Status

March 2024 Quarterly Update

Residential Properties Remediation – Complete
Remediation and restoration activities are complete on all properties scheduled to be remediated under the Residential unit. Sherwin-Williams will continue to monitor the restoration of vegetation in regulated areas as required under the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) land use permit.

Route 561 Dump Site – Soils/Sediments Complete
Remediation and restoration activities are complete on all properties associated with the Route 561 Dump Site soils/sediment unit. Sherwin-Williams will continue to monitor the restoration of vegetation in regulated areas as required under the NJDEP land use permit. Groundwater associated with this unit will be monitored for the next several years. 

The EPA is currently conducting a 5-Year Review to ensure that remediation activities remain protective of human health and the environment.

The United States Avenue Burn Site – Soils/Sediments Complete
Remediation and restoration activities are complete on all areas under the United States Avenue Burn Site unit. The multi-purpose trail has been expanded throughout the restored area to connect Berlin Road and United States Avenue.

Sherwin-Williams will continue to monitor the restoration of vegetation in regulated areas as required under the NJDEP land use permit, as well as perform post-remediation groundwater and surface water monitoring. Monitoring efforts associated with this unit will continue for the next several years.

The Former Manufacturing Plant (FMP) Soils – Pre-Design / Remedial Design / Remedial Action
The EPA-issued Record of Decision (ROD) for the FMP unit outlines three distinct remedial approaches to address contaminated soils at the FMP, sediments in a portion of Hilliards Creek adjacent to the FMP, as well as an area of light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) contamination located along the eastern side of the FMP.  

  • The FMP soils remediation has been divided into several subareas to allow for phasing of activities.  
    • Remediation of Lot 4 and the United States Avenue North parcel began in mid-March.  Work on the eastern side of the FMP will continue for approximately three months. 
    • Following the Lot 4/US Avenue North remediation, work is scheduled to commence on the 6 East Clementon and Main Plant area, pending final permits from EPA and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). 
    • The Remedial Design for the United States Avenue South area was approved by EPA and work will commence in a phased approach.
    • Pre-Design Investigation (PDI) activities continue on portions of the FMP located along the southern side of Foster Avenue.
  • PDI activities for sediments are progressing along Upper Hilliards Creek, which extends from Foster Avenue down to West Clementon Road in Gibbsboro.  
  • LNAPL located within and adjoining the eastern side of the FMP will be remediated using enhanced bio-remediation along with soil vapor recovery. The 30% remedial design report was submitted to EPA on February 16, 2024.  
  • Following remediation, these areas will be restored in accordance with NJDEP Land Use requirements and as agreed upon with the property owner.

Waterbodies Unit – Pre-Design
Contaminated sediments and floodplain soils in Silver Lake, Bridgewood Lake, Kirkwood Lake and Hilliards Creek will be addressed in a phased approach.  

Pre-design investigations of Silver Lake and Bridgewood Lake in Gibbsboro are ongoing. Once the PDI phase is complete for each lake, the team will move forward with remedial design. 

Under the EPA-approved remedy, remediation will occur on the upstream Silver and Bridgewood Lakes, followed by the Hilliards Creek floodplain and Kirkwood Lake.  Following restoration, remediated areas will be restored in accordance with NJDEP land use requirements.

Former Manufacturing Plant Groundwater – Remedial Investigation
Sherwin-Williams is working with EPA to finalize the Remedial Investigation (RI) of the Groundwater unit. A Revised RI Report was submitted to EPA on March 11, 2024. Once the RI is approved by EPA, Sherwin-Williams will proceed with the Feasibility Study to evaluate alternatives for addressing groundwater contamination at the FMP.

Additional Activities

United States Avenue Sanitary Sewer Extension
Sherwin-Williams has completed the design of a sanitary sewer line extension along United States Avenue and Foster Avenue in Gibbsboro. This sewer line extension will help facilitate remediation work at and adjacent to the FMP.  Construction of the sewer line extension will occur once the appropriate permits and approvals are obtained by the Borough of Gibbsboro.

Potential Kirkwood Lake Accelerated Action
Sherwin-Williams has an agreement with Camden County to share the cost of evaluating remedial design options for potentially accelerating the dredging of Kirkwood Lake before or concurrently with the dredging of upstream areas of the Waterbodies unit. 

The team is evaluating the feasibility of remediating Kirkwood Lake prior to completing the upstream areas while preventing recontamination of Kirkwood Lake, which is currently scheduled to be the last waterbody remediated under the EPA-approved remedy. The Pre-Design Investigation is complete, and engineering efforts are underway to evaluate options and designs.

No agreement or schedule is in place at this time for the actual dredging. Extensive design and permitting is required, which will take a year or more before any dredging work can be performed.  This work is being performed in parallel with other sections of the Waterbodies unit, by a separate project team, to ensure that any accelerated action of Kirkwood Lake does not delay efforts on upstream waterbodies.