Berry's Creek Study Area Cleanup

under planning

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is planning to oversee the cleanup of pollution at the Berry’s Creek Study Area in Bergen County, which is part of the Ventron/Velsicol Superfund site. The cleanup will remove mercury, PCBs and chromium contamination. The project includes bank-to-bank removal of sediment down to 2 ft in portions of the creek with backfilling and capping equal to the depth removed. It also includes the excavation and capping of approximately 27 acres in Upper Peach Island Creek marsh, where some of the highest surface concentrations of contaminants were found. Further, a demonstration project will be conducted on several acres of marsh to provide information on the effectiveness of the cleanup and provide information for future decisions. The EPA is currently negotiating with the potentially responsible parties to reach a settlement agreement for the design of the interim remedy. The estimated cost is $332 million.