On July 21, 2011, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (“NJDEP”) verbally requested EPA’s assistance to evaluate the Site for a CERCLA removal action. Prior to the verbal request, the NJDEP issued the PRP a directive indicating a 14 day time frame to address the threats on site. The PRP indicated he was not able to meet the directive due to health and financial constraints. On July 26, 2011, EPA conducted a site visit as part of a removal assessment. An entry was made into the buildings to assess the conditions. Upon entry, EPA identified more than 600 lab pack containers, more than 50 five gallon containers, and approximately 15 55-gallon drums of hazardous and potentially hazardous substances that were leaking, improperly segregated and in poor condition. Many of the containers were identified by their labels and pose a serious threat of fire. The buildings housing the potentially hazardous substances were observed to be in poor, deteriorating condition. Several signs of vandalism including, cut locks and broken windows were also observed. EPA determined that an immediate response action was necessary to prevent further releases of hazardous substances and to protect public health.
The Site has served several different operations in the past. Most recently the Site was operated as a research and development (“R&D”) facility for internal coatings of aerosol cans. The Site previously was operated by the former Electro Organic Corporation and Diamond Aerosol, both predecessor companies to Diamond East Corporation, which manufactured cosmetics and personal protection devices containing tear gas, pepper spray, and other chemical specialty products for approximately 30 years.
