Updated Activities, as of February 2024
EPA has secured the site and the original threat of leaking hazardous material has been resolved. EPA
has successfully re-containerized or overpacked the leaking or damaged drums
and categorized the contents of the drums. The agency is finalizing the best routes for
disposal and is continuing its administrative efforts to secure the
necessary approvals and contracts for the disposal of the material. While this
takes time, EPA expects to complete the disposal process as soon as possible,
pending the availability of suitable facilities and transportation. Once EPA secures all the necessary approvals and contracts, the agency will update the community of the next steps.
Updated Activities, as of 6/19/23
EPA has been on-site since
early April and is currently assessing and addressing the drums and containers of potentially
hazardous materials found at the site. Howell Township, in an effort to be proactive, developed an evacuation plan as a precaution, but there has not
been, nor is there currently a need for evacuations. You can sign up for the Howell Township emergency notification system on their website.
EPA is working closely with the New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection, Monmouth County Health Department, Howell Township,
and other stakeholders to ensure a coordinated and effective response. Shortly after being asked to address the site, EPA fenced
it and provided 24-hour security. EPA began cleanup actions at the site right
after it obtained access from the site owner in early April. Since then, EPA
has made significant progress in securing containers at the site and making the
property safe to continue the assessment and removal activities.
EPA and its contractors are identifying and characterizing
the contents of containers and drums at the site to ensure that they are
properly handled and disposed. EPA is labeling and staging the drums of
chemicals for testing and disposal. If a drum or container does not meet EPA's
standards to allow for shipping off-site, we will move its contents to a new,
suitable container. This work is performed in a plastic-lined containment area
to prevent spills or leaks. EPA will continue its work until all the
materials at the site have been assessed and secured to be taken away.
EPA has been keeping the town officials apprised of
progress and regularly issuing Community Updates to keep nearby residents
informed.
A public-facing web viewer depicting the EPA's air monitoring efforts and current monitoring status can be found here.
Background and Past Activities
Howell Township Fire
Departments were dispatched to 15 Marl Road to perform an investigation
after calls reporting smoke in the area on February 9, 2023. Upon arriving, the Fire Departments discovered ongoing burning of materials inside of an old
still in which a door had been cut. Firefighters were able to extinguish the
fire.
Upon seeing the condition of the site, firefighters called for Howell
Township Office of Emergency Response (HTOER). After seeing the numerous drums
and smelling a chemical odor, HTOER requested Monmouth County Department of
Health (MCDOH) for a potential hazardous materials response. Upon arrival,
MCDOH began an investigation of the area. MCDOH and HTOER discovered large
quantities of 55-gallon drums, along with smaller quantities of various other
containers around the site. MCDOH and HTOER noted many spills along the ground,
open drums, and drums present in the old still on site. In addition to the
drums inside the still, there appeared to be evidence of solid waste and wooden
pallets, showing evidence of burning. MCDOH then requested the presence of
NJDEP Bureau of Emergency Response (DEPBER) who responded to the site.
The site
appears to be the former location of Compounders Inc. It is estimated from
reports from HTOER that the facility at one point manufactured a number of
chemical compounds, most likely for use in glues and adhesives. It appears at
some point, the company moved on to manufacturing asphalts that were loaded
into trucks for use.
