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Sites in Reuse in New Jersey
American Cyanamid Company
For years, Bridgewater Township in New Jersey, battled with American Cyanamid to clean up its chemical manufacturing wastes. Now the township is working with EPA, other local governments, and a private company to redevelop a clean portion of the site into a minor league baseball stadium and a 700,000-square foot multi-use complex. American Cyanamid produced pharmaceuticals and other chemicals on the site for over 75 years. Plant operators routinely dumped wastes into lagoons and pits on the property, resulting in extensive soil and ground water contamination. In 1983, EPA added the site to its list of hazardous waste sites needing cleanup. After the site was listed, EPA, the state, and the community designed and implemented a cleanup that allowed for the redevelopment of the property. The "phenomenal" location of the site attracted the private developers that will build the $80-million Bridgewater Promenade mutli-use complex, that will include retail, hotel, and office space. In addition, the 6,300-seat minor league baseball stadium is expected to be ready by summer 1999.
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Cooper Road Dump
The Cooper Road Dump Superfund site in Voorhees Township, New Jersey, has been cleaned up and redeveloped into a residential community. In 1982, several dozen vials containing hazardous liquids were discovered at the property, posing a threat to the local community. Some of the vials were broken, and hazardous waste leaked into area soil. In 1984, EPA added the site to its list of hazardous sites needing cleanup. The State of New Jersey oversaw the removal of the vials and contaminated soil, which were disposed of in a federally approved facility. Following cleanup, EPA surveyed the site to ensure that no significant contamination remained. The 100-acre site is now home to a ten-unit housing development.
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DeRewal Chemical Co.
The former DeRewal Chemical Co. Superfund site in Kingwood Township, New Jersey, has been redeveloped into a nature refuge where migratory bird watching is just one of several popular recreational activities. For years, the state tried to force the DeRewal Chemical Company to comply with chemical handling regulations but finally called EPA in to assist. In 1984, EPA added the site to its list of hazardous waste sites needing cleanup. Once the site was listed, EPA joined with the state to clean up the site and worked with the township to prepare it for reuse. Today, residents and visitors enjoy nature walks, canoe and bike rides, and bird watching on what used to be a massively contaminated piece of land. The Kingwood Township also plans to convert a house on the site into a Historical, Environmental, and Recreational Center to display over 2,000 ancient artifacts found during the cleanup effort.
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Lipari Landfill
With six playing fields, a nature trail, a paved and lighted parking lot, a recreational building, streams, marshes, and the beautiful Alcyon Lake, a visitor to the new Alcyon Park in Mantua Township, New Jersey, would be surprised to learn the condition of the park 15 years ago. At that time, the park had only a few picnic tables, a ball field, and signs warning visitors about the hazards of the lake. Alcyon Lake had been severely contaminated by the nearby Lipari Landfill, and the soil, ground water, and surface water had become a health and environmental threat. Residents, some living several hundred feet away from the landfill, complained of strong chemical odors and respiratory problems. After adding the site to the Agency's list of hazardous waste sites needing cleanup in 1983, EPA teamed with the state, the Borough of Pitman, and the community to develop a cleanup plan that allowed for the expansion of the park. The Borough of Pitman purchased the property, and EPA worked closely with local officials to accelerate the cleanup of the lake, bringing it back into productive use for the community.
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Vineland State School
The New Jersey Department of Human Services (NJDHS) runs the Vineland State School in Vineland, New Jersey. The 195-acre property is a residential and treatment facility for mentally handicapped women and includes an array of buildings that support the 1,300 residents. For years, the school operated an unregulated incinerator and landfill on the property to dispose of its waste. In addition, hazardous chemicals such as mercury, pesticides, and transformer oil were dumped into pits and ponds on the property. The state was called in to investigate several spills at the facility and found extensive soil and ground water contamination. In 1983, EPA added the site to its list of hazardous waste sites needing cleanup. EPA and the state developed a cleanup plan, and the state took the lead in removing contaminated soil and placing a protective soil cover over a portion of the site. The city extended the public water supply system to affected residences near the site and the state monitored the ground water, to ensure that the pollutants did not spread. After the cleanup, EPA determined that the site is safe for the public and the environment, and deleted it from the list. Teamwork between EPA and the state enabled NJDHS to continue to care for their patients without interruption during and after the cleanup.
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