Feds to begin cleanup of LCP Chemicals Superfund site in Linden

From Staff Reports
·2 min read

LINDEN – More than 30 years after it ceased operations, several buildings will be demolished at the former LCP Chemicals Superfund site, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced.

By first getting rid of the buildings and structures on the site, the EPA will then be able to focus on addressing the mercury-contaminated soil and groundwater, the agency said. EPA said contractors will monitor the air and control dust and erosion during the demolition.

The work is expected to be completed by midsummer.

“We are safely demolishing these buildings to clear a path for a cleanup that will address the risk this site poses to people in the community,” EPA regional administrator Lisa F. Garcia said in a statement. “Once we have better access to areas under the buildings, we can more readily address the mercury contamination in the soil, as well as the underlying groundwater.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced a remediation plan to treat and cap mercury contamination at LCP Chemicals in Linden.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced a remediation plan to treat and cap mercury contamination at LCP Chemicals in Linden.

Mayor Derek Armstead said he's looking forward to the cleanup of the site, a Superfund location since 1998, which will pave the way for the property to be redeveloped.

“LCP shut down operations in 1985, and having this site redeveloped and put back on the tax rolls will provide both economic and financial benefits to Linden,” the mayor said in a statement. “This cleanup has been a long time coming, and I am grateful to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that this is finally happening.”

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EPA said its cleanup plan will place a protective cap over the site's contaminated soil to prevent direct contact with soil and exposure to mercury vapor in the air. The cap will also prevent contamination from entering the underlying groundwater, according to the agency, and contaminated sediment from on-site manmade drainage ditches will be dug up and placed under the cap. EPA will then oversee the reconstruction of wetlands.

EPA said the groundwater will be pumped and sent to a local water treatment plant, and a barrier wall will be put in place right below the surface. The agency said it will monitor the groundwater and place restrictions on the land's use that could impact the protectiveness of the cleanup.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Cleanup of LCP Chemicals Superfund site in Linden to begin