Garden State Cleaners Co. is a former dry-cleaning facility in Minotola, Buena Borough, New Jersey. EPA placed it on the National Priorities List in March 1989 after the facility contaminated local soil and groundwater with volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. Cleanup has gone through multiple phases over more than three decades, and the site now has "Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Use" status, meaning cleanup goals for current and future land uses have been met.
Fifteen contaminants of concern have been identified at the site. They were found in groundwater, soil, and air. The main ones are trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, and dichloromethane. These are chlorinated solvents typical of dry-cleaning operations.
Soil cleanup happened in two rounds. From 1994 to 1995, EPA ran a soil vapor extraction system to pull contaminants from the ground. Later investigations found that some soil under the building still held PCE above cleanup levels. EPA acquired the property in 2011, demolished the building, and excavated that remaining contaminated soil. Soil cleanup was completed in September 2011. Groundwater cleanup has been running since 1999 through an extraction and treatment system shared with the nearby South Jersey Clothing Company Superfund site. A 2005 review found the system was not fully capturing the leading edge of the contaminant plume, so EPA upgraded it in 2010 and added extraction wells. EPA transferred operation of the groundwater system to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, or NJDEP, in September 2020. NJDEP now handles ongoing operation and maintenance.
EPA has determined that human exposure to site contamination is under control and that contaminated groundwater is stabilized in its original area. The site is vacant and zoned for commercial use. EPA is working with NJDEP to transfer property ownership by December 2025. The Superfund Redevelopment Program is helping support future productive use of the land. The most recent five-year review was completed on June 28, 2024, and the site has not yet been deleted from the National Priorities List.
Community members who want to stay informed or ask questions can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or the Remedial Project Manager. Site records are also available for in-person review at the EPA Superfund Records Center at 290 Broadway, 18th floor, New York, New York.
