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Brick Township Landfill

This site is not a Federal Facility.

Brick Township Landfill
New Jersey
EPA ID# NJD980505176
EPA Region 2
Congressional Dist. 04
Ocean County
Brick Township
Other Names: French's Landfill; McCormick's Dump

Site Description: The 42-acre Brick Township Landfill operated for more than 30 years, accepting sewage, septage, solids, bulk liquids, and other wastes. Chemical wastes were reportedly disposed of at the landfill in 1971, although this has never been fully documented. The landfill was privately owned until 1973, when it was acquired and operated by Brick Township until it was closed in 1979. Although the site partially is fenced, trespassers frequently enter. Contaminants appear to be migrating from the landfill with the groundwater in a southeasterly direction. Approximately 3,000 people live within a 1-mile radius of the site. Residential areas are nearby, and new development has started. Groundwater is the source of public and private drinking supplies for the 58,000 people living within a 3-mile radius of the site, and sampling indicates no contamination of either private or municipal wells used as drinking water sources.

Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through Federal, State, and potentially responsible parties’ actions Threats and Contaminants Sampling in 1987 showed elevated levels of cadmium and a low-level presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in some groundwater monitoring wells in and around the site. Sediments and leachate are contaminated with various heavy metals. VOCs are found in soil from a test pit, and pesticides are found in the septage pits. Area residences are connected to the municipal water supply. However, some private wells not used for drinking water are being used for industrial purposes and for lawn and garden maintenance. Several of these wells were found to be contaminated with VOCs in 1999. A drum investigation in 1992 did not detect any drums in the landfill. Cleanup Approach This site is being addressed in two stages: an immediate action and a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire site.

Immediate Action: In 1982, Brick Township, under State monitoring, conducted a surface cleanup at the site, including the removal of about 150 above ground drums and filling and venting of three septage pits.

Entire Site: The Brick Township Landfill Action Committee is investigating the contamination at the site. Several rounds of groundwater samples were collected from 23 monitoring wells. Results showed that 67 substances exceeded Groundwater Quality Standards. The sampling also showed that the existing monitoring wells were insufficient to delineate the extent of the plume. Therefore additional samples were collected using push sampling technology in 1998 and 1999. The results from these recent sampling events revealed that the plume was more extensive than expected and, while not impacting any potable wells, several irrigation wells were impacted. In 1999 Brick Township placed restrictions on the use of irrigation wells in the most highly contaminated areas. Since July 1999, a Groundwater Usage Restriction Area (GURA) has been established thereby eliminating the potential exposure of contaminated groundwater to the public. Groundwater sampling events have been conducted at the site in Fall 2000, Fall 2001, Fall 2002, Fall 2003 and Fall 2004. EPA and NJDEP are currently reviewing the Feasibility Study and a Human Health Risk Assessment for the site.

Site Facts: In 1982, the State and Brick Township entered into a Consent Order that required the Township to conduct a surface cleanup of the site. In 1985, the Order was amended to establish a Brick Township Landfill Action Committee, composed of State and Township officials, to perform a long-term study and remediation of the site. In January 1996, a draft addendum to the Risk Assessment was prepared by EPA to fully evaluate risks posed by the site. Upon completion of the ground water investigations and feasibilities studies, EPA and NJDEP will decide on appropriate remedial activities to be taken. Environmental Progress The removal of drums and filling and venting of septage pits have greatly reduced the potential for exposure to contaminated materials at the Brick Township Landfill. Restrictions on use of the most highly contaminated irrigation wells have been put in place by the municipality of Brick. Further remedial activities are expected upon completion of the groundwater investigation.

source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

see also:

Bridgeport Rental & Oil Services Environmental Pollution in New Jersey- Site: Bridgeport Rental & Oil Services
Bridgeport Rental & Oil Services Superfund Site Info

Brook Industrial Park Environmental Pollution in New Jersey- Site: Brook Industrial Park
Brook Industrial Park Superfund Site Info

Ba - Bz New Jersey Superfund Sites: Ba - Bz
New Jersey Superfund Site Info