Helen Kramer Landfill

Overview

Helen Kramer Landfill operated from 1963 to 1981 in Mantua Township, New Jersey, accepting municipal, industrial, hospital, and septage wastes across 66 acres. Chemical waste was disposed of without proper permits, and groundwater became contaminated before a court ordered the landfill to close in March 1981. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List in September 1983.

More than 150 chemicals have been identified as contaminants of concern. Volatile organic compounds include trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, benzene, toluene, and xylene. Chlorinated compounds such as 1,1,1-trichloroethane and chloroform are present, along with heavy metals including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and nickel. Contamination has been found in groundwater, surface water, and landfill gas.

Construction of the main cleanup finished in June 1993. Work included a six-layer cap covering 81.5 acres, a slurry wall around the landfill perimeter, a leachate collection trench to protect nearby Edwards Run, leachate treatment before discharge, an active landfill gas collection and treatment system, and surface water controls. A 1998 settlement with responsible parties recovered $95 million plus interest. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection took over operation and maintenance in May 1994 and continues that work today.

EPA's 2020 five-year review found the remedies protect human health and the environment in the short term because all known exposure pathways have been addressed. However, long-term protection is not yet confirmed. Current performance measures for human exposure and groundwater migration are listed as "Insufficient Data." Additional work is underway for Operable Unit 2, which focuses on groundwater, with a remedial investigation and feasibility study in progress as of September 2022. Sampling for 1,4-dioxane, PFAS, and other contaminants of concern is still needed in both shallow and deep aquifers. Surface water and sediment monitoring is ongoing. The site has not been deleted from the National Priorities List or declared ready for anticipated reuse.

Community members who want to learn more or get involved can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator. Site documents are available at the EPA Superfund Records Center in New York City and at the Rowan College South Jersey Gloucester Campus Library in Sewell, New Jersey. The library's Reference and Research Desk can be reached at 856-415-2253.