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DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTALPROTECT!Ol\ OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER Mail Code 401-07 CHRIS CHRISTIE P.O.Box402 BOB MARTIN Governor Trenton, N.J 08625-0402 Commissioner TEL (609) 292-2885 KIM GUADAGNO FAX (609) 292-7695 L1. Governor

Judith Enck, Administrator U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region II 290 Broadway New York, NY 10007-1866

Re: Nomination for National Priorities List ofSuperfund Sites Riverside Industrial Park Site City ofNewark, Essex County

DearMs. Enck:

TheNew Jersey Department ofEnvironmental Protection (DEP) nominates the Riverside Industrial Park site in the City ofNewark, Essex Countyfor inclusion on the National Priorities List (NPL) ofSuperfund sites.

DEP's Site Remediation Programhas been working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region IT's Emergency and Remedial Response Division since late 2009 to address contamination at aportion ofthe Riverside Industrial Park site impacting water qualityin the Passaic River.

DEP first responded with the Newark Fire Departmentto a spill reported in the Passaic River found to contain hazardous substances and originating from the Riverside Industrial Park site. Afterworking to mitigate the spill DEP shifted the lead for response actions to EPA in November 2009. In addition, EPA's Removal Action Branch plans to conduct more extensive cleanup actions this year to address various storage tanks and other contaminated debris from two acres ofthe approximately six-acre industrial park.

Newark officials havebeen and continue to be interestedin redevelopment options for the Riverside Industrial Park site using state brownfield funds to conduct an initial Site Investigation completed in October 2009jnstpriorto the spill. Furthermore, EPA was in the process of awardingNewarktwo brownfield cleanup grants for the two-acre portion ofthe Riverside Industrial Park site when the spill was discovered. Atthat time the extent ofcontamination found wan-anted initiating the process for a large-scaleremoval action by EPA and subsequent nomination for theNPL.

Ne>t' Jersey is an Equal**Opportuni~v** Employer

..Printed on RecycledPaperand RecyclableMore than six acres of!and along the Passaic River consisting ofnumerous parcels comprisethe Riverside Industrial Park. Theland includes both active and inactive city-owned and plivatelyowned parcels. Brick City Development Corporation has been coordinating Newark's environmental investigation and redevelopment activities. A historical narrative ofthe site identifies that it was used for themanufacture ofpaints and varnishes, and was a multi-lot facility owned and operated by Pittsburgh Paint Glass Co. Numerous compounds remain on site in underground storage tanks and in the sub-basement ofstructures with these same compounds being found in soil and groundwater, and a significant numberin sediment.

Remedial action byEPA through NPL listing will accelerate final cleanup ofthe site after removal work is completed. Other funding sources have not been available to date and SRP supports completing the necessary investigation and cleanup work under EPA'sremedial program as a Superfund site.

DEP appreciates the opportunityto participate in the decision-makingprocess to nominate this site for NPL status and looks forward to future cooperation with EPA duling remedial work. If you have any questions, please call me at 609-292-2885.

ere!/

(- ob Martin [)Commissioner

c: George Pavlou, DeputyAdministrator, EPA Region II Walter Mugdan, Director, EPA Emergency and Remedial Response Division Irene Kropp, Deputy Commissioner, DEP Dave Sweeney, Assistant Commissioner, DEP Site Remediation Program