Myers Property

Overview

Myers Property, also known as Elko Chemical Co., is a five-acre Superfund site in Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Several companies manufactured pesticides and industrial chemicals there from the 1940s onward, including DDT production during and after World War II. The EPA placed the site on the National Priorities List in September 1983 after contaminated soil, drummed wastes, and asbestos were found on the property.

Six contaminants of concern have been identified in groundwater at the site. They are 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, 1,3-dichlorobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, benzene, and chlorobenzene. EPA determined these chemicals pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment based on the amounts present and the potential health effects from exposure.

Cleanup work has unfolded in phases over several decades. Removal of contaminated materials began in 1984, and fencing and warning signs were added in 1987. Buildings were dismantled in 1997 and 1998, with the historic 1827 mill foundation preserved with help from the National Park Service and New Jersey Historic Preservation Office. Contaminated soil and sediment were excavated between 2003 and 2005 and disposed of off-site. A groundwater extraction and treatment system began operating in October 1999, reintroducing treated water into the ground and preventing off-site migration of contaminants. Residential wells in the area are sampled regularly and have not been affected.

The site received preliminary close-out approval in September 2005. A five-year review completed in January 2023 confirmed the remedy remains protective of human health and the environment. Human exposure is under control, and contaminated groundwater is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. The site has achieved sitewide ready for anticipated use status, meaning cleanup goals have been met for current and expected future uses and required land-use controls are in place. Groundwater treatment and monitoring continue under EPA oversight. The next five-year review is estimated for January through March 2028.

Part of the property has returned to productive use. A state-owned recreational trail running through the site is open to the public, while a privately owned portion remains fenced. Community members with questions can contact the EPA directly using the information below.