The Environmental Protection Agency instructs Occidental Chemical Corp. develop a plan to clean up the upper nine miles of the lower Passaic River at the Diamond Alkali Superfund in New Jersey.

NEW YORK (March 2, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today issued an administrative order requiring Occidental Chemical Corp. (OxyChem) develop an interim cleanup plan. selected by the EPA in September 2021. for the upper nine miles of the Lower Passaic River Study Area at the Diamond Alkali Superfund site in New Jersey. OxyChem will be responsible for preparing work plans and conducting a preliminary investigation. This includes sampling to determine the boundaries of contamination. OxyChem will also conduct surveys to assess the riverbed, shoreline and other aspects of the river in preparation for the cleanup.

“In accordance with this order, OxyChem will perform the necessary engineering work before actual cleanup work can begin,” he said. Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “The EPA will be closely monitoring this work, which is an important step towards the restoration of this iconic river for the inhabitants of its banks.”

The Diamond Alkali Superfund site includes the lower 17 miles of the Passaic River. Most of the contaminated sediment is in the lower 8.3 miles, but pollution in the upper nine miles continues to affect the river’s ecosystem and surrounding communities. In September 2021, the EPA completed the cleanup plan. this included removing or isolating sources of contamination under a cover. These cleanup activities are planned to coincide with the cleanup of the lower 8.3 miles of the river. OxyChem is developing a cleanup plan for the lower section and will design the upper nine-mile section. Once approved by the EPA, the final project report will include site-wide monitoring plans, health and safety plans, and a detailed description of the cleanup plan, including specifics on how the cleanup will be carried out.

The cleanup plan that OxyChem will develop is an interim action, meaning that once the cleanup is complete, the EPA will evaluate the results and may decide that further work is needed to remove any remaining pollution from that section of the river. The cleaning plan includes the following:

Covering and dredging approximately 387,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment.

Before closing, the sediment will be taken out to the depth to install the cover, so as not to increase the likelihood of flooding.

Additional coverage and dredging in areas with potential for erosion and high concentrations of contaminants in the subsoil.

Evaluation of areas where deposits can be taken out so that there is no need for a coating.

Processing of dredging materials at one or more nearby sediment processing facilities.

Restricting activities in the river to protect the cap and continuing New Jersey’s existing bans on fish and crab consumption.

Monitoring and maintenance of the lid to ensure its stability and integrity in the long term.

Background

The EPA often divides cleanup activities at complex sites into different areas or operating units (OUs): the Diamond Alkali Superfund site is currently organized into four OUs.

OU1 is the site of the former Diamond Alkali pesticide plant at 80-120 Lister Avenue, whose temporary cleanup was completed in 2001.

OU2 is the lower 8.3 miles of the lower Passaic River, from Newark Bay to 8.3 miles of the river, for which EPA selected cleanup in 2016. A $1.38 billion cleanup plan is currently in development under EPA oversight.

OU3 is the Newark Bay Research Area. The EPA is currently overseeing an in-depth study of the bay, including the nature and extent of pollution and potential risks to human health and the environment from exposure to that pollution, and an assessment of technologies and alternatives to determine how best to clean up it in the long run.

OU4 is a 17-mile study area for the Lower Passaic River, which includes both the lower 8.3 miles of the river and the upper nine miles. This Executive Order covers project work to clean up the top nine miles of OU4 in the Lower Passaic River Study Area, which is an interim action. When clean-up work is completed, EPA will assess conditions in the river, determine if further work is needed, and document the decision in a final document.

Visit Diamond Alkali Co. website profile page. super fund additional reference materials and site documents.

Follow EPA Region 2 at Twitter and visit our facebook page. For more information on Region 2 EPA visit our Web site.

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