EPA REGION 2
DAYCO CORP. I	CONGRESSIONAL DIST. 11
o	Morris County
L.E.CARPENTER rn	™ar,on B^h
NEW JERSEY
EPA ID# NJD002168748
Site Description 	
The Dayco Corp./L.E. Carpenter Company Site covers 14 1/2-acres, and includes buildings,
warehouses, and remnants of disposal areas that are associated with a former vinyl wall covering
manufacturing facility in Wharton Township. During original plant operations, various solid and
liquid wastes were disposed of in unlined on-site lagoons, located approximately 20 feet from the
Rockaway River. Although manufacturing no longer occurs at the Site, several buildings are rented
out as warehouses and offices. The Site is located in the flood plain of the Rockaway River and is
above an aquifer that provides potable water for both Wharton and Dover Townships. The Site
borders both residential and industrial areas, and approximately 27,000 people live within a 3-mile
radius. The nearest residence is 150 feet north of the Site, and two of Wharton Township's public
supply wells are approximately 2,600 feet from the Site.
Site Responsibility.	NpL UST|NG history
This Site is being addressed through	Proposed Date: 04/01/85
Federal, State, and potentially	Finai Date: 07/01/87
responsible parties' actions.
Threats and Contaminants 	
The ground water and soil at the Site are contaminated with various volatile organic
compounds (VOCs), such as xylene and ethylbenzene, semi-volatile compounds
including bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, and with inorganics, such as lead and antimony.
Some small amounts of site-related contaminants have been found in Rockaway River
sediment samples. The contaminated ground water and soil could adversely affect the
DAYCO CORP./L.E. CARPENTER CO.
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health of people if accidentally swallowed, inhaled or if contacted.
Clean
up Approach 	
The Site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase focusing on
cleanup of the entire Site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In 1982, Dayco Corp./L.E. Carpenter Company removed heavily
contaminated soils and chemical storage tanks for off-site disposal.
f\ Entire Site: The State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
(NJDEP) is directly overseeing Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) actions at the Site,
with EPA assistance. The NJDEP issued two administrative orders covering various on-
site activities: one in 1982, and a second in 1986. Pursuant to the first order, the PRP installed
monitoring wells and constructed a floating product recovery system in 1982, and in 1985, the PRP
excavated and removed approximately 4,000 yards of contaminated sludge from an impoundment. In
addition, as part of NJDEP approved closure activities, the PRP removed sixteen above and below
ground storage tanks and associated contaminated soils.
In accordance with the second order, the PRP began a site-wide remedial investigation (RI) in 1986
to determine the nature and extent of contamination. The RI was conducted in several phases and
completed in 1992. As part of the RI, twelve areas or hot spots containing contamination were
identified. In 1993, the PRP completed a feasibility study (FS) that evaluated possible cleanup
actions. In December 1993, the NJDEP issued a proposed plan describing its preferred remedy and
opened a 30-day public comment period. The NJDEP issued a Record of Decision (ROD) on April
18, 1994, outlining the selected remedy: excavation and the on- and off-site disposal of contaminated
soils; floating product removal; ground water extraction and remediation via biological treatment;
reinfiltration of treated ground water; vegetative soil cover; and property restrictions.
As part of the selected remedy, in December 1994, the PRP further investigated and excavated lead
and PCB-contaminated soils from some identified hot spot areas. During implementation of the
remedy it was revealed that several hot spot areas were more extensive than anticipated, and phased
remedial investigation and excavation activities were on-going through August 1996. Currently, all
hot spot areas have been remediated with the exception of Hot Spots 1, 4, B, and C. Between
February and April 1998, the area in the vicinity of Hot Spot 1 and Monitoring Well 19 were the
subject of an additional focused study to better define the extent of ground water contamination. The
results of this investigation indicated that additional study was necessary, which was subsequently
included in the November 1998 work plan that covered all four remaining hot spot areas. This
additional investigation was conducted during the Spring of 1999. The results of these studies were
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presented by the PRP for review in two reports in late 1999, and early 2000, however, the study
failed to locate the downgradient extent of the plume in the Hot Spot 1 area. Moreover, the extent of
the lead contamination in soils has also not been fully delineated. Based on these results, EPA has
requested that further investigation work be conducted on the Hot Spot areas to delineate the full
extent of contamination.
The PRP has currently prepared and submitted a number of work plans to address the delineation and
cleanup work for the site. The plans have been reviewed and approved by both the NJDEP and EPA,
and field work has begun on the final investigation and delineation work on the lead, DEHP and
NAPL contaminant areas. It is expected that draft remedial design (RD) plans will be submitted by
the PRP in the summer of 2002.
Site Facts: Under an Administrative Order issued in 1986, the PRP initiated investigation activities
to characterize the nature and extent of contamination at the site. In addition, the PRP initiated
design and remedial action cleanup activities.
Removal of 16 storage tanks and much of the contaminated soils have greatly reduced the potential
for exposure. In addition, a total of 5,341 cubic yards of contaminated soil were excavated for off-
site disposal. A free product recovery system was installed in 1982, upgraded in 1991, and replaced
with a new system in December of 1997, when the former systems showed diminishing returns.
Since initiation in December 1997, the new recovery system has removed approximately 14,185 total
gallons of material, which included approximately 3,082 gallons of floating product.
Cleanup Progress	(Threats Mitigated by Cleanup Progress)
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