Woodland Route 532 Dump

Overview

Two former chemical waste disposal sites in Woodland Township, Burlington County, New Jersey operated from the early 1950s until 1962. Together they cover roughly 32 acres within the New Jersey Pinelands Preservation Area, near significant wetlands. The EPA added the site to the National Priorities List in 1984. Cleanup has been divided into three operable units covering surface soils and sediments, groundwater, and subsurface soils.

Contaminants found in soil, sediments, and groundwater include volatile organic compounds such as benzene, trichloroethene, chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes. Heavy metals including chromium, lead, arsenic, cadmium, nickel, silver, and zinc were also detected. Additional contaminants include polychlorinated biphenyls, DDT and its breakdown products, bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, chlorobenzene, cresol, and 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane. Thirteen contaminants of concern have been formally identified.

Cleanup began in 1990 with excavation of about 97,400 cubic yards of contaminated waste, followed by grading, mulching, and revegetation. Air sparging and soil vapor extraction then removed organic contaminants from soil and groundwater. At the Route 532 site, an estimated 44,500 pounds of organic contaminants were biodegraded by July 2005. At the Route 72 site, Phase 1 remediation finished in January 2007, and Phases 2 and 3 ran through 2018, removing roughly 130,860 pounds of organic contaminants combined. Physical construction finished in December 2003. Soil remediation at both sites is complete, and the site was declared ready for anticipated reuse in April 2017.

Groundwater contaminant concentrations continue to decline, though remedial goals have not yet been met. No one is currently exposed to contaminated groundwater. A Classification Exception Area and Well Restriction Area, established in 1999, prevent use of groundwater as drinking water. Security fencing surrounds the former disposal areas, and zoning restrictions prevent residential development. Ecological risk to nearby wetlands is considered negligible. A five-year review completed January 30, 2024 confirmed the remedy remains protective of human health and the environment. The site has not yet been deleted from the National Priorities List, and monitoring continues at both locations.

Community members can review site records at the Woodland Township Municipal Building in Chatsworth or at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection office in Trenton. The EPA conducts regular monitoring and inspections. For questions, contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator.