On this page:

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

Cleanup Status

Novartis has characterized the hydrogeology of the site and the sources of contamination and it has been determined that the chloroform contamination in the sand and gravel aquifer is from an on-site source. Novartis also has removed all underground storage tanks and cleaned up contaminated soil.  All Solid Waste Management Units (SWMUs) and Areas of Concern (AOCs) have been addressed and the remaining issues are vapor intrusion (VI) and site-wide groundwater.

Due to elevated chloroform concentrations in groundwater, Novartis submitted a remedial investigation workplan in which they will install additional groundwater monitoring wells to further define the chloroform plume. 

Concerning VI, Novartis needs to conduct additional investigation for 12 on-site buildings located in proximity to monitoring wells where groundwater levels were above NJDEP VI Guidance Screening Levels.   Novartis will address any necessary groundwater or VI mitigation issues based on the results of the additional investigation. 

Site Description

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation is a 180-acre site, located at 59 Route 10, in an industrial, commercial and residential area of East Hanover, Morris County, New Jersey. The facility consists of a chemical manufacturing plant, a pharmaceutical packaging and compounding plant, and pharmaceutical research and development laboratories. The company, which was formerly known as Sandoz, began operating in the mid-1950s. 

The facility generates, stores and disposes of liquid and solid wastes during its manufacturing operations.  The wastes consist of organic and inorganic substances, including still bottom liquids, chlorinated solvents, caustic water solutions, waste oil and miscellaneous other solid and liquid wastes.  Hazardous wastes generated at the site are stored in one container storage area prior to being shipped off-site to an authorized facility.

Contaminants at this Facility

Groundwater is contaminated with chloroform, TCE, TCA, PCE and several inorganic constituents. The main sources responsible for the organic contamination were leaking underground storage tanks, a wastewater lagoon, an inactive skimming tank, a former incinerator building and an inactive on-site treatment system. 

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.