&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
Publication 9320.7-041
September 1991
Background Information:
National Priorities List,
Final Rule
Office of Emergency and Remedial Response
Hazardous Site Evaluation Division (OS-230)
Intermittent Bulletin
Vslume 1, Number 2
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is
adding White Chemical Corp., Newark, NJ, to the National
Priorities List (NPL), bringing the number of final sites to
1,185 (reflecting the 4 deletions noted below). An additional
22 sites are in proposed status for a total of 1,207 — 1,088 in
the EPA section and 119 in the Federal facilities section.
Cleanup of sites in the Federal section is funded by the
Federal agency responsible. New Jersey has the largest
number of final and proposed sites (109), followed by
Pennsylvania (96) and California (90).
The site was proposed on the basis of Section
300.425(c)(3) of the National Contingency Plan (NCP), the
Federal regulation by which CERCLA is implemented. Under
this section, a site can be placed on the NPL if (1) the Agency
for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) of the
U.S. Public Health Service has issued a public health advisory
recommending that people be removed from the site, (2) EPA
determines that the site poses a significant threat to public
health, and (3) EPA anticipates that it will be more cost-
effective to use its remedial authority (available only at NPL
sites) than its emergency removal authority to respond to the
site.
On November 21, 1990, ATSDR issued a health
advisory warning that White Chemical poses a significant
threat to public health because of the possible release of
hazardous substances to the air.
The site was subject to public comment for 30 days
following its proposal on May 9, 1991 (56 FR 21460). EPA
received one comment that did not affect listing.
The NPL identifies uncontrolled hazardous waste sites
that warrant further investigation to determine if long-term
medial action" is necessary. The sites on the EPA Section
The NPL are eligible for remedial action funded under the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act (CERCLA), enacted on December 11, 1980, as
amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization
Act (SARA), enacted on October 17, 1986. SARA authorized
a "Hazardous Substances Superfund" totalling $8.5 billion
over 5 years to pay costs for overseeing work by those
responsible for cleaning up waste sites, and to pay costs not
assumed by responsible parties for cleanup at sites in the EPA
section of the NPL. In October 1990, SARA was extended to
September 30, 1994 to provide an additional $5.1 billion.
EPA recently activated a new category on the NPL
identifying sites where remedial construction activities have
been completed but formal deletion is not yet appropriate. To
date, 38 sites have been deleted from the NPL, 12 are in the
"Construction Completion" category, and 13 are awaiting final
documentation prior to being placed in the Construction
Completion category. All of these 63 sites are in the EPA
section of the NPL.
At the time of the last NPL rulemaking (56 FR
35840, July 29, 1991), 1,188 sites were on the final NPL.
The addition of White Chemical and the deletion of four sites
(56 FR 46121, September 10, 1991) bring the number to
1,185 - 1,069 in the EPA section and 116 in the Federal
facilities section. The four deleted sites are:
• Jibboom Junkyard, Sacramento, CA (formerly in
"Construction Completion" category)
• Wedzeb Enterprises, Inc., Lebanon, IN
• Union Scrap Iron & Metal Co., Minneapolis, MN
(formerly in "Construction Completion" category)
• Lansdowne Radiation site, Lansdowne, PA
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EPA
UNITED STATES
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
OSWERDIR9320704IA
NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST
OERR Hazardous Site Evaluation Division Washington, DC 20460
WHITE CHEMICAL CORP.
Newark, New Jersey
Conditions at Proposal
May9, 1991
White Chemical Corp. occupies a 4.4-acre site at 660 Frelinghuysen Avenue in a densely populated residential/industrial section
of Newark, Essex County, New Jersey. Acid chlorides and flame-retardant chemicals were manufactured on property owned
by AZS Corp. from January 1984 to July 1990. Prior to May 1983, Lancaster Chemical Corp., a division of AZS, manufactured
chemicals on the property. The site originally consisted of three major buildings, including laboratories, storerooms, and
grounds. It is bounded by an industrial center to the north-northeast, a feather company to the west, a sportswear manufacturer
to the south-southwest, and a Conrail line to the east-southeast.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) inspected the facility several times in 1989 and found
numerous violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. On March 15, 1990, NJDEP served White Chemical and
AZS an Administrative Order and Notice of Civil Administrative Penalty Assessment for the noted violations. On May 8, 1990,
NJDEP ordered White Chemical to secure the site and to pay for drum stabilization and removal. After the company failed to
comply, NJDEP began a removal operation on May 15, 1990. NJDEP's inventory found (among other things) approximately
9,000 drums improperly stored on-site. According to the NJDEP inventory and the site owner, 915 contained scrubbing solution
(water with xylene or trichloroethylene), 608 contained waste filter cake, 5,583 contained wastes that may be hazardous, 109
contained substances not classified, 1,673 were claimed to be empty, and 175 were considered to be products by White Chemical.
NJDEP observed deteriorating drums leaking into the soil or eroding the pallets on which they were placed. NJDEP also
observed spills of phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, ethylene dichloride, and xylene. Water-reactive materials were stored outside
where rain or humidity provided conditions for the materials to be released, and incompatible materials were stored next to each
other. There were also 126 above-ground tanks of a variety of sizes. Thousands of unsegregated lab-pack-size materials in
various stages of deterioration are stored within the buildings on shelves that are also deteriorating.
By August 1990, NJDEP had removed approximately 1,000 drums. However, cleanup was halted when NJDEP ran out of funds
(having expended approximately $825,000). The State then called EPA for assistance in completing stabilization and removal
actions at the site. Subsequently, EPA overpacked fuming drums of phosphorus tribromide for future disposal.
On September 28, 1990, EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order under CERCLA Section 104(e)(3) requiring White
Chemical to stop all business activities and vacate the facility. The most serious threats to public health and the environment
would result from a release to air of substances in unstable drums and other containers, and by fire and explosion and the
associated release of contaminants to air. Approximately 12,000 people live and work within 1/4 mile of the site, 290,000
persons live within 3 miles of the site, and an unknown number of people work within this 3-mile radius. Given prevailing
winds, a fire and explosion at White Chemical could seriously impact Newark International Airport, less than 1 mile to the east,
the Conrail line at the site's eastern boundary (the major eastern corridor for Amtrak and Conrail), and U.S. Routes 1 and 9
(between the rail line and the airport).
EPA removal staff continues to stabilize and secure the site. The removal action may take up to 18 months. In addition, EPA
continues to assess site conditions and the quantities and types of materials present.
On November 21, 1990, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) of the U.S. Public Health Service
issued an advisory warning that the site poses a significant threat to public health because of possible releases of hazardous
substances to the air. Under Section 300.425 (c)(3) of the National Contingency Plan, the Federal regulation by which CERCLA
is implemented, a site can be placed on the NPL if (1) ATSDR has issued a public health advisory recommending that people
be removed from the site, (2) EPA determines that the site poses a significant threat to public health, and (3) EPA anticipates
that it will be more cost-effective to use its remedial authority (available only at NPL sites) than its emergency removal authority
to respond to the site.
Supertund hazardous waste site listed undar the Comprehensive Environmental Response. Compensation, and Lability Ad (CERCLA) as ameroeo Revised
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White Chemical Corp. -2- Newark, New Jersey
Most of the containers remain on-site, including approximately 12,000 laboratory-type containers,
StatUS 6,700 drums, 126 tanks, and 10 gas cylinders. To date, EPA has removed 4,200 empty drums
SeDtember 1991 ^rom me s'te' A" drums have been staged and segregated. Sampling for disposal purposes is
underway.
On July 11, 1991, EPA held a public meeting to present its "Focused Feasibility Study," which describes an early remedial action
to deal with the surface contamination at the site. The remedial action is expected to start later in the year.
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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
For further information, call the Superfund Hotline, toll-free
1-800-424-9346 or (703) 920-9810 in Washington, DC
metropolitan area, or the U.S. EPA Superfund Regional
Offices Bsted below.
For publications, contact
Public Information Center, PM-211B
401 M Street SW
Washington, DC 20460
FTS-260-2080
CML (202) 260-2080
Office of Emergency & Remedial Response, OS-230
United States Environmental Protection Agency
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
FTS-260-8103 CML (202) 260-8103
Region 1
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Vermont
Superfund Branch, HSL-CAN 2
John F. Kennedy Federal Building
Boston.MA 02203-2211
FTS-833-1610 CML (617) 573-9610
Region!
New Jersey
New York
Puerto Rico
Virgin Islands
Emergency & Remedial Response Division
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278
FTS-264-8672 CML (212) 264-8672
Region?
Delaware
District of Columbia
Maryland
Pennsylvania
Virginia
West Virginia
Site Assessment Section, 3HW-13
841 Chestnut Bulking
Philadelphia, PA 19107
FTS-597-3437 CML (215) 597-3437
Region 4
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Mississippi
North Carolina
South Carolina
Tennessee
Waste Management Division
345 Courtand Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30365
FTS-257-3454 CML (404) 347-3454
Illinois
Indiana
zan
Minnesota
Ohio
Wisconsin
Remedial Response Branch, 5HS-11
230 South Deaibom Street, 12th ROOT
Chicago, H. 60604
FTS-888-5877 CML (312) 886-5877
Region 6
Arkansas
Louisiana
New Mexico
Oklahoma
Texas
Superfund Management Branch Division, 6H-M
1445 Ross Avenue
Dallas, TX 75202-2733
FTS-255-6740 CML (214) 655-6740
Region?
Iowa
Kansas
Missouri
Nebraska
Superfund Branch
726 Minnesota Avenue
Kansas City, KS 66101
FTS-276-7052 CML (913) 551-7052
jjjilRegion $
Colorado
Montana
North Dakota
South Dakota
Utah
Wyoming
Superfund RemedU Branch, 8HWM-SR
99918th Street, Suite 500
Denver, CO 80202-2405
FTS-330-7630 CML (303) 294-7630
Region 9
America! Samoa Guam
Arizona Hawaii
California Nevada
Northern Marianas
Trust Territories
Waste Management Division, H-1
75 Hawthorne Street
San Rancieoo, CA 94105
FTS-484-1730 CML (415) 744-1730
Region 10
Alaska
Idaho
Oregon
Washington
Superfund Branch, HW-113
1200 6th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101
FTS-399-1987 CML (206) 553-1987
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