OSWER/OSRTI Washington, DC 20460



## N ATIONAL 

## P RIORITIES 

## L IST 

## (NPL)

***Final Site*** S epte mb er 2014


### PIERSON’S CREEK Newark, N ew Jers ey

Essex County

 Site Lo cation:

The Pierson’s Creek

site is lo ca ted in an in dustrial area of New ar k, New J er sey. Pi er son ’ s Creek disch arges to
New ar k Bay, appr ox im ately 1.5 mil es down st rea m.

 Site Hi

st or y: An active chemical facility that currently manufactures antimicrobial and antifungal paint additives and related products is located just upstream of Pierson’s Creek. Prior to the facility’s chemical manufacturing operation, which began in 1956, the facility had been occupied by other industrial operators since the late 1800s. In addition, there had been other industries along Pierson’s Creek, which may have affected the sediments in Pierson’s Creek. Mercury compounds were manufactured at the facility from 1957 until 1987. From 1965 to 1976, the mercury wastewater was treated on-site with sulfide precipitation prior to discharge to the creek. In 1976, an on-site wastewater treatment plant was installed that discharges to the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission Waste Water Treatment Plant.

In addition to the discharge of mercury-contaminated wastewater, there is a history of spills and discharges to the ground surface characterized by puddles of chemicals on the ground; mercury droplets on the ground and in runoff reaching Pierson’s Creek.

 Site Contamination/Contaminants:

T he primary contaminant of concern is mercury, which was discharged directly to Pierson’s Creek. In addition to mercury, creek sediments contain elevated levels of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, nickel, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs ) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

 Potential Im

p ac ts on Surrounding Community/Environment:

Conta min ation is affecting the we tl ands a lo ng Pi er son ’ s Creek. Newark Bay is p ar t of the New Yo rk -New J er se y ( NY

- NJ ) H ar

bor Estuary, a sensitive ar ea id entified und er the National Estuary Progra m. Despite advisories and

re st r ictions, people in the area continue to ea t fish ca ught in the NY

- NJ H ar bor Estuary, in cluding Newark Bay. The

hist ori ca l and on-going me rc u ry conta min ation is likely at least p ar ti ally a tt ributable to sediment discharges fr om Pi er son ’ s Creek.

 R es pon se Activities (t

o date):

The site has b ee n the focus of num er ous investigations since the 1970s, but int er im re media l ac tions to da te h ave not
ad d re ss ed mercury conta min ation downstrea m.

 Need for NPL Listing:
Other federal and state cleanup programs were evaluated, but are not viable at this time. The EPA received a letter of support for placing this site on the NPL from the state of New Jersey.

[The description of the site (release) is based on information available at the time the site was evaluated with the HRS. The description may change as additional information is gathered on the sources and extent of contamination. See 56 FR 5600, February 11, 1991, or subsequent FR notices.]

For more information about the hazardous substances identified in this narrative summary, including general information regarding the effects of exposure to these substances on human health, please see the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxFAQs. ATSDR ToxFAQs can be found on

the Internet at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/index.asp or by telephone at 1-888- 42 -ATSDR or 1- 888 -422-8737.