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Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Bridgeport Disposal, L.L.C. in Bridgeport, New Jersey

On this page:

  • Cleanup Status
  • Site Description
  • Contaminants at this Facility
  • Site Responsibility

Cleanup Status

Contaminated soils from the former basins and lagoons have been excavated, treated, and placed in a special unit that was constructed specifically to contain waste from on-site cleanups. Before soils are disposed of in this unit, they are treated to reduce the levels of contamination. Contaminated groundwater is being pumped out of the ground and the contaminants are then evaporated off and collected. After treatment, the groundwater is discharged into Raccoon Creek under a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) permit.

EPA is currently modifying facility's Consent Order to select the site-wide cleanup approach. The cleanup approach for the contaminated soil will include excavation, treatment and disposal. The cleanup approach for the contaminated groundwater will include groundwater extraction and long-term groundwater monitoring to keep contaminants from migrating further. The cleanup will also include covering areas where excavation is not possible. An ecological risk assessment will be conducted in the marsh area to evaluate the impact of the site activity. The land use and groundwater use at the site and surrounding area will be restricted where contamination exceeds residential standards. 


Site Description

The Bridgeport Disposal, LLC, formerly known as Safety Kleen Bridgeport Incorporated facility, is located on US Route 322 & I 295 in Bridgeport, New Jersey. This site consists of approximately 600 acres; however, the operational portion occupies only 78 acres.

The facility was built as a commercial hazardous-waste treatment, storage and disposal facility. Several operations are used at the site to manage industrial process wastes. These operations included incineration, biological, physical and chemical treatment, and landfilling. The facility ceased operation in May 2001 and is in the process of closing and cleaning up the site. 


Contaminants at this Facility

Contamination occurred from leaks in basins that were used to provide biological breakdown of organic wastes, as well as from discharges to Racoon Creek from the on-site lagoons. A fire and explosion that occurred in the facility's tank farm area also released various organic contaminants and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) into the ground. The contaminants in the soil and groundwater include both organics and metals.


Site Responsibility at this Facility

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action activities at this facility have been conducted under the direction of EPA Region 2.