BURNT FLY BOG SOIL CLEANUP AND WETLANDS RESTORATION
COMPLETE
Marks Final Action for Marlboro Superfund Site
(04/87) TRENTON -- Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell today
announced completion of a $14 million cleanup at Burnt Fly
Bog Superfund site in Marlboro where more than 55,000 tons
of PCB and lead contaminated soil were removed and seven
acres of wetlands restored with vegetation.
"The completion of this cleanup is important not only
for the restoration of the wetlands that connect to the
nearby Deep Run and Lower Raritan watershed, but also for
the Marlboro community that has waited too long for this
polluted site to no longer pose the serious health threat
it once did," said Commissioner Campbell. "The
oaks, sour gums and ferns we planted soon will thrive to
reclaim this Superfund site as a natural habitat."
DEP contractors conducted the soil work at the Northerly
Wetlands and Tar Patch areas of the site from May 2003 to
May 2004. Since then, the excavated wetland areas have been
restored with clean soil and approximately 9,500 bushes,
small trees and groundcover. The wetland area is expected
to reestablish itself within 10 to 15 years.
This action is the third and final major cleanup project
completed by DEP at the Burnt Fly Bog site that comprises
1,700 acres, of which approximately 60 were contaminated.
DEP now will conduct long-term monitoring of the entire
site including ground water and stream sampling to ensure
past cleanup work remains protective of public health and
the environment. Annual costs for this work will average
about $55,000, which will be paid for with state Corporate
Business Tax funds dedicated for cleanups.
"While this is a major victory for Marlboro, we need
federal leadership to reinstate the Superfund tax on oil
and chemical companies to finance toxic cleanups,"
said Commissioner Campbell. "A strong federal hazardous
waste cleanup program is essential to effect timely cleanups
that ensure a safe and healthy environment."
Federal and state funds already spent for investigation
and cleanup work at this site total $52.5 million from the
Superfund Trust and $7.1 million from state cleanup funds.
DEP is pursuing recovery of its costs associated with cleaning
up this site with support from the Division of Law in the
Attorney General's office through litigation against potential
responsible parties. DEP also filed a natural resource damage
claim against these parties.
Site Background
The Burnt Fly Bog site is located on a ground water discharge
area of the Englishtown aquifer, where ground water flows
to the surface and drains into Deep Run. During the 1950s
and 1960s, waste oil was stored in several unlined lagoons
encompassing 10 acres of the property. The lagoon area became
known as the Uplands. Waste oil from the Uplands eventually
contaminated other areas, which became known as the Northerly
Wetlands, Tar Patch, Westerly Wetlands and Downstream Area.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency added Burnt Fly
Bog to the National Priorities List of Superfund sites in
1983. Between 1985 and 1989, DEP conducted several remedial
actions in the Uplands including the removal and off-site
disposal of approximately 85,000 tons of contaminated soil,
stabilization of sludge and installation of a clay cap over
the area. Remediation of the Uplands area was completed
in 1992 after DEP removed about 700 tons of stockpiled PCB-contaminated
soil and transported it off site for incineration.
In 1996, DEP completed excavation and off-site disposal
of approximately 12,000 tons of contaminated soil and sediments
from the Downstream Area and construction of a sedimentation
basin to prevent contaminated sediments from the Westerly
Wetlands and other areas from migrating off site. The Westerly
Wetlands were left intact to be followed by long-term biological
sampling to monitor the impact of contaminants on wildlife.
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