EPA Proposes Interim Cleanup Plan to Address Additional Arsenic Contamination at Vineland Chemical Superfund Site in Vineland, New Jersey

EPA Proposes Interim Cleanup Plan to Address Additional Arsenic Contamination at Vineland Chemical Superfund Site in Vineland, New Jersey

July 29, 2026

NEW YORK - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing an interim cleanup plan to address arsenic contamination remaining beneath the surface at the Vineland Chemical Superfund site in Vineland, New Jersey. The proposed plan focuses on arsenic-contaminated saturated soil, which is soil below the groundwater table, that continues to act as a source of contamination to groundwater, sediment, and nearby floodplain areas.

"To protect human health and the environment, EPA is taking an important step to keep arsenic from spreading," said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. "EPA's proposed plan targets a remaining source of arsenic contamination at the Vineland Chemical site and builds on years of cleanup work already completed."

Under EPA's proposed interim cleanup plan, the agency would treat the contaminated areas underground to keep arsenic from moving from soil into groundwater. In one part of the site, EPA would pump air into the ground to help stabilize the contamination. In another area, EPA would inject an iron-based material that helps stabilize arsenic in place to prevent it from moving to groundwater. The plan also includes installing a horizontal hydraulic barrier underground in a third area to help stop arsenic from building up in nearby floodplain soil and sediment over time. This cleanup plan is an interim plan, not a final plan. This means that EPA will further evaluate after this work is done to see if further cleanup is needed.

EPA is accepting public comments on the proposed plan for 30 days, beginning July 29th. The public may submit written comments to Nica Klaber, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway, New York, NY 10007 or by email to [email protected].

EPA will hold a virtual public meetingExit EPA's website on August 12 at 6:00 p.m. to provide an overview of the cleanup proposal and answer community questions.

The proposed interim plan and supporting documents will be available on the Vineland Chemical Superfund site profile page.

The Vineland Chemical Company operated from 1949 to 1994 and produced arsenic-based herbicides and fungicides. The company stored byproduct arsenic salts in open piles, lagoons, and chicken coops, which led to contamination of soil, groundwater, sediment, and floodplain areas.

EPA added the site to the Superfund program's National Priorities List in 1984 and, since then, has completed several major parts of the site cleanup. Earlier work included demolishing and disposing of contaminated buildings, constructing an on-site soil washing facility, treating more than 400,000 tons of arsenic-contaminated soil and sediment, and disposing of remaining waste at a permitted off-site facility. EPA also constructed a groundwater pump-and-treat system that began operating in 2001 and that continues to treat contaminated groundwater. This system is now operated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Follow EPA Region 2 on XExit EPA's website, InstagramExit EPA's website, and visit our FacebookExit EPA's website page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.

26-041