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PCB Cleanup Complete in New Jersey
7 Oct
Summary
- Over 52,000 tons of PCB-contaminated soil were removed.
- Downstream areas were cleaned of over 2,500 tons of sediment.
- Site restoration included planting trees and shrubs.
A significant environmental cleanup effort at the Unimatic Manufacturing Corporation Superfund Site in Fairfield, New Jersey, has concluded. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) meticulously removed over 52,000 tons of soil heavily contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from the manufacturing property. This extensive operation also addressed pollution that had spread downstream.
In April 2026, the EPA completed the removal of more than 2,500 tons of contaminated sediment from downstream locations. Following excavation, these areas were replenished with clean material and restored with newly planted trees and shrubs. The former Unimatic building was also demolished, with all contaminated materials responsibly disposed of at licensed facilities.
The EPA initiated its investigation after detecting PCBs in both the manufacturing site and nearby downstream areas, which posed a risk to the community. Consequently, the site was added to the Superfund National Priorities List in 2014. Although the active cleanup is finished, long-term monitoring of groundwater and restored areas will continue to ensure the lasting effectiveness of the remediation.
A five-year review, with the first scheduled for 2028, will further assess the cleanup's success. The EPA will also conduct inspections and maintenance of the restored areas over the next year, including monitoring plant growth and maintaining protective fencing. Proceeds from the property's sale under a 2021 consent decree will reimburse cleanup costs to the EPA and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
