The Diamond Head Oil Refinery Division is a 30.5-acre former oil reprocessing facility in Kearny, New Jersey. The site operated from the 1940s through the 1970s, and refining waste was dumped into neighboring properties and an on-site wetland, creating what investigators describe as an "oil lake." EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 2002, which formally identifies it as a priority for federal cleanup action.
Contamination affects soil, sediment, surface water, and groundwater. The main concerns are light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL), which is oil that does not dissolve in water, along with lead, chromium, dioxin, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Soil testing found lead at 27,900 parts per million in surface samples and chromium at 22,300 parts per million in subsurface samples, both far above cleanup goals. Sediment in the former oil lake area contained lead at 84,400 parts per million. EPA has identified more than 50 contaminants of concern in total, including volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals, phthalates, and pesticides. Risk assessments found unacceptable risks to maintenance workers, trespassers, highway workers, industrial workers, and construction workers. Soil and sediment in the drainage ditch also posed unacceptable risks to the environment. The nearest residential area is half a mile away and is not affected by site contamination.
EPA divided the cleanup into three operable units (OUs). OU1 targets LNAPL contamination in the source area. OU2 covers residual contaminants across the entire site. OU3 will address groundwater and its investigation is scheduled to begin in January 2026. Records of Decision for OU1 and OU2 were both issued in 2017. Active cleanup of OU1 and OU2 began in February 2024 and involves removing soil contaminated with dioxin and LNAPL, and consolidating and capping surface soil containing residual PCBs, lead, and chromium. One source states cleanup is expected to finish between October and December 2026, while another states OU1 and OU2 work was expected to continue through December 2025. EPA reports insufficient data to determine whether human exposure is currently under control and whether groundwater contamination migration has been stabilized. Physical construction is not yet complete.
Community members can review site records at the EPA Records Center in Region 2 at 290 Broadway in New York City, or at the Kearny Public Library at 318 Kearny Avenue in Kearny. Community Update materials are available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Residents can also get involved through EPA's Community Involvement Program.
