The Fried Industries site is a 26-acre former manufacturing facility in East Brunswick Township, New Jersey. The plant made floor finishing products, detergents, adhesives, and chemical components for 25 years before EPA discovered improperly stored hazardous wastes there in 1983. The site was added to the National Priorities List (NPL) in June 1986, which is EPA's roster of contaminated sites that require thorough investigation and cleanup.
EPA has identified 47 contaminants of concern at the site. Groundwater holds the bulk of the contamination, including chlorinated solvents like trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like benzene and toluene, and metals including arsenic, chromium, and lead. Soil contamination includes arsenic and residual VOCs.
Cleanup has unfolded in several stages over decades. Early work included removing underground tank wastes, installing security fencing, and clearing more than 1,400 drums and 4,000 containers by 1992. The building complex was demolished in 1998 to address asbestos hazards. From January to June 1999, contractors removed over 600 buried drums, about 12,200 tons of contaminated soil and debris, and nearly 600,000 gallons of groundwater. A groundwater pump-and-treat system was built between fall 2011 and July 2012 and began long-term operation in July 2013. A 2022 Explanation of Significant Differences identified additional soil contamination requiring further action, and in August 2023, contractors began removing approximately 8,000 cubic yards of VOC-contaminated soil. The site achieved sitewide readiness for anticipated reuse in September 2024.
Human exposure to contaminated groundwater is not a concern. EPA has determined there are no unacceptable human exposure pathways and that contaminated groundwater is not migrating in an unacceptable way or discharging to surface water. Physical construction of the cleanup is complete across the entire site, and all required land-use controls are in place. The state took over operation and maintenance activities starting in July 2023. A five-year review was last completed in February 2022, with the next review estimated between February and April 2027. The site has not yet been deleted from the NPL.
The site is being returned to community use as Beaver Dam Park. The park and pedestrian walkways reopened to the public on November 15, 2023, giving visitors access to the site's wetlands, pond, and marshes. East Brunswick Township plans a second phase of walkway construction once soil restoration is finished. Community members with questions can reach out to EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager directly using the contact information below.
