Grand Street Mercury

Overview

The Grand Street Mercury site sits in Hoboken, New Jersey. Mercury lamp and switch manufacturing ran there from 1910 to 1965, leaving heavy contamination across two buildings, a parking lot, and nearby properties. EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List in September 1997.

Mercury is the contaminant of concern. It was found in soil, sediment, and other media. Free-flowing liquid mercury turned up between flooring layers, and mercury vapors rose above safe levels inside the buildings. Subsurface soils averaged 520 parts per million mercury. Contamination also spread to four neighboring properties.

Cleanup was organized into three operable units. The first covered permanent relocation of 15 families and 22 businesses, completed between 1997 and 2001. The second covered demolition of both contaminated buildings, carried out between March 2002 and summer 2003, with construction finishing in September 2005. Workers also excavated and removed contaminated soil on-site and at four nearby properties where mercury exceeded 23 parts per million. Groundwater testing found no risk to human health or the environment, so no groundwater cleanup was needed.

EPA removed the site from the National Priorities List in August 2007. Human exposure is under control, groundwater migration is stabilized, physical construction is complete, and the site is ready for its anticipated reuse. Private parties redeveloped the property into residential buildings, including luxury condominiums. EPA completed a Five-Year Review on July 31, 2024, confirming the remedy continues to protect human health and the environment.

Community members can review site documents and learn about cleanup decisions at the Hoboken Public Library, located at 500 Park Avenue in Hoboken, New Jersey. The Record of Decision Abstract is available there for public review. For questions, the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator and Remedial Project Manager are both reachable by email and phone.