Research Organics Inorganics
507 Main Street
Belleville Township, Essex County
PI #: 023215
BLOCK: 38 LOT: 1
Community Relations Coordinator: Heather Swartz (609) 984-7135
SITE DESCRIPTION/RESOLUTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS:
As
of 28 June 2004
Research Organics Inorganics manufactured and supplied specialty chemicals
between 1972 and 1983. Belleville Township and NJDEP closed the facility
in 1983 after an inspection revealed chemicals were being improperly stored
and discharged at the site. The Township and NJDEP removed more than 1,000
drums and 12,000 containers of reactive materials and 230 pounds of radioactive
materials between 1983 and 1987 under an Interim Remedial Measure (IRM).
In 1986, NJDEP’s Remedial Response Element began a Remedial Investigation
and Remedial Action Selection (RI/RAS) to delineate the contamination
in the soil and ground water and evaluate cleanup alternatives. Based
on the initial findings, NJDEP issued a Decision Document in 1989 that
required excavation of contaminated soil, decommissioning of the underground
storage tanks and decontamination of the building. NJDEP removed approximately
700 tons of contaminated soil and 35 tons of PCB-contaminated materials
from the site during the remedial action, which was completed in 1992.
NJDEP completed investigation of the ground water in 1995. The RI/RAS
revealed that although the ground water at the site was contaminated with
organic compounds and metals, the contamination was confined to a limited
area and was not migrating. The RI/RAS also showed that the contaminant
levels in the ground water were decreasing over time. Based on these findings
and the fact that ground water in the area is not used for potable water
supplies, NJDEP issued a second Decision Document in 1995 that selected
natural attenuation as the final remedy to address the ground water contamination,
with quarterly monitoring of the ground water for a minimum of two years.
The Decision Document also required establishment of a ground water Classification
Exception Area (CEA) at the site. Two years of ground water monitoring
showed that the levels of contaminants in the ground water diminished
but did not disappear as expected. The property was sold at public auction
in 2000 and a commercial facility opened at the site in 2001. The $495,000
generated by the sale was used to compensate NJDEP and Belleville Township
for part of their cleanup costs. NJDEP continues to monitor the ground
water pursuant to the requirements of the CEA, and plans to install two
additional monitor wells at the site in 2003 to further evaluate ground
water contamination at the rear of the property.
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Please be advised that these
cases labeled by OCR as inactive may still be undergoing remedial
activities but OCR has no involvement. Documents that are available
on this page associated with the inactive list may not reflect
the current status of a case.
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