SOIL CLEANUP TO
BEGIN AT IMPERIAL
OIL SITE
Community Update
October 2009
• Remediation of contaminated
soils at the Imperial Oil/
Champion Chemicals Super-
fund Site is about to begin.
• Remedial activities will in-
clude excavation and off- site
disposal of contaminated soils
and floating product and res-
toration of affected wetlands.
• EPA plans to conduct a pub-
lic information session in late
November 2009 for area resi-
dents.
QUESTIONS? Please Contact
Eemedial Project Manager
Farnaz Saghafi
212-637-4408
saghafi.farnaz@epa.gov
Community Involvement
Coordinator
Pat Seppi
212-637-3679
seppi.pat@epa.gov
Visit EPA's web site at:
www.epa.gov/region02/
superfund
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces the
startup of remediation activities for contaminated soils at the
Imperial Oil/Champion Chemicals Superfund Site (Site), lo-
cated on Tennet road in Marlboro, NJ. The soil on the plant
property is contaminated with heavy metals including arsenic
and lead, as well as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
The cleanup work includes the excavation and off-site disposal
of contaminated soil and remaining floating product and the
restoration of affected wetlands. EPA plans to conduct a pub-
lic information session in late November 2009 to inform the
area residents of the details of remedial activities. A formal
announcement of the date and location of the session will fol-
low.
The work which will begin shortly is for cleanup of contami-
nated soils at the Site, referred to as Operable Unit 3 (OU3). A
Record of Decision for OU3 was issued in September 1999.
The OU3 remedy calls for the excavation and off-site disposal
of contaminated soil, removal and off-site incineration of float-
ing product, dismantling of site buildings and tank farms, as
necessary to complete excavation of contaminated soil and re-
moval of floating product, and restoration of wetlands affected
by cleanup activities. Consistent with the OU3 remedy, EPA
dismantled an on-site abandoned masonry building which was
in danger of collapse during the fall of 2000. From 1999
through 2005, the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection (NJDEP) conducted design work for OU3, including
the performance of pre-design surface and subsurface soil sam-
pling events.
www.EPA.gov/region2/superfund/npl/lmperialoil
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Community Update October 2009
In January 2008, EPA initiated the removal of on-site tanks and tank contents, consistent with the OU3
remedy. Tank removal at the site was completed in August 2008, along with the demolition of the on-
site buildings on site except for the small structure that houses the run-off treatment system. EPA com-
pleted the design of the OU3 remedy in December 2008. The next phase of the remedial activity is now
ready to begin. Initial activities will include clearing and grubbing of vegetation to prepare the ground
for construction of the slurry wall, followed by excavation of contaminated material.
SITE BACKGROUND
The Site consisted of six production, storage and maintenance buildings and 58 above-ground storage
tanks. Imperial Oil Co. blended oil on the site, which was leased from Champion Chemicals. Several
companies have operated at the site in the past. One, a reprocessor of waste oil, may have discharged
wastes to a nearby stream. Another company which operated at the site produced arsenical pesticides.
The site formerly contained a waste pile contaminated with PCBs. The former area of site operations is
protected by a fence that completely encloses it. A fire pond, located in the northeastern corner of the
property line, has also been contaminated. A small stream which flows from the pond, Birch Swamp
Brook, eventually flows into Lake Lefferts. Samples collected from Lake Lefferts during the remedial
investigation indicated that the lake is not significantly impacted by the contaminants found at the Impe-
rial Oil site. Also located around the site is a wetland and wooded area.
CLEANUP HISTORY
Since discovery of the site, EPA has excavated and disposed of 660 cubic yards of highly contaminated
PCB-containing material from the former on-site waste pile. To date, nearly 25,000 gallons of PCB-
contaminated oil have been recovered from extraction wells that EPA installed in 1981. In 1998, EPA
removed 6,488 cubic yards of contaminated soil from four nearby affected residences. In 2004, the
NJDEP excavated contaminated sediment in Birch Swamp Brook and conducted the cleanup of con-
taminated soil found on two residential properties located adjacent to the Brook. In January 2008, EPA
initiated the removal of 58 on-site tanks, ranging in capacity from 3,000 to 25,000 gallons, in addition to
tank contents, consistent with the OU3 remedy. During this action, over 40,000 pounds of PCB sludge
and 10,000 gallons of hazardous liquids were disposed of. Tank removal at the site was completed in
August 2008, along with the demolition of four remaining on-site buildings with the exception of the
small structure that houses the run-off treatment system.
EPA Region 2 has established a liaison as a point of contact for concerns and questions about the Super-
fund program. The agency has established a 24-hour, toll free number for the public to call. The liaison
for Region 2 is George Zachos. He can be reached toll free at (888)283-7626 or at (732)321-6621.
www.EPA.gov/region2/superfund/npl/lmperialoil
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