Universal Oil Products (Chemical Division)

Overview

Chemical manufacturing at the Universal Oil Products facility in East Rutherford, New Jersey ran from 1930 to 1979 and left behind contamination in soils, groundwater, marshes, and waterways. EPA added the 75-acre site to the National Priorities List in September 1983. Cleanup is organized into separate phases covering upland soils, groundwater, and waterway sediments, and the site is still active for the waterway portion.

The main contaminants are polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and lead. These were found in upland soils, leachate, and sediments. Specific compounds identified include benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, benzene, and 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane. Fish tissue from Berry's Creek and Ackerman's Creek contains elevated mercury and PCBs, and a 2018 human health risk assessment found unacceptable health risks from eating white perch caught there. Ecological risks remain elevated for animals feeding in the sediment.

Upland soil cleanup used thermal desorption, excavation, capping, and soil vapor extraction. A groundwater treatment system ran from October 1997 through November 1998, and EPA determined in September 2022 that shallow groundwater no longer needs further cleanup. In June 2023, deed notices were filed requiring future property owners to check for vapor intrusion before new construction and to install vapor barriers if needed. In February 2024, EPA deleted the upland portion of the site from the National Priorities List. The site now hosts a Lowe's, a restaurant, a strip mall, and a New Jersey Transit rail line. As of December 2024, 14 on-site businesses employed 299 people and generated about $147.9 million in annual sales.

The remaining work focuses on Ackerman's Creek and its tributaries. EPA's plan calls for excavating roughly 16,300 cubic yards of contaminated sediment, installing a tide gate for dry excavation, and placing backfill to existing surface elevation. Remedial design is scheduled for completion by September 2025, with cleanup work estimated to begin between July and September 2026. Fish consumption advisory signs are posted in the area, and existing deed restrictions remain in place. The most recent sitewide five-year review was completed in March 2026.

Community members with questions can contact the EPA staff assigned to the site. Documents related to the site can be reviewed in person at the East Rutherford Municipal Building or at the EPA office at 290 Broadway in New York City.