EPA v. U.S. Armament Research Development & Engineering Center aka Picatinny Arsenal

Case summary

Investigate and remediate various operable units at the Picatinny Arsenal Site to protect human health and the environment at the Site. ROD issued July 3, 2007 for Site 25/26 Soil. The remedy involves capping an area of PAH contaminated soil which is approximately 14 thousand square feet, and land use controls. ROD issued Sept. 28, 2007: Area E GW and Site 22: Area E Groundwater consists of volatile organic compound (VOC) plume that is approximately 34.4 acres in area and 1,332 thousand cubic yards in volume. The remedy for Area E Groundwater is monitored natural attenuation and land use controls. The land use controls for Area E Groundwater include designation as a Classification Exception Area regulated by NJDEP and a prohibition to use Area Groundwater for potable purposes. Site 22 is 0.762 acres in area and contaminated soil. The remedy for Site 22 is land use controls to prohibit residential development, elementary and secondary schools, child-care facilities and playgrounds ROD was issued September 30, 2008 for PICA 020 Group of Sites. The remedy involves implementing land use controls at 11 sites (19, 163, 86, 182, 183, 28, 106, 124, 141, 143, and 135). No further action for sites 49 and 44. The land use controls will limit site use to commercial/industrial. ROD issued March 19, 2009 for site 61/104. The remedy also includes land use controls which limit site use to commercial/industrial. The ROD was approved on April 1, 2009 for Area B. A VOC groundwater plume approx. 250ftx140ftx2ft is being insitu treated. ROD was issued June 9, 2009 for Site 31/101. The remedy involves removing contaminated soil and disposing it off-site. It also involves consolidating contaminated soils under a asphalt cover or under a soil cover depending on the contaminant characteristics. Approximately 743 CY of PCB-contaminated soil greater than 160 ppm will be disposed off-site. PCBs greater than 2 ppm but less than 160 will be consolidated under the asphalt cover. Approximately 1,368 CY of lead contaminated soil will be removed and will be disposed off-site if fails TCLP, placed under the the asphalt cap if it fails state leaching criteria, or otherwise placed under the soil cover. The asphalt cover will be approximately 24, 400 SF in area and the soil cover will be approximately 56,160 SF in area. Land use controls will also be implemented to limit site use to commercial/industrial. The ROD was approved on August 2, 2010 for Group 3 Sites. A VOC groundwater plume is being treated in-situ. The ROD was approved on September 17, 2010 for Group 1 Sites. An explosive groundwater plume is being addressed by monitored natural attenuation and soil contaminated with explosives is being removed and disposed off-site. LUCs will also be implemented at the sites. The ROD was approved on September 27, 2012 for Mid-Valley Groundwater. Groundwater plumes consisting of a VOC (TCE) and an explosive (RDX) are being treated in-situ. ROD issued May 15, 2014. PICA 001 - 25 OUs. The Picatinny OU 17 3 Site ROD was signed on September 15, 2017. The Picatinny EOD Pond & Lake Denmark ROD (OU28) was signed on November 14, 2018. ESD for OU 17 3 - Site Group signed on September 30, 2019. ROD for Operable Unit 19 Mortar and Skeet Area signed November 25, 2024. ROD for Picatinny Lake Alternative 4, an alternative which includes target sediment removal via mechanical dredging from the elevated lead locations, followed by chemical dewatering and offsite disposal signed March 26, 2026.

Defendants (3)

• U.S. Armament Research Development & EngineeringNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• US Department of the Army, Installation ManagementNamed in settlement
• U.S. Department of the ArmyNamed in settlement

Facilities (4)

• US DOD PICATINNY ARSNL

  RT 15, DOVER, NJ, 07801

  Registry ID: 110042006646

• US ARMY, PICATINNY ARSENAL

  213 NJ-15, WHARTON, NJ, 07885

  Registry ID: 110042006646

• US ARMY, PICATINNY ARSENAL

  213 NJ-15, WHARTON, NJ, 07885

  Registry ID: 110042006646

• US DOD PICATINNY ARSNL

  RT 15, DOVER, NJ, 07801

  Registry ID: 110042006646

Statutes cited

• CERCLA 106A — Imminent & Substantial Endangerment Order
• CERCLA 120E — Federal Facility Interagency Agreement

Enforcement conclusions (16)

• U.S. Armament Research Development & Engineering Center aka Picatinny Arsenalentered 2007-07-03

  Primary law: CERCLA

• U.S. Armament Research Development & Engineering Center aka Picatinny Arsenalentered 2009-04-01

  Primary law: CERCLA

• US Department of the Army, Installation Management Command, Garrison Officeentered 2010-08-02

  Primary law: CERCLA

• U.S. Armament Research Development & Engineering Center aka Picatinny Arsenalentered 2024-11-25

  Primary law: CERCLA

• U.S. Armament Research Development & Engineering Center aka Picatinny Arsenalentered 2007-09-28

  Primary law: CERCLA

• U.S. Department of the Army, Installation Management Command, Garrison Officeentered 2010-09-17

  Primary law: CERCLA

• U.S. Armament Research Development & Engineering Center aka Picatinny Arsenalentered 2012-09-27

  Primary law: CERCLA

• U.S. Department of the Armyentered 2019-09-30

  Primary law: CERCLA

• U.S. Armament Research Development & Engineering Center aka Picatinny Arsenalentered 2026-03-26

  Primary law: CERCLA

• U.S. Armament Research Development & Engineering Center aka Picatinny Arsenalentered 2008-09-30

  Primary law: CERCLA

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 1991-04-17Complaint Filed/Proposed Order
• 2006-10-12Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2026-03-26Final Order Issued