Welsbach/General Gas Mantle Sites (Camden Radiation)
Various Locations
Camden and Gloucester Cities, Camden County
PI #: G000008478
BLOCK: Various LOT: Various
Office of Community Relations (OCR)
(609) 984-3081 | (800) 253-5647
SITE DESCRIPTION/RESOLUTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS:
As of July 2004
The Welsbach/General Gas Mantle Superfund site is comprised of two former
incandescent gas mantle manufacturing plants and numerous residential
properties in Camden and Gloucester cities that were contaminated with
radioactive wastes from the plants. Welsbach Company of Gloucester City
and General Gas Mantle Company of Camden City manufactured incandescent
gas mantles for home and street lighting between the 1890s and 1941. Both
plants extracted thorium from ore for use as a coating material on the
mesh covers of the gas lamps. The radioactive waste materials, or tailings,
that remained after the extraction process were disposed of as fill near
and/or under residential and commercial properties as well as on open
lands. Various industries and commercial businesses have occupied the
former Welsbach and the General Gas Mantle properties since the two companies
ceased operations. Between 1991 and 1994, NJDEP conducted radiological
surveys at more than 1,100 properties in Gloucester City and Camden City
to evaluate the extent of radioactive contamination. The surveys revealed
that 81 properties -45 in Gloucester City and 36 in Camden City - had
elevated radiation levels. NJDEP implemented Interim Remedial Measures
(IRM) at 33 of these properties that exhibited radiation levels above
NJDEP’s interim exposure criteria to protect the health of the occupants
until permanent cleanup measures could be implemented. The IRMs included
placing shielding materials, such as concrete and lead sheeting, over
contaminated soil, installing radon/thoron ventilation systems in buildings
and establishing access restrictions. Radiation levels at 48 of the properties
did not exceed NJDEP’s interim exposure criteria, therefore no immediate
measures were taken at these properties. In 1991, NJDEP purchased a private
residence in Gloucester City and permanently relocated its owner due to
elevated radiation inside the home, and relocated Ste-Lar Textiles, Inc.
from the former General Gas Mantle Company site to protect the health
of the employees. NJDEP removed the contents of the Ste-Lar Textiles building
in 1992 to minimize potential risk to area residents should a fire occur
at the facility. In 1996, USEPA added the Welsbach/General Gas Mantle
sites to the National Priorities List of Superfund sites (NPL) and began
a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) at the former gas
mantle plants and approximately 150 "Vicinity" properties in Gloucester
City and Camden City to confirm NJDEP’s findings from the radiological
surveys and select permanent remedies. In 1998, while the RI/FS was underway,
USEPA removed approximately 200 cubic yards of radiologically-contaminated
soil from a public park in Gloucester City and replaced it with clean
fill as an interim measure. The RI/FS revealed that significant quantities
of radiologically contaminated soil were present at both the former Welsbach
and General Gas Mantle plants and that there were elevated levels of radiation
inside the former General Gas Mantle building. USEPA also concluded based
on the comparison of USEPA’s and NJDEP’s data on the "Vicinity" properties
that the soil at 54 of these properties was contaminated with radiological
elements above cleanup levels. In addition, USEPA identified approximately
600 "Suspect" properties that were either adjacent to the known contaminated
properties or had radiation exposure rates above background levels and
therefore required additional investigation.
In 1999, after completing the RI/FS, USEPA issued a Record of Decision
(ROD) with NJDEP concurrence that required excavation and off-site disposal
of radiologically-contaminated soil from both the former Welsbach and
General Gas Mantle sites, demolition and off-site disposal of the General
Gas Mantle building, and excavation and off-site disposal of radiologically
contaminated soil from the 54 Vicinity properties. USEPA demolished the
General Gas Mantle building in 2000 and is conducting Remedial Designs
for the soil cleanup actions at the plant sites and the Vicinity properties.
During the Remedial Design phase, USEPA is investigating the 600 "Suspect"
properties to determine the extent of the radiological contamination and
is designing cleanup plans for those properties as necessary. USEPA began
removing contaminated soil from some of these residential and commercial
properties in 2002.
In addition to the above investigative work, Holt Hauling and Warehousing,
Inc., owner of the only remaining building on the former Welsbach property,
entered into an Administrative Order on Consent with USEPA in 1997 that
obligated it to perform a RI/FS to determine the extent of the radiological
contamination at the property. Holt Hauling and Warehousing completed
the RI/FS at its building (also known as the Armstrong building) in 2000.
USEPA will use the findings of the RI/FS to select a final remedy for
the Armstrong building, which will be outlined in a second ROD for the
site.
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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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