Sheildalloy Metallurgical agrees to $5.6 million cleanup at New Jersey site

Sheildalloy Metallurgical Corp. recently signed a $5.6 million legal agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency that will see the company clean up the Sheildalloy Metallurgical Corp. Superfund site in Newfield and Vineland, New Jersey.

“Unfortunately this property is contaminated with toxic chemicals that can damage people’s health and the environment,” EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck said. “This agreement is an important step in getting this site cleaned up. It is an example of how Superfund is designed to work – those responsible for the contamination pay for the work, not the taxpayers.”

Due to Shieldalloy’s ore and metal processing activities at the site, conducted from 1955 to 2006, the groundwater is contaminated with hexavalent chromium and volatile organic compounds. Exposure to these contaminants presents significant health risks, including damage to the nervous system and cancer.

Through the agreement, Shieldalloy will be responsible for cleanup activities related to the site’s soil, sediment, surface water and groundwater, all of which will be overseen by the EPA. The company will cover costs for the cleanup activities, including capping the soil, excavating and removing sediment and using non-hazardous additives to breakdown contaminants in the groundwater, as well as costs for the EPA’s oversight.