Cornell-Dubilier Electronics
Site Community Update
Community Update
September 2009
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Public Information Session:
Monday, September 21, 2009
at 7:00 PM
U.S. EPA will hold an information
meeting to explain the upcoming
on-site treatment of contaminated
soils by low temperature thermal
desorption (LTTD).
EPA representatives will be
available at the South Plainfield
Senior Center located at 90 Maple
Avenue, South Plainfield, New
Jersey Between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00
p.m.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Questions concerning cleanup ac-
tivities can be directed to:
•	Peter Mannino, EPA
Remedial Project Manager, at
(212) 637-4395 or e-mail at
mannino.pietro@epa.gov
•	Patricia Seppi, EPA
Community Involvement
Coordinator, at
(212) 637-3679 or e-mail at
seppi.pat@epa.gov
The purpose of this document is to provide the community with
information regarding the upcoming construction activities at the
Cornell-Dubilier Electronics (CDE) Superfund site located in South
Plainfield, New Jersey. In addition, EPA will hold a public
information meeting to explain the information detailed below and
respond to questions.
Pursuant to EPA's 2004 Record of Decision (ROD), EPA will begin
construction activities in the fall of 2009 to treat contaminated soils
at the former CDE facility, also known as the Hamilton Industrial
Park. The ROD calls for the excavation of contaminated soils and
the on-site treatment of excavated soil amenable to treatment by low
temperature thermal desorption (LTTD). LTTD is a physical
separation process, whereby excavated soils are heated inside an
enclosed chamber, causing the contaminants to be removed from
soils. A contaminant recovery system captures removed
contaminants, which are transported off-site for disposal or
incineration at an approved facility. Soil and debris not suitable for
on-site LTTD treatment will be transported to an off-site facility for
disposal. The following is a brief description of what will occur
during our construction.
Prior to the commencement of construction activities, site control
measures will be implemented to establish work zones. Security
fencing will be installed around the work zones. Where applicable,
silt fencing will be installed surrounding the work zone to prevent
the movement of soils during excavation.
EPA has developed a comprehensive Health and Safety (H&S)
program specifically for the construction activities. The H&S
program is developed for the protection of the community as well as
the on-site workers. As part of EPA's H&S program, EPA
establishes action levels, health-based concentrations or levels
designated for specific site contaminants. They are concentrations
that are set prior to the commencement of work and are not to be
exceeded at any time during construction. The action levels pertain
to the emissions of dust or air concentrations of site specific
www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/Cornell

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Community Update
September 2009
contaminants. The construction practices to be employed at the industrial park will minimize the
potential for dust generation, and a comprehensive air monitoring program will provide
necessary safeguards to assure that contaminants do not leave the site. Dust suppression is a crucial
operation within EPA's construction operation. Dust suppression methods prevent dust particles or soil
from spreading off-site, via the air and wind, to prevent exceedances of EPA's established action levels.
Approximately 87,300 cubic yards of contaminated soil and debris will be excavated from the industrial
park. Excavated soil will be screened and stockpiled on site. Amenable soils will be treated on-site by
LTTD, then backfilled. Materials not amenable to treatment will be transported off-site by truck for
disposal. All trucks leaving the industrial park will be properly covered. Trucks will also be used to
transport backfill into the industrial park. It is estimated that the LTTD unit will operate at the CDE site
for approximately 1 year. Since contaminants will remain on-site above levels that would allow for
unrestricted use, the site will be capped with asphalt and institutional controls will be implemented for the
industrial park.
STATUS OF CLEANUP ACTIVITIES:
In May 2008, EPA completed the demolition of the 18 contaminated buildings at the former CDE facility.
The buildings were contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and metals, such as arsenic,
chromium, mercury, and lead. Approximately, 26,400 tons of building debris was transported off-site to
approved landfills via truck.
In June 2008, EPA completed excavating approximately 21,000 tons of capacitor debris and soils from an
area in the undeveloped portion of the facility, identified as the capacitor disposal area. The debris in this
area was contaminated with PCBs.
EPA has already begun the cleanup of residential, commercial, and municipal properties adjacent to the
facility. PCB-contaminated soil and interior dust have been removed from nineteen properties near the
former CDE facility.
The investigations of the contaminated groundwater and the sediments of the Bound Brook are ongoing.
In 1997, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued a fish consumption advisory for
the Bound Brook, New Market Pond, and Spring Lake. This advisory is still in place. Fish caught from
these water bodies should not be eaten.
SITE HISTORY:
From 1936 to 1962, CDE, Inc. operated at the 26-acre facility located in South Plainfield, New Jersey.
CDE manufactured electronic components including, in particular, capacitors. PCBs and chlorinated
solvents were used in the manufacturing process, and the company disposed of PCB-contaminated
materials and other hazardous wastes directly on the facility site. CDE's activities eventually led to the
widespread chemical contamination of the facility and surrounding area.
www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/npl/Cornell

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