On this page:

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

Cleanup Status

Several remedial measures for soils and groundwater were implemented during the 1990s and the 2000s which involved removal of drums, decommissioning of site-wide aboveground storage tanks and the excavation and off-site disposal of soil containing PCBs above 50 ppm. An asphalt cap was placed over the site to prevent potential human exposure to remaining impacted soils and to minimize infiltration of surface water through the impacted areas.

A positive Current Human Exposure Under Control (CA725) was completed on 9/27/01.

Safety-Kleen had significant groundwater contamination from chlorinated VOCs that migrated to the adjacent Cardolite property and the Passaic River/Newark Bay. Oxidizing agent has been injected through two injection wells into contaminated groundwater in the shallow zone to reduce groundwater contaminant concentrations.  Recent sampling has indicated that contamination to the river has been decreasing and there is no impact to the river.   In addition, a barrier wall of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) was installed around the site in December 2003 to contain residual product in shallow groundwater beneath the site.

A Release to Groundwater Under Control Determination (CA750) was a completed on 9/25/05.     

The final remedies were outlined in June 2010 in a remedial action work plan (RAWP).  They consist of monitored natural attenuation to address VOC impact to groundwater that had migrated beyond the containment system to the Cardolite site located immediately north of the Safety-Kleen site.  In addition, as part of the final remedy, a groundwater Classification Exception Area (CEA) was established on October 18, 2010 for the entire Safety-Kleen site, the central and eastern portions of the Cardolite Site and the Darling Site located immediately south of the Safety-Kleen property. 

Moreover, two deed notices were recorded by the city of Newark, one in April 2005 for the Safety-Kleen site and the other in September 2010 for the Cardolite site. The deed notices with the CEA will be utilized as institutional controls to restrict the use of groundwater and soils as long as they remain contaminated.  The monitored natural attenuation and institutional controls as the final remedy was public noticed on November 9, 2010, and approved by NJDEP on December 15, 2010.  Also, groundwater monitoring will continue to verify that monitored natural attenuation processes are continuing to reduce chlorinated VOC concentrations.

The final remedies were outlined in June 2010 in a remedial action work plan (RAWP).  They consist of Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA) to address VOC impact to groundwater that had migrated beyond the containment system to the Cardolite site located immediately north of the Safety-Kleen site.  As part of the final remedy, a groundwater Classification Exception Area (CEA) was established on October 18, 2010 sidewide.   Moreover, two Deed Notices were recorded by the city of Newark, one in April 2005 for the Safety-Kleen site and the other in September 2010 for the Cardolite site. The deed notices with the CEA will be utilized as Institutional Controls to restrict the use of groundwater and soils as long as they remain contaminated.  The monitored natural attenuation and institutional controls as the final remedy was public noticed on November 9, 2010, and approved by NJDEP on December 15, 2010.

A Remedy Completion Completed (CA 550) was completed on March 10, 2011.

Current operation, monitoring and maintenance activities are being performed under a Deed Notice dated April 8, 2005, Soil Remedial Action Permit dated May 2, 2011 and Groundwater Remedial Action Permit dated January, 2014.

A Vapor Intrusion (VI) sampling was performed on February 25, and 26, 2016 due to the presence of groundwater impacts at the Safety-Kleen Envirosystems Company Site.   The analytical results of the sub-slab soil gas and indoor air indicates that three chlorinated VOCs (chloroform, 1,1-DCA, and TCE) were detected in the sub-slab soil gas at concentrations above NJDEP's Non-Residential Soil Gas Screening Levels.  However, these compounds were not detected in either the indoor air or ambient air samples collected from the property.

The Asphalt Cap Maintenance Workplan (ACMW) was submitted on April 11, 2016, as part of a Remedial Action Permit associated with the Safety-Kleen Enviro-Systems.  The asphalt Cap Maintenance, which was installed in two phases, as part of the soil remedial action plan for the site, was performed between October and June 2001 to minimize surface–water runoff.  The asphalt cap is in need of typical maintenance to maintain performance design.

Safety-Kleen, Envirosystem has prepared a letter dated April 26, 2017 to provide certification of the institutional and engineering controls implemented as part of the remedial action for the Site. This certification is also being submitted pursuant to the April 29, 2011 Soil Remedial Action Permit (Soil Permit) and the January 14, 2014 Ground Water Remedial Action Permit (Ground Water Permit) for the Site.

The Engineering Controls include an asphalt cap placed over the Site to prevent human contact with impacted soils and to minimize infiltration of surface water through the impacted soils, a perimeter chain-link fence with a locking gate, and a low-permeability vertical subsurface barrier wall around the Site perimeter.

The Institutional Controls were implemented at the Site as part of the remedial action include establishing a Deed Notice to restrict future site use and to provide information regarding the soil impacts remaining onsite and a Classification Exception Area (CEA).

A Ready for Anticipated Used (RAU) (CA800) was completed on 7/8/2016.

Site Description

The Safety-Kleen Envirosystems Company site is located on approximately 9.5 acres in a heavily industrialized area in Newark, New Jersey. The site is bounded on the west by Doremus Avenue and on the east by the confluence of the Passaic River and Newark Bay. Industrial facilities are located both north and south of the site. 

During the 1800s, the site was part of the Balbach Smelting and Refining Corporation Works, which refined lead and copper. The refining operations ceased in 1938 and the ownership was transferred to the City of Newark. It was inactive until purchased in 1952 by the Kolker Chemical Company, which manufactured chemicals at the location, including chlorine, methylene chloride, methyl chloride, chloroform and plasticizers. In 1962, the Kolker Chemical Company merged with Vulcan Materials Company.

In 1974, Inland Chemical Corporation purchased the property, phasing out chemical manufacturing and initiating solvent recovery operations in 1975.  In 1976, the southern portion of the property was sold to Darling International for rendering of animal byproducts. Inland and McKesson Envirosystems Company merged in 1981. In October 1982, an explosion and fire destroyed much of the operations at the site and it has been inactive and vacant ever since. In 1987, Safety-Kleen Corporation acquired the stock of McKesson and renamed the company Safety-Kleen Envirosystems.

In 1982, McKesson Envirosystem Company entered into an Administrative Consent Order with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) for investigation of the site. Subsequent investigations and inspections identified a number of units and areas of concern. In 1993, Safety-Kleen Envirosystems Company and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (which shipped waste to the site) entered into an Administrative Consent Order with NJDEP to conduct remedial investigations and remedial measures, if necessary.

Contaminants at this Facility

Due to poor manufacturing operation and maintenance practices, the site's soil and groundwater are contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and volatile and semi-volatile organics, such as methylene chloride, vinyl chloride, chloroform, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, cis-1,2 dichloroethylene and xylenes.

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.