SEPA
Untied States
Environmental Protection
Agency
National Priorities List (NPL)
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*Proposed Site
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GARFIELD GROUND WATER
CONTAMINATION
Garfield, New Jersey
Bergen County
(?) Site Location:
OSWER/OSRTI
Washington, DC 20460
March 2011
The Garfield Ground Water Contamination site is located in a mixed commercial/residential neighborhood in Garfield,
Bergen County, New Jersey. The site is bordered by Van Winkle Avenue to the north, Monroe Street to the south, Sherman
Place to the east, and the Passaic River to the west.
Site History:
The site consists of an area of ground water contamination that was at least partially attributable to the release from a
private electroplating facility that had a partially underground storage tank (UST) failure. The tank failure released an
estimated 3,600 gallons of chromium plating solution which included approximately 5,400 pounds (lbs) of hexavalent
chromium. The spill of plating solution contaminated the water moving under the ground or ground water. Contaminated
ground water has seeped into nearby residences and commercial buildings. In addition to the former electroplating facility,
there are other possible sources of chromium, including a former tannery and another former electroplating facility.
Beginning in 1993, samples collected from walls, sumps, and floors within residential and commercial property basements
indicated the presence of hexavalent chromium at elevated concentrations.
I Site Contamination/Contaminants:
Ground water in the study area is contaminated with chromium, including hexavalent chromium. Hexavalent chromium is
a metal use in a variety of industrial processes. Some sources of hexavalent chromium include chromic pigments, anti-
corrosive agents, and chrome plating solutions.
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