Second Phase of Pompton Lake Dredging to Start Soon

The second phase of Pompton Lake cleanup will begin this spring and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding a public session to discuss that work.

During the 2017 season, the EPA will oversee dredging and removal of an approximate 128,000 cubic yards of sediment contaminated with mercury and lead from a 36-acre area where the Acid Brook flows into Pompton Lake, called the Acid Brook Delta.

Lake bottom sediment was contaminated with mercury and lead from the DuPont (now Chemours) Pompton Lakes Works Site in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey.

“We had a very successful first season of lake cleanup thanks to the hard work and close coordination of EPA, local officials, Chemours and the Pompton Lakes community,” said Acting EPA Regional Administrator Catherine McCabe.

In 2016, the EPA oversaw the first phase of cleanup work, which was performed by Chemours and included the removal, processing and off-site disposal of 28,810 cubic yards of soil and sediment. Water from dredged sediment was treated and released back to the lake under a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection permit.

According to EPA, the site is currently being prepared for the second phase of cleanup. Contractors are placing equipment on-site and installing utility lines to provide electricity to the work area. The work area is also being reconfigured to accommodate hydraulic dredging.

The 2017 phase of cleanup includes the following:

• Installation of material processing equipment and water treatment systems to support hydraulic dredging in the Acid Brook Delta;
• Excavation of a small volume of soil from Area A1 in the Uplands Soil Area obstructed by the presence of a sewer line;
• Installation of a turbidity curtain to contain suspended sediment within the dredging area;
• Fish relocation;
• Hydraulic dredging of sediment in the Acid Brook Delta;
• Placement of an ecological layer over dredged areas within the Acid Brook Delta, the Island Area and Area A of Pompton Lake;
• Monitoring of air and water quality.

The EPA will host a public availability session on Thursday, March 30th at 7:00 p.m. in the Carnevale Center, Pompton Lakes. The officials will be on hand to answer questions and update residents on the status of environmental cleanup activities at the Pompton Lakes Works Site, including the dredging of Pompton Lake.

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