The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed adding the Historic Potteries site in Trenton, New Jersey, to the National Priorities List (NPL) of Superfund sites. This inclusion would provide the EPA with necessary resources to address significant lead contamination affecting residential areas, public spaces, and parks in East Trenton.
“Today, the EPA proposed to add the Historic Potteries site in Trenton to the National Priorities List of Superfund sites. Decades of using lead in pottery glazes have unfortunately left contamination in the soil around the East Trenton community,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “EPA has already done work to understand and address some of the most immediate risks posed by this site, but the area is large and warrants a much broader investigation under EPA’s superfund program. Listing the Historic Potteries site in the National Priorities List is a crucial step to tackle this legacy contamination and ensure a cleaner, safer environment for residents, students, and future generations in Trenton.”
The Historic Potteries site includes areas that were historically involved in pottery manufacturing from the 1850s to the 1920s. During this period, over 70 potteries operated locally, using lead glazes that have since caused widespread soil contamination.
Since 2018, the EPA has been investigating lead contamination sources in East Trenton. By 2020, historic pottery operations were identified as likely causes. Soil samples collected across residential properties, schools, and parks revealed lead levels exceeding health-based benchmarks. This past summer saw protective measures installed at Ulysses S. Grant Intermediate School; similar measures will be implemented at affected residential properties and two East Trenton parks over upcoming months.
The proposal for adding this site to the NPL will undergo a 60-day public comment period during which comments can be submitted online or by mail:
Online (preferred): Visit www.regulations.govExit EPA’s website and search “Historic Potteries” or “EPA-HQ-OLEM-2024-0374”
Mail: Send comments to:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
EPA Docket Center Superfund,
EPA-HQ-OLEM-2024-0374,
Mail Code 28221T,
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW Washington DC 20460
The NPL identifies serious uncontrolled or abandoned releases of contaminants needing prioritization for cleanup funding and enforcement actions under federal programs.
For further information about Superfund and NPL processes or specific details on ongoing efforts at Historic Potteries site visit https://www.epa.gov/superfund.
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