EPA Superfund Site

VENTRON/VELSICOL

NJ | EPA ID NJD980529879

About this site’s exposure pathways: As of January 2025, the Ventron/Velsicol Superfund Site is considered Human Exposure Not Under Control because of continuing exposure to mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in fish and crabs from Berry's Creek. Key public areas have been posted with safety/security/public health signage while EPA collects additional data and works with the State on fish consumption advisories.

EPA has already initiated cleanup activities at the site. Currently, a remedy has been implemented for the uplands portion of the site. Mercury-contaminated soils have been excavated from the uplands area and disposed of off-site. Areas with soils containing mercury above residential levels have been capped and prepared for industrial redevelopment, and Institutional Controls (ICs) have been placed on eight properties. Mercury-contaminated soils have also been removed from ditches that lead from the uplands to the wetlands of Berry’s Creek. A vertical hydraulic barrier system was installed to capture contaminated groundwater and prevent migration into the Berry’s Creek watershed. ICs in the form of a Classification Exception Area and Well Restriction Area are in place to prevent use of contaminated groundwater. An interim remedy to address contaminated sediments within certain reaches of the Berry’s Creek portion of the Site, Operable Unit 2 (OU2), and contaminated soils at the Upper Peach Island Creek marsh was finalized in 2018, and the design of this interim remedy began in 2019 with estimated completion in 2025. This interim remedy will remove sediments and marsh soils contaminated with mercury, methylmercury, PCBs and chromium. Methylmercury and PCBs have also been identified in fish and crab tissue. Studies to address contamination in the marshes and in the downgradient reaches of Berry's Creek will be conducted once the interim remedy is completed.

EPA currently anticipates that human exposure will be under control by September 2051, when clean up goals are met, and the Final Closeout Report (FCOR) is complete.

EPA ensures community participation throughout the remedial process by meeting with residents and affected stakeholders, issuing public notices and updating fact sheets. A site profile has been established on the EPA website to keep the community informed of recent progress at the site. An EPA Community Involvement Coordinator is assigned to the site and can address specific community concerns as they arise.