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Garfield Chromium Ground Water Contamination |
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At the request of the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be
conducting a removal assessment regarding chromium contaminated ground
water in the city of Garfield, NJ. As part of this assessment, EPA will
determine which houses and businesses have basements, water
infiltration problems, or sump pumps so that samples may be taken. The
investigation is expected to begin mid-September. The testing area
includes 614 properties, beginning at Sherman Place and moving west to
the Passaic River. See reverse for a map of the entire testing area,
including the northern and southern boundaries.
Historically in Garfield, industrial facilities were located in close proximity to residential areas. These facilities included a tannery and chemical plant, and two electroplating companies. Some of these facilities used chromium in their processes, and it is suspected the ground water in the surrounding areas has become contaminated with chromium. In June 1993, chromium contaminated ground water and crystals were discovered in the basement of the Garfield Fire House #3. Since then, several other houses and business have reported elevated levels of chromium in their ground water.
EPA will conduct site investigations to determine the potential sources, the extent of contamination, and levels of chromium. If site conditions and results from the investigation meet federal criteria for removal action, clean up measures can be taken.
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