Waterbodies

The Waterbodies project unit includes Hilliards Creek and its floodplain from West Clementon Road in Gibbsboro to the inlet of Kirkwood Lake in Voorhees, as well as Silver Lake, Bridgewood Lake and Kirkwood Lake.

Over the course of the 125-year industrial history of the former manufacturing plant, certain metals, primarily lead and arsenic, were transported downstream resulting in contamination within the floodplain and lakes.

On October 1, 2021, EPA released the Record of Decision for the Waterbodies Unit. The EPA-selected remedy includes the following components:

• Excavation, transportation and off-site disposal of contaminated soils in the floodplain;
• Backfilling of excavated areas, followed by revegetation and restoration of Hilliards Creek floodplain;
• Placement of institutional controls and deed notices to limit exposure to residual contamination remaining at depth, which will minimize the amount of tree clearing required throughout the floodplain;
• Excavation, transportation and off-site disposal of contaminated stream and lake sediments;
• Dewatering and processing of excavated sediments;
• Revegetation and restoration of the stream bank, as needed; and
• Monitoring of restoration activities to ensure compliance with applicable land use permits.

The Consent Decree Modification authorizing Sherwin-Williams to begin the Waterbodies unit was finalized and entered in Federal court on September 26, 2022. Pre-design investigation activities are being performed in a phased approach.