDEP with documentation of the deed notice and CEA notification. If the documentation is acceptable, a Conditional No Further Action will be issued.
NJDEP will also impose a deed notice to restrict uses of the property to protect people from any residual contamination and also restrictions on the use of the groundwater for as long as it remains contaminated. A groundwater monitoring program will confirm the effectiveness of the natural remedy, or any other measures subsequently chosen to address the contaminated groundwater.
Site Description
The Chemtura Corporation (formerly Crompton Corp.) is located at 10 Convery Boulevard in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. The site encompasses approximately 25 acres, and is an active facility that manufactures chemicals and chemical intermediates for a variety of end users.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) cleanup of the site has been performed in accordance with a New Jersey judicial consent decree executed in 1990 by Witco. The decree required the company to implement the cleanup action that had been selected from a study completed by New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). Subsequently, Witco merged with Crompton & Knowles and eventually became known as the Crompton Corporation. As of July 2005 Chemtura Corporation became a new facility owner base on a subsequent notification (site identification form) sent by the new owner to EPA in September 2005.
Contaminants at this Facility
The primary potential risks associated with this site include the threat of direct human contact with soil contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs. Contaminated groundwater is not a threat because it is not a source of drinking water. The manufacturing operations and waste management at the site are the sources of the contamination.
Site Responsibility at this Facility
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action activities at this facility have been conducted under the direction of EPA Region 2.