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ATOFINA Chemicals
Other (Former) Names of Site: Bendix Aviation Corporation, Pennwalt Corporation SS White Dental Division, Elf Atochem North America
| EPA Identification Number: | NJD052788528 | |
| Facility Location: | 100 South Street, Holmdel, New Jersey |
|
| Facility Contact: | Gary Shelby, (215) 419-5632 | |
| EPA Contact: | Sin-Kie Tjho, (212) 637-4115, tjho.sin-kie@epa.gov | |
| New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Case Manager: | Sharon Bruder, (609) 633-1449 | |
| Last Updated: | June 2006 | |
| Environmental Indicator Status: |
Human Exposures Under Control [PDF
70.0 KB, 20 pp] has been verified. |
|
Site Description
ATOFINA Chemicals, Inc., formerly known as Elf Atochem, is a 112-acre site located on 100 South Street, in an area of Holmdel Township, New Jersey that is residential and commercial. The site was a farmland until 1959 when Bendix Aviation Corporation purchased the property for the manufacture of semi-conductors.
Pennwalt Corp. purchased the site in 1970 and manufactured dental equipment from 1971 to 1983, when the site shut down. In 1990, Pennwalt Corporation became Elf Atochem North America. In June 2000, Elf Atochem North America became ATOFINA Chemicals. The facility is being remediated under New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Memorandum of Agreement, which is a voluntary cleanup agreement between NJDEP and the facility.
Potential Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater is contaminated with tetrachloroethene (PCE). Two sources are responsible for the contamination: a former leaking underground storage tank area that contained waste solvents and a firing range area, which was used as a dump site from 1960 to 1970. The firing range consisted of a primary lagoon, which received liquid waste and drums, and a circular lagoon, which received drums and oil-coated scrap. The PCE contamination of the groundwater has not decreased over time. The groundwater is limited to the site, and has not yet reached on-site surface water.
Cleanup Approach and Progress
The tanks from the tank area were removed and the contaminated soil was excavated and disposed off the site. Further investigation revealed that the deeper soil located under a building associated with the former tank area is contaminated with volatile organics. This soil contamination is a potential source for groundwater contamination. The groundwater at the firing range area was monitored with the intention of demonstrating natural attenuation. However, it was found that the contamination in the groundwater was not decreasing.
ATOFINA will remediate the deeper soil related to the underground storage tank area after the demolition of the building. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) is requesting further characterization of the groundwater contamination at the firing range and development of a remediation plan. NJDEP is also requesting that the two Classification Exception Area (CEA) plans be resubmitted, which will define the areas where groundwater is contaminated above standards and where groundwater use is restricted.
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 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) makes available its public records through formal request under the Open Public Records Act (OPRA).
