This site, a defunct automotive brake pad manufacturer, was brought to the attention of EPA by the NJDEP for a possible referral for a CERCLA removal action. An inspection by EPA OSCs and a DEP responder on 12/23/05 revealed the following hazardous materials/wastes were abandoned at the site: tons of asbestos material, tons of elemental sulphur, 1,000+ drums of mostly unknown materials or materials that do not match the label description, hundreds of smaller containers, acids, flammable liquids, iron and aluminum powders, flammable solids, waste oil, solvents, and other contaminants or pollutants. The site is semi-controlled, with most doors being locked but numerous open windows or sections of sheet metal walls missing. A maintenance man is on-site for a few hours Mon-Fri. The owner of the building (not the business) has balked at doing a cleanup, but with pressure from the DEP, he has hired a company to provide him with an estimate of the clean-up cost. The former operator of the actual manufacturing business has left the state and resumed the same business in Pennsylvania.
The owner's consultant will provide the RP with an estimate and scope of work for the cleanup. Pending the owners decision whether to undertake his own cleanup, the NJDEP will be prepared to either monitor the RP-lead clean up, or refer this site to EPA if the owner balks at doing the clean up.
On 12/29 EPA OSC and DEP responder revisited the site to take a closer look at chemicals in the Quonset hut building. OSC observed drums of antimony compounds, flammable liquids stored under roof leaks, a pallet of lab pack chemicals including a jar of ammonium chlorate, drums of VM & P naphtha, and drums of cellosolve solvent.
OSC was informed by on-site caretaker that an out-of-service #6 oil tank, located within feet of the Quonset hut, contained some amount of oil.
OSC Kahn hand-delivered a Field Expedient Notice, with a return date of January 4, 2006, to the former operator of the business, currently operating a similiar business nearby in Pennsylvania.
Pending the decision of the owner of the building, and a possible referral of this site from the NJDEP, EPA will monitor progress, or lack thereof, at this site.
Await disposition from NJDEP.
Maintain close contact with NJDEP regarding the status of this site.
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