The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a proposed consent decree to cover the cleanup costs of the Raritan Bay Slag Superfund Site in Old Bridge Township and Sayreville, New Jersey. The settlement, totaling $151.1 million, will be paid by parties identified as potentially responsible for the site contamination, including NL Industries, Inc., its former customers, Old Bridge Township, several federal agencies, and the state.
Of the total amount, $132.4 million will reimburse EPA for past work and fund remaining cleanup activities at the site. Additionally, $18.7 million will resolve claims from Natural Resource Trustees for damages or loss of use of natural resources affected by hazardous substance releases.
“This settlement would allow EPA to finish this cleanup and return the waterfront back to the community so that residents and visitors can use the beach without being concerned about their health,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “EPA looks forward to cleaning up the seawall and jetty and making good on our commitment to protect people from exposure to toxic lead.”
The proposed consent decree is lodged in the United States federal district court for New Jersey and will undergo a 60-day public comment period following publication in both the Federal Register and New Jersey Register. Afterward, comments will be reviewed by both EPA and NJDEP before seeking final court approval if deemed appropriate.
The Raritan Bay Slag Superfund site includes three sectors: a 2,300-foot seawall in Old Bridge Township; Margaret’s Creek Sector—a 47-acre wetland; and a 750-foot western jetty located near Sayreville. Contamination at these sites stems primarily from slag used in construction during secondary smelting operations in the late 1960s to early 1970s as well as battery casings found mainly at Margaret’s Creek Sector.
A significant portion of a recreational beach was closed due to high levels of lead contamination resulting from these materials. In May 2013, EPA issued a cleanup plan involving excavation and dredging of contaminated material across all three sectors sequentially to prevent recontamination.
By September 2018, EPA completed cleanup efforts at Margaret’s Creek Sector—removing approximately 15,775 tons of soil and 1,802 tons of slag—at an estimated cost of $7 million. Concerns over engineering quality led EPA to take over Seawall Sector work last fall.
Pending finalization of this settlement and receipt of payment from responsible parties, EPA plans to begin further cleanup activities at Seawall Sector followed by Jetty Sector.
For more information or to submit comments regarding this proposed consent decree visit [Proposed Consent Decrees](https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/proposed-consent-decrees-us-et-al-v-nl-industries-inc-et-al). Additional background information on Raritan Bay Superfund Site can be found [here](https://www.epa.gov/superfund/raritan-bay-slag).
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