EPA Proposes Next Step in Shieldalloy Superfund Groundwater Cleanup in Newfield, New Jersey
NEW YORK — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on November 9 proposed the next step in the cleanup of the Shieldalloy Corp. Superfund site in Newfield, New Jersey. The proposed plan would address perchlorate contamination in groundwater, which also impacts the City of Vineland, by relying on natural processes to reduce contamination over time, along with institutional controls and long-term monitoring to prevent exposure and track progress.
Under the plan, naturally occurring processes, including biodegradation, dilution, and dispersion, would break down contamination over time, with long-term monitoring of the groundwater to ensure the method is working. The plan would also prohibit the installation of private drinking water wells that draw from the contaminated groundwater at the site. Homes and businesses near the site are connected to public water supply systems, which are sampled under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
The site is a 67-acre area where the Shieldalloy Metallurgical Corporation operated a specialty facility that produced chromium alloy and other products from 1955 to 2006, discharging industrial wastewater directly into lagoons and surface water. The area includes the Hudson Branch, an intermittent stream that discharges into Burnt Mill Pond, and a 19.8-acre farm parcel that was not used for manufacturing but was purchased by the company to support previous cleanup activities. Previous actions at the site include the cleanup of contaminated soil and the continued cleanup of other non-perchlorate groundwater contaminants, including hexavalent chromium and volatile organic compounds; the new plan addresses perchlorates, colorless, odorless chemical compounds that were used for facility operations.
“The proposed cleanup plan is a significant step in addressing contamination at the Shieldalloy Superfund site,” said EPA Region 2 Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. “We are pleased to present a plan that is protective of human health and the environment while being the most efficient option for addressing groundwater contamination.”
EPA will accept public comments on the proposed plan for 30 days, beginning November 9, 2026, and ending December 11, 2026. Written comments may be submitted to William Friedmann, Remedial Project Manager, 290 Broadway, New York, NY 10007, postmarked by December 9, or by email. EPA will also hold a virtual public meeting on November 19, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. to provide an overview of the cleanup proposal and answer community questions, with advance registration required.
(Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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