EPA REGION 2
CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 7
Somerset County
Franklin Township
Other Names:
Route 518
Site Description 	
The Higgins Farm Superfund site is located in a rural area along Route 518 in Franklin Township,
Somerset County, New Jersey. The site is approximately 75 acres in size and is currently operated as
a cattle farm. The site is primarily pasture land with two residences. The site is bordered to the south
by Kingston Quarry of Trap Rock Industries, Inc. and to the east and west by private residences.
In 1985, the Franklin Township Health Department conducted sampling of a nearby residential well
and found elevated levels of chlorobenzene. Subsequent investigations by the New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) led to the discovery of a drum burial dump at the
site approximately 40 yards from the contaminated well.
In March 1987, NJDEP requested that EPA assume the lead role for mitigating the site. In April
1987, EPA stabilized the site to control further releases of hazardous substances into the
environment. The site was proposed for inclusion on the National Priorities List (NPL) in June 1988.
In March 1989, the site was formally placed on the NPL.
HIGGINS FARM
NEW JERSEY
EPA ID# NJD981490261
Site Responsibility: 7111:5 Slte 1S bein§ addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/24/88
Final Date: 03/30/89
Threats and Contaminants

Groundwater and monitoring wells is contaminated with VOCs, semi-VOCs, and metals.
Potential health threats include exposure to contaminants through ingestion of
contaminated groundwater.
Cleanup Approach	
Site contamination was addressed in two stages: (1) immediate action to provide affected
residents with an alternate water supply and (2) a permanent long-term remedial action to
address the groundwater contamination.
Higgins Farm
1
March 2002

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Response Action Status	
Alternate Water Supply: A Record of Decision was signed on September
24, 1990, and the remedial action was completed in November 1993. This
interim remedy included the design and construction of a water main
extension distribution system and connection to an existing water supply system. A total
of 26 homes were connected to the distribution system extension. Carbon units were
removed from the residential wells and the wells were closed to prevent future use.
Long-Term Groundwater Remedial Action: A second Record of
Decision was signed on September 30, 1992, which selected a remedy for
contaminated ground water at the site. The major components of the remedy
included the installation of groundwater extraction wells around the perimeter
of the site, the construction of an on-site groundwater treatment plant, and
implementation of a long-term groundwater monitoring plan to evaluate the continued
effectiveness of the groundwater treatment system.
By providing a permanent alternate water source, the EPA and the State have eliminated
threats to potentially affected residents from contaminated groundwater at the Higgins
Farm site. In addition, the on-site groundwater treatment system will limit further
migration of contaminated groundwater, while actively reducing contaminant levels.
Site Facts: EPA notified the potentially responsible parties of their liability for cleanup
activities in 1988 and 1989 and offered them an opportunity to conduct or finance the
initial investigation of site contamination. These parties refused to finance or undertake
the investigation. EPA also offered the potentially responsible parties the opportunity to
conduct or finance the remedial design and remedial action for the site. Again, these
parties refused.
In order to recover EPA's past costs, EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice filed a
lawsuit against the potentially responsible parties in September 1998. The case is
currently in litigation.
(Actual Construction Completion)	
All remedial action construction activities have been completed at the site. Since May
1998, the groundwater treatment system has treated over 50 million gallons. Currently, a
study may be conducted to redefine the extent of the plume.
Cleanup Progress
Higgins Farm	2	March 2002

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