Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Tahesha Way
  Search  
new jersey department of environmental protection
NJ Home Page Services A to Z NJ FAQs NJ Departments/Agencies departments
site remediation program

SRP Home | DEP Home

Crumb1 Crumb2 Current

  

SRP Publications Annual Reports 1999

III. Progress at Contaminated Sites (cont.)

99 SRP Annual Rept. logo

Superfund site remedial actions

Sites administered under the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) and the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) are commonly known as Superfund sites. Investigation and cleanup work at these sites is funded by a responsible party(ies) or by a combination of federal and state funding when the responsible party cannot be identified or is unwilling or unable to conduct the cleanup. When public funds are used, the proportion of federal to state funding varies depending on the type of site, with the majority of funds usually supplied by the federal government. The Department works with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to implement remedial actions at New Jersey's Superfund sites.

During the past decade, the Department and the USEPA have made significant progress in cleaning up Superfund sites located in New Jersey. More than 60 percent of environmental concerns at these sites have been addressed.

As of December 31, 1999, a total of 130 sites in New Jersey had been placed on the NPL for Superfund cleanup since the inception of the Superfund Program. Sixteen of the 130 sites have been removed from the Superfund list, leaving 114 active NPL sites.

For the purposes of evaluating the progress of cleanup activities in the Superfund Program, it is important to understand how sites move through the remedial process. A site is usually divided into subsites or operable units, allowing for variation in the speed or extent to which environmental concerns at a site are addressed. This approach allows subsites with immediate environmental concerns to be dealt with first, such as those requiring removal of surface waste or contaminated waste materials to prevent the threat of direct contact or off-site migration. The remaining subsites that move through the remedial process usually involve more complex environmental concerns requiring studies and cleanup actions such as treatment of contaminated soil or ground water. The original 130 Superfund sites have been divided into 446 subsites as of December 31, 1999. Of this number, 275 subsites, or 62 percent of the total, no longer pose a threat to public health or the environment. They either have been completely remediated or are being addressed through long-term operation, maintenance and monitoring. Of the remaining 171 subsites, some type of remedial work is underway at 166.

Figure 5, entitled New Jersey's Superfund Subsite Status, compares remedial activities at New Jersey's Superfund subsites as of the end of June 1998 and the end of December 1999. Fifteen additional subsites were given a NFA designation and eight other subsites moved to a maintenance-only status after all investigation and cleanup activities were completed. Most subsites routinely require a series of remedial projects, as described below. The project types are Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS or Study), Remedial Design (RD), Remedial Action (RA) and Operation and Maintenance (O&M).

NJ's Superfund Subsite Status pie charts

Figure 5

The status of the 446 Superfund subsites as of December 31, 1999 shows 78 RI/FS subsites; 46 RD subsites; 40 RA subsites; 81 O&M subsites; 194 NFA subsites; and, seven subsites where no work has been initiated.

Superfund project definitions

A Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) is an integral part of the remedial process. It is essential to determine the extent and nature of contamination and to identify acceptable alternatives for cleanup. Substantial effort is expended in characterizing the environmental problems generated by the site.

The Remedial Design (RD) develops plans and specifications to address the environmental concern(s) and achieve the most effective remedial action.

Remedial Action (RA) implements the design and includes removal of contaminated soil, capping, treatment of ground water or drinking water, fencing and other actions. This type of project entails removal or stabilization of contaminated material. It is the most visible indicator of cleanup progress.

Operation & Maintenance (O&M) occurs once construction work required is completed or if monitoring only is necessary. Operation and maintenance activities are often necessary to achieve cleanup standards for a subsite and/or to ensure a successful remediation of a site.

 
NPL Project Activities
Projects Started
Funding Source
SFY99
SFY00*
Public Funds
Private Funds
Totals
6
22
28
11
12
23

NPL Project Activities
Projects Completed
Funding Source
SFY99
SFY00*
Public Funds
Private Funds
Totals
9
18
27
8
5
13

*First six months of State Fiscal Year 2000.

SFY99-SFY00 NPL site project activities

During SFY99, 28 new remedial projects were initiated at Superfund sites, 22 funded by responsible parties while the other six were started with public monies. Also, in the first six months of SFY00, 23 new remedial projects began, 12 funded by responsible parties while the other 11 were started with public monies.

Also at Superfund sites in SFY99, 27 remedial projects were completed. Eighteen were funded by responsible parties while nine were paid for with public funds. In the first six months of SFY00, 13 remedial projects were completed, five funded by responsible parties and eight with public funds.


PreviousTable of ContentsNext