The Orange Valley Regional Ground Water Contamination site sits in Orange and West Orange, New Jersey. It was added to EPA's National Priorities List (NPL) in September 2012, which means it qualifies for federal Superfund cleanup funding and oversight. The site is also known by the names Biddleman Selecto Flash Inc and Selecto Flash Incorporated.
The main concern is groundwater contaminated with three chemicals: tetrachloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (cis-1,2-DCE). All three exceed EPA's maximum contaminant levels. The plume reached municipal water supply wells, including Orange Park, Gist Place, and Brook Alley, though the Brook Alley well has since been taken out of service. The specific source of contamination has not been definitively identified, though EPA has flagged several possible sources in the area.
The Orange Water Department runs a treatment system that removes these contaminants before water reaches taps. Routine monitoring confirms the treated water meets federal, state, and local standards. EPA issued a unilateral administrative order in April 2009 and completed a removal action between July and September 2012. In October 2019, EPA collected groundwater samples from 17 wells to identify contaminant sources and test for volatile organic compounds as well as Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). The remedial investigation and feasibility study (RI/FS), which examines the nature of contamination and evaluates cleanup options, is ongoing. Completion is currently estimated between September and November 2027, after which EPA will finalize a Record of Decision (ROD) explaining the chosen cleanup approach.
EPA is also investigating vapor intrusion at the site. That is the process by which chemical vapors from contaminated groundwater move up into the indoor air of nearby buildings. EPA and its contractors have been placing sampling canisters at properties and collecting soil gas samples beneath buildings. Results from those canisters typically come back about one month after retrieval. A community update fact sheet covering this work was released in March 2023.
Community members with questions about the site can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager.
