The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is stepping up to clean a Superfund site in Linden, once the home of LCP Chemicals.
According to an EPA news release, several buildings on the site are being razed, which will allow the agency to address mercury-contaminated soil and water on the site. During demolition, contractors will monitor the air for any contaminated dust and erosion that may occur during the work.
“This property has been a Superfund site since 1998 and I am very excited that this clean-up will pave the way to get the property redeveloped,” Linden Mayor Derrek Armstead said in the release. “LCP shutdown operations in 1985 and having this site redeveloped and put back on the tax rolls will provide both economic and financial benefits to Linden. This clean-up has been a long time coming and I am grateful to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that this is finally happening.”
The EPA said in its news release that work is expected to be completed by summer, and its selected cleanup plan will include a cap being placed over contaminated soil to prevent potential exposure to mercury particles in the air. The cap, according to the EPA, will also prevent contamination from entering groundwater.
In a separate release, the EPA noted that the property was placed on the Superfund’s priorities list in 1998. LCP Chemicals stopped operations in 1985, according to the release.
