Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued the final Explanation of Significant Differences detailing changes to the cleanup plan for the Woodbrook Road Dump Superfund site in South Plainfield, New Jersey.
“Today, we are announcing our update to the cleanup plan for the Woodbrook Road Dump site, which confirms our original plan to remove the contaminated soil to an approved off-site disposal facility,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “This plan will protect the health and environment of the people and wildlife living near the site, which is now part of the Peter J. Barnes III Wildlife Preserve.”
The updated final cleanup plan reveals that costs have risen from $45.4 million in 2018 to $70 million in 2023 due to inflation and increased disposal costs. Additionally, EPA revised the cleanup goal to 1.1 parts per million (ppm) for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations in soil and debris at the site. The update also acknowledges that New Jersey created the Peter J. Barnes III Wildlife Preserve in 2021, incorporating the Woodbrook Road Dump site.
EPA’s initial cleanup strategy was documented in a 2013 Record of Decision and later modified in a 2018 Explanation of Significant Differences.
In 2020, then-Administrator Andrew Wheeler requested that EPA Region 2 review the selected cleanup plan for this site. The review, conducted with input from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, confirmed that while costs had increased due to inflation and disposal expenses, the 2013 selected cleanup plan remains optimal.
The final cleanup plan includes:
- Removing approximately 4,000 cubic yards of soil and debris containing capacitors, capacitor parts, and PCB-contaminated materials with concentrations greater than 100 ppm for off-site disposal.
- Removing an estimated 143,000 cubic yards of soil and debris with PCB concentrations above 1.1 ppm for off-site disposal.
- Establishing restrictions to prevent changes in land use such as residential development.
For more information on this matter or to view public comments received on this proposed Explanation of Significant Differences, visit the Woodbrook Road Dump Superfund site profile page.
