Woodland Route 72 Dump

Overview

The Woodland Route 72 Dump is a former chemical waste disposal site in Woodland Township, Burlington County, New Jersey, within the New Jersey Pinelands Preservation Area. The site accepted liquids, drums, and general refuse from the early 1950s until 1962. It was added to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1984 and has been divided into operable units to address different types and locations of contamination.

Twelve contaminants of concern have been identified in groundwater and soil. Groundwater contains 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, benzene, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, chlorobenzene, chloroform, and chromium. Soil contains bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, chromium, cresol (mixed isomers), DDT and metabolites, and lead. Both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk targets were exceeded in soil, waste, and groundwater.

Major cleanup work began in 1990 with the excavation and off-site disposal of roughly 37,200 cubic yards of waste. The site was then graded and revegetated. Starting in 1999, a groundwater remedy using air sparging and soil vapor extraction was put in place. Multiple phases of sparging operations removed tens of thousands of pounds of organic contaminants over several years. Soil remediation is now complete, and construction across the site was finished in 2004. Groundwater treatment and monitoring are continuing, with additional remedial action estimated to run through late 2027. A Classification Exception Area and Well Restriction Area prevent the use of groundwater as drinking water beneath the site. Security fencing and zoning restrictions are also in place.

The most recent five-year review, completed in January 2024, found the remedy remains protective of human health and the environment. Groundwater contaminant concentrations continue to decline, though cleanup goals have not yet been fully met. No current receptors are exposed to contaminated groundwater. The site achieved sitewide ready for anticipated reuse status in 2017 but has not yet been deleted from the NPL. One source notes the most recent five-year review as 2024, while another references 2019 as the most recent, but these are treated as separate reviews covering different assessment periods rather than a direct conflict.

Community members with questions can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator. Site records are also available for public review at the Woodland Township Municipal Building in Chatsworth and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Community Relations in Trenton.