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Build It And They Will Come:
The Story Of Pepe Field

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Pepe Field Success Story

houts of, "Play ball!" accompanied by the rhythmic thumping of
basketballs and the gleeful noises of children at play have replaced the
noxious odors that, for more than 20 years, emanated from Pepe Field in
Boonton, New Jersey. Tins modem and heavily frequented park, lying in
the midst of a dense residential neighborhood, resembles many others around
the country: it includes a regulation little league field with an electronic
scoreboard, a walking path, concession stands, a colorful playground, and a
basketball court. However, the historical and symbolic importance of Pepe
Field to this residential community makes this park one-of-a-kind.

When the E.F. Drew Chemical Company began dumping waste at this
3.5-acre site in 1920, local residents had 110 idea that they were
witnessing the beginnings of an 80-year ordeal that would involve two
renovations of the site and millions of dollars in cleanup and construction
costs. The company disposed of waste from the manufacture of edible
oils and cleaning products until 1950, when it finally abandoned the site,
leaving it an open, unused area in the heart of a busy residential district.
Fifteen years later, the Town of Boonton purchased the property, covered
the site with sod, and began work on a park that would eventually include
a tennis court, a playground, a refreshments stand, and a baseball field.

Shortly thereafter, a terrible smell began to permeate the air in and
around Pepe Field. The Town of Boonton implemented an odor
abatement plan in 1969, but the gases continued to seep from the former
landfill, and the town had to close the field. As 90-year old Sally Bentley
explains, "The smell was terrible. We all just got accustomed to it. My
son Gerald used to play in it and come home with all this gunk on him."
Further tests found that hazardous substances in a below-ground drain were
releasing directly into the Rockaway River. The Rockaway River then
emptied into the Boonton Reservoir, a major source of water for the
surrounding area.

In 1983, Pepe Field was added to EPA's National Priorities List of
hazardous waste sites needing cleanup. In 1985, the State ofNew
Jersey took over the cleanup and began collecting data to determine what
should be done with Pepe Field. State officials evaluated several options
such as removing the waste or containing it within the site. These
options were evaluated according to cost, effectiveness, and the impact
on human health and safety. Four years later, state officials announced
that securing the waste within the site boundaries presented the best
option. They envisioned placing a thick layer of clay called a "cap" over

Pepe Field's complicated clean-up effort
required an innovative approach to ensure the
health and safety of Boonton's residents.

JUSTTHE FACTS:

90,000 residents in surrounding area

Public involvement critical in
crafting the best cleanup remedy
possible

Newly developed technology
allowed for removal and off-site
treatment of 85,000 tons of waste,
allowing for safe reuse of the site

continued ~~

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the site to contain contamination, monitoring the groundwater, implementing deed restrictions, and
providing a better gas collection system. Town officials and local residents objected to the state's
plan because it would prevent use of the site as a ball field and recreation area. However,
due to the relatively high cost and danger associated with removing the waste from
the site, containing it seemed to be the only viable option.

CONTACTS:

For more information contact
Romona Pezzeiia (RPM)
(212) 637.4385

By late 1991, EPA had taken over the management of site activities. The
Agency conducted a series of new tests and discovered that the buried
waste extended beyond the boundaries of Pepe Field. In addition, these
tests indicated that the gas and contaminated water leaking from the
site were much more toxic than originally thought. This new data
forced a re-evaluation of the possible remedies. Suddenly, the cost of
removing the waste, compared to containment, was not nearly so
extreme and the wish of Boonton residents to have their ball field back
became an important factor. In 1997, EPA decided to change the
original plan; it was decided that removal and off-site treatment of the
waste presented the best option. EPA planned to utilize a newly developed
technology to ensure that the excavation and removal would not pose a threat
to nearby residents. Mixing the excavated waste with a neutralizing cement kiln
dust made it safe to transport through the surrounding residential neighborhood and
onto the off-site treatment plant. To the relief of Boonton residents, the new plans specified that "the
site will be backfilled and restored for future use as a recreational facility in accordance with a
detailed restoration plan to be developed with local officials."

As the bulldozers and dump trucks began rumbling onto the site, city officials worked with residents
to come up with a design for the new park. A committee comprising Boonton residents was formed
to discuss important issues and deal with differences of opinion before they presented the plan to
town officials. Once a plan had been developed, it was presented to EPA officials for review; EPA
then worked with engineers to make it a reality. Carol Browner, the EPA Administrator at the time,
explained, "Public involvement has been absolutely critical in helping us craft
the best cleanup remedy possible. Together, we arrived at a solution
that will be permanent, require no long-term oversight, and it will
allow the city to reuse the property for recreation, or for
whatever it wants."

Six years later, Pepe Field continues to be a busy place.

Instead of bulldozers and dump trucks, there are ball players
and proud parents The smell of rotten egg has been
replaced by the aroma of roasting hotdogs, and the screech
of heavy machinery has given way to the excited shouts of
children on the playground. The Pepe Field story is a success
story for many reasons. For the residents of Boonton, it
represents the fruits of patience and perseverance, while EPA can
take pride in having helped a community turn a liability into an asset.

As Ms. Browner said at the park's opening, "The restoration of Pepe
Field is a symbol of what we can accomplish when we work together
to clean up these sites."

Pepe Field now includes a regulation-size
little league field with an electronic
scoreboard and a concession stand.

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