The Radiation Technology, Inc. site covers 263 acres in Rockaway Township, New Jersey, near Lake Denmark. EPA added it to the National Priorities List (NPL) in September 1984 after the former owner improperly stored and disposed of waste drums containing solvents and other organic chemicals. That disposal contaminated soil, sediment, and groundwater. Cleanup is divided into four operable units targeting different areas and contamination types. Work on sources and drums, and on buildings and structures, has been completed, but groundwater remediation is still in progress.
EPA identified 37 contaminants of concern across the site. Groundwater contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, benzene, chloroform, and carbon tetrachloride. Soil and solid waste contain metals such as lead, arsenic, cobalt, and nickel. Buildings, structures, and sludge contained asbestos, lead, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Monitoring data from 2010 to 2025 show that eight contaminants still exceed safe drinking water standards, and groundwater migration is not yet stabilized. EPA has determined there is currently no exposure to contaminated groundwater and that human exposure is under control across the entire site.
New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection closed contaminated drinking water wells in 1981. A groundwater cleanup plan was selected in 1994. Between 2013 and 2015, crews removed and disposed of drums and contaminated source material. From 2017 through 2021, workers addressed buildings, structures, and soils through excavation, decontamination, and demolition, including removal of lead-based paint, asbestos, and PCB contamination from 18 buildings. In December 2025, EPA approved new groundwater investigation reports submitted by Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems and used them to develop a proposed plan that recommends Monitored Natural Attenuation and a Technical Impracticability Waiver with Institutional Controls, replacing the 1994 approach. A Record of Decision Amendment was issued in March 2026. Remedial design for groundwater work is estimated for late 2026, with the actual remedial action estimated to begin in late 2028.
The site remains under RTI's ownership. Sterigenics International operates on the western portion under a lease, using radiation to sterilize food, cosmetics, and medical devices. As of December 2024, that operation employed 10 people and generated about $28.7 million in annual sales. The rest of the site is currently not in active use.
Community members can get involved through EPA's public comment process and virtual public meetings. EPA held a virtual public meeting in January 2026 to present its investigation findings and explain the preferred cleanup option. Residents can contact the assigned Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager directly with questions, and can review site documents at the EPA Region 2 Records Center in New York City or at the Rockaway Township Free Public Library in New Jersey.
