EPA Proposes Plan to Remove Contaminated Sediment from Bottom of Pompton Lake

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is encouraging members of the public to comment on its proposal to dredge approximately 68,000 cu yd of mercury-contaminated sediment from the bottom of a 26-acre area of Pompton Lake in the borough of Pompton Lakes, N.J., and remove 7,800 cu yd of contaminated soil from a one-acre area adjacent to the lake.

The proposed cleanup is designed to remove 100% of the mercury contamination in the near shore sediment in the Acid Brook Delta of Pompton Lake and clean up soil in the adjacent area to levels that meet stringent standards to protect people and the environment. All of the removed sediment and soil will be sent to a licensed disposal facility.

EPA will hold a public hearing on the proposal on Jan. 5, 2012 at Pompton Lakes High School. Those who cannot attend can submit written comments by Jan. 13, 2012. After the close of the public comment period, EPA will consider the comments and decide whether to finalize its decision and issue a proposed modified permit for the cleanup of the Acid Brook Delta.

The E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company Inc. operated the Pompton Lakes Works facility from 1902 to April 1994. Products manufactured at the facility included explosive powder containing mercury and lead, detonating fuses, electric blasting caps, metal wires, and aluminum and copper shells. The manufacturing operations and waste management practices contaminated soil, sediment and groundwater both on and offsite. Lead and mercury were released into Acid Brook, which flows through the eastern part of the facility and discharges into the Acid Brook Delta of Pompton Lake. The proposed cleanup of the Acid Brook Delta is the specific focus of the plan, which requires a permit modification under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Once EPA’s proposal is final, it will be reflected in the modified permit that legally requires DuPont to fund and perform the work. Cleanup will be performed under EPA oversight and is expected to begin in spring 2012.

DuPont’s operations also contaminated groundwater with chlorinated volatile organic compounds. Plans to clean up the remaining areas of contamination will be the subjects of future proposed permit modifications when investigations have been completed and reviewed by EPA and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Source: U.S. EPA