On this page:

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

Cleanup Status

IBM has done the following;

• To mitigate further leakage, the underground storage tanks and transfer lines were removed in the late 1970s, and no VOCs were found in soil during later investigation efforts.
   
• To treat impacted groundwater, a Phase I groundwater treatment system was operational from 1978 to 1984 and resulted in decreasing contaminant concentrations levels in both the shallow and the deep aquifers. A second phase of on-site groundwater treatment was initiated in 1989 after groundwater quality in the shallow aquifer began to show rebounding contaminant concentrations. The Phase II system consists of four on-site extraction wells, treatment in an air stripping unit, and disposal via an on-site spray irrigation field. In addition, IBM installed a pump and treat system for two off-site municipal wells (SB-11, SB-13).

Groundwater quality has improved with the operation of the groundwater extraction and treatment systems, specifically at well SB-11. IBM will continue to operate the groundwater treatment system and a long-term groundwater monitoring to keep contaminants form migrating further. IBM also submitted a Classification Exception Area proposal to restrict the use of groundwater as long as it remains contaminated. In addition, IBM is currently investigating the potential for vapor intrusion into indoor air for on and off-site buildings. 

Site Description

The IBM facility is located at 431 Ridge Road on a 66-acre parcel in a mixed residential and industrial section of Dayton, South Brunswick Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey. IBM's manufacturing plant was constructed in 1956 and used until 1985 for manufacturing of computer tabulation cards, printer ribbons, and other information handling machine products. Although the facility was purchased in the mid-1990s by Hamlin/Shidler Investment Corporation, IBM is still committed to complete remediation efforts.

Contaminants at this Facility

Chlorinated solvents-including 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), 1,1-dichloroethylene (1,1-DCE), and trichloroethylene (TCE)-were used at the facility, especially for punch card and ink operations. Elevated levels of site-related chlorinated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were detected in South Brunswick Township supply well SB-11 in 1977. Investigation of the former IBM property and off-site areas indicated the presence of Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid (DNAPL) and dissolved-phase contamination in shallow and deep groundwater. This contamination is believed to be associated with leakage from underground storage tanks and transfer lines formerly present at the manufacturing building. 

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.