The United States Avenue Burn site covers about 14 acres in Gibbsboro, New Jersey. Paint manufacturing facilities operated nearby from the mid-1800s until 1977, dumping paint wastes and solvents that contaminated soil, sediment, groundwater, and surface water. The site was added to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1999, which flags it as a priority for federal cleanup.
The main contaminants in soil and sediment are arsenic and lead. Several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), including benzo(a)pyrene and dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, were also found in residential soils. Lead, arsenic, and other substances such as pentachlorophenol, hexavalent chromium, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and additional PAHs were detected above New Jersey soil standards. These contaminants posed cancer risk and noncancer health hazards that exceeded EPA's acceptable levels.
Sherwin-Williams is the responsible party carrying out cleanup under EPA oversight. Principal waste was removed in 1979 and 1997. Between January 2023 and January 2024, Sherwin-Williams removed an additional 77,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and sediment. Excavated areas were backfilled with clean soil and replanted with native vegetation, which will be monitored for survival and to control invasive species. Soil and sediment cleanup is now complete and no longer exceeds EPA's unacceptable risk levels.
Groundwater evaluation is the current focus. Investigation of groundwater contamination began in December 2024. Multiple rounds of sampling in the coming years will help EPA and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) decide whether groundwater cleanup is needed. EPA's performance measures currently show insufficient data to confirm whether human exposure pathways are controlled or whether contaminated groundwater movement is stabilized. Overall site construction is not yet complete, and the site has not been deleted from the NPL.
Community members with questions can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager. Site documents are available for review at the EPA's Superfund Records Center in New York City or at Gibbsboro Borough Hall/Library in Gibbsboro, New Jersey.
