Site History: Chronic releases of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other hazardous substances began as early as 1936.

The Bound Brook, a tributary to the Raritan River, is adjacent to The Cornell-Dubilier Electronics Site. Photo by Reyhan Mehran.

Trustees:

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)
• New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Site Status: Remedial Action at Facility; Remedial Investigations for contaminated groundwater and for the Bound Brook Corridor.

Overview: Cornell-Dubilier Electronics, Inc., manufactured electronic parts and components, including capacitors, from 1936 to 1962 and tested transformer oils for an unknown period of time on a 26-acre property. An unnamed stream traverses the southeast corner of the property and then flows northwest approximately half a mile to Bound Brook. Bound Brook discharges to the lower Raritan River approximately six miles downstream. From the confluence with Bound Brook, the Raritan River flows approximately 12 miles southeast to discharge into Raritan Bay. The contaminants of most concern to NOAA at the site are PCBs and metals although elevated concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), DDT, dioxins, and furans have also been found.

The site was placed on the National Priorities List in July 1998. The Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Studay was initiated in 2000. EPA's investigations have included sampling on-site soil and buildings, soil from adjacent residential properties, groundwater, sediments, surface water, and fish in the Bound Brook corridor. The EPA has separated the site into four operable units (OUs): OU1 includes the contaminated soils at residential, municipal, and commercial properties in the vicinity of the former facility, OU2 includes the 26-acre former facility and associated contaminated soils and buildings, OU3 includes the contaminated groundwater, and OU4 includes the contaminated sediments of the Bound Brook corridor. A record of decision (ROD) was issued for OU1 in September 2003 and portions of this remedy have been completed. A ROD for OU2 was issued in September 2004 and the first phases of this remedy, dismantling the buildings and excavating the "capacitor disposal area" were completed in May and June 2008, respectively. On-site treatment of contaminated soils by low temperature thermal desorption began in November 2009. The site received $30 million in American Resource and Recovery Act (ARRA) funding in fiscal year 2009 which is being used to accelerate the cleanup of the contaminated soil and debris. The Remedial Investigations for OU3 and OU4 are currently ongoing.