~ta:tr of rfu J]:ers.e16 

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECT!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 of Superfund Sites 

Riverside Industrial Park Site 

City ofNewark, Essex County 

Dear Ms. Enck: 

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) nominates the Riverside 

Industrial Park site in the City ofNewark, Essex County for inclusion on the National Priorities 

List (NPL) of Superfund sites. 

DEP's Site Remediation Program has 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 a portion of the Riverside Industrial Park site impacting water quality in 

the Passaic River. 

DEP first responded with the Newark Fire Department to a spill reported in the Passaic River 

found to contain hazardous substances and originating from the Riverside Industrial Park site. 

After working 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 of the approximately six-acre industrial park. 

Newark officials have been and continue to be interested in redevelopment options for the 

Riverside Industrial Park site using state brownfield funds to conduct an initial Site Investigation 

completed in October 2009 jnst prior to the spill. Furthermore, EPA was in the process of 

awarding Newark two brownfield cleanup grants for the two-acre portion of the Riverside 

Industrial Park site when the spill was discovered. At that time the extent of contamination found 

wan-anted initiating the process for a large-scale removal action by EPA and subsequent 

nomination for the NPL. 

Ne>t' Jersey is an Equal Opportuni~v Employer .. Printed on Recycled Paper and Recyclable 
More than six acres of!and along the Passaic River consisting of numerous parcels comprise the 

Riverside Industrial Park. The land 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 of the site 

identifies that it was used for the manufacture of paints 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 of structures with these same compounds 

being found in soil and groundwater, and a significant number in sediment. 

Remedial action by EPA through NPL listing will accelerate final cleanup of the 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's remedial 

program as a Superfund site. 

DEP appreciates the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process 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, Deputy Administrator, 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