On March 14 2016, EPA received a request from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to evaluate the Site for a CERCLA removal action. Buried crushed battery casings were discovered at the Site during a sewer lateral repair in the front yard of 35 Birchly Court in West Deptford, New Jersey on November 19, 2015. Title search information indicates that the Matteo family also owned the property on which the Birchly Court Site currently sits until 1986. These crushed battery casings represent material similar to that found on the Matteo Superfund Site located at 1692 Crown Point Road less than one mile away to the south west.
When the battery casings at 35 Birchly Court were discovered local authorities from Gloucester County and West Deptford were the initial emergency responders. The Site was then referred to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and subsequently to EPA for further assessment and characterization.
In May 2016, EPA conducted soil sampling to determine the nature and extent of soil contamination on the 35 Birchly Court property and on adjacent residential properties Crushed battery casing material was found buried in the front yard of 35 Birchly Court and in the backyard of 1411 Woodlane Drive. Lead concentrations associated with these battery casings and the comingled soil were significantly elevated on these two properties. Lead concentrations in samples sent to the laboratory were as high as 68,000 parts per million (ppm) on 35 Birchly Court and as high as 25,000 ppm on 1411 Woodlane Drive. EPA's investigation into the burial of battery casings and associated lead contamination in the neighborhood in and around Birchly Court is continuing during the Summer of 2016.
