The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized changes to its cleanup plan for the Welsbach & General Gas Mantle Superfund Site, located at the Gloucester Marine Terminal in New Jersey. The updated plan addresses additional radiological contamination discovered at the site, while aiming to minimize disruptions to port operations.
"This updated cleanup plan highlights EPA’s ongoing commitment to protecting public health and ensuring a safe environment for the port communities," stated EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. She emphasized that the agency continuously assesses conditions and adapts strategies to ensure that cleanups remain scientifically sound and accommodate ongoing operations at the terminal.
The revised cleanup strategy includes several key actions: removing contaminated soil and waste from selected areas, including beneath buildings, disposing of this material off-site at an approved facility, backfilling excavated areas with clean soil, restoring paved areas, and implementing institutional controls like deed restrictions.
These changes were deemed necessary after finding a greater volume and depth of contamination than initially assessed. This included radiologically contaminated materials beneath structures at the port facility. While removing these materials would increase costs and delay completion, EPA's study confirms that the amended plan will protect public health even if some contamination remains under certain structures.
The Welsbach & General Gas Mantle site was added to the federal Superfund list in 1996 due to its complexity. The investigation and cleanup have been divided into phases since then. In 1999, a plan was selected for the first phase involving excavation and disposal of contaminated soil and building materials. To date, over 200,000 cubic yards of such materials have been removed from more than 90 properties in Gloucester City and Camden.
Further information on this project is available on the Welsbach & General Gas Mantle Superfund site profile page.
