The Federal Creosote site covers 50 acres in Manville, New Jersey, where a coal tar wood treatment facility operated from 1911 to 1956. After the facility closed, 137 homes were built on part of the property and a commercial area called the Rustic Mall was developed on another portion. Creosote-contaminated sludges, sediments, and process wastes left behind in unlined canals and lagoons spread into the soil and groundwater beneath both residential and commercial areas. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List in January 1999.
The main contaminants are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, and related chemicals including benzene, naphthalene, anthracene, pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene, and several other compounds. These were found in soil across the site and in groundwater beneath the Rustic Mall area. EPA identified over 40 chemical substances of concern in total. People could have been exposed through skin contact with contaminated soil or by drinking polluted groundwater.
EPA tackled the cleanup in three soil phases across multiple operable units. Phase 1 began in July 1998 and involved temporary soil covers, permanent removal of contaminated material from 29 residential properties, and relocation of 19 families. Phase 2 cleaned up 64 more residential properties where creosote levels exceeded cleanup goals. Phase 3 addressed the Rustic Mall. In all, EPA removed over 275,000 tons of soil from residential areas and 177,000 tons from commercial areas, digging as deep as 35 feet and sending the material off-site for thermal treatment and disposal. Twenty-four property owners were permanently relocated and 18 homes were demolished. EPA cleaned up 93 residential properties in total. All soil cleanup construction was finished on August 28, 2008. Groundwater is addressed through long-term monitoring and institutional controls that restrict groundwater use and well installation beneath the site. EPA assessments show that human exposure is under control and groundwater migration is stabilized. The site was deleted from the National Priorities List on June 18, 2014. The most recent five-year review was completed on October 27, 2021, and the next review is estimated for late 2026.
Redevelopment is underway. A developer has rebuilt 10 of the 18 demolished homes. Future plans include green space, additional residential housing, and revitalized commercial space on the Rustic Mall portion. The EPA Superfund Redevelopment Program is working with the community to support these efforts. Community members with questions can contact EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager directly. Site documents are available for in-person review at the EPA Superfund Records Center at 290 Broadway, 18th floor, in New York, New York.
