EPA Now Identifying Chemicals At Marl Road Toxic Site: Update

HOWELL, NJ — The EPA is assuring residents here and in Farmingdale that "there has not been, nor is there currently a need for evacuations" as a result of its cleanup of a Marl Road toxic cleanup site, according to its weekly online update.

And it says the federal Environmental Protection Agency is making "significant progress" in categorizing the materials found in the 200-300 drums and hundreds of small bottles and paint cans and other containers at the former Compounders Inc. site at 15 Marl Road.

The EPA has been at the site since early April and is now "assessing and addressing" the drums and containers of potentially hazardous materials found at the former Compounders Inc. manufacturing site, the agency said in a weekly update.

"Since EPA has been involved, the Compounders Inc. property has been more secure than it has been in years," said Michael Mannino, the onsite coordinator of the cleanup for the EPA. "An established fence line and a security guard have made sure of that."

"Howell Township, in an effort to be proactive, developed an evacuation plan as a precaution, but there has not been, nor is there currently a need for evacuations," the EPA update said.

In two community outreach meetings, there has been lots of concern voiced by residents, especially those in Farmingdale where some houses are only a block or two away from the site, about air and water quality in the area and about the potential for a need for evacuation. Read more: Chemical Drum Cleanup In Howell Prompts Meeting, Evacuation Map.

Stephen McBay, an EPA spokesman, said Monday the EPA is now testing all chemicals found in drums and in other containers, such as paint cans and even small bottles. They are all being put inside a warehouse onsite on plastic tarp, he said, out of the elements.

This "HAZ-CAT" categorization is a necessary first step in determining what licensed disposal facility the drums and other material will go to, he said. He said the EPA has many sites it can remove the material to.

He said the evacuation plan put out by Howell Township's Office of Emergency Management early in March is "good to have," but he said it should not be necessary to implement.

On April 17, the EPA said the removal and stabilization of 200 to 300 deteriorating 55-gallon drums containing chemicals at the industrial plant has reduced - but not eliminated - the risk of a fire or evacuation, according to that weekly update.

Air monitors have also been placed at two locations outside of the property to monitor stable air quality. Read more: Air Monitors Now Up At Marl Road Chemical Cleanup Site In Howell

Victor Cook, the coordinator of the Howell Office of Emergency Management, originally put out an evacuation map showing a half-mile and a one-mile radius from Compounders Inc., but residents have been asking for more specifics about the plan.

He has said it was a precautionary plan. He said Monday he "feels confident" the site is secure. He also posted a notice to residents on the Howell Facebook site that any rumors about a need for an evacuation based on social media comments or other news sources were inaccurate.

Residents can sign up for the Howell Township emergency notification system on its website, he said.

EPA is working with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Monmouth County Health Department, Howell Township, and other "stakeholders" a part of the cleanup plan, the agency says.

Shortly after being asked to address the site, EPA fenced it and provided 24-hour security. EPA began cleanup actions at the site right after it obtained access from the site owner in early April.

Here is a rundown of the work going on as of April 24:

• EPA and its contractors are identifying and characterizing the contents of containers and drums at the site to ensure that they are properly handled and disposed.
• EPA is labeling and staging the drums of chemicals for testing and disposal. If a drum or container does not meet EPA's standards to allow for shipping off-site, its contents will be moved to a new, suitable container.
• The work is performed in a plastic-lined containment area to prevent spills or leaks.

The agency says it will continue its work until all the materials at the site have been assessed and secured to be taken away.

Background on 15 Marl Road

Howell Township firefighters were dispatched to 15 Marl Road to perform an investigation after calls reporting smoke in the area on Feb. 9. Upon arriving, there was an ongoing burning of materials inside of an old still in which a door had been cut. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire.

Upon seeing the condition of the site, firefighters called for Howell Township Office of Emergency Response. After seeing the numerous drums and smelling a chemical odor, Howell emergency officials requested Monmouth County Department of Health for a potential hazardous materials response.

Upon arrival, the county health department began an investigation of the area, discovering the large quantities of 55-gallon drums, along with smaller quantities of various other containers around the site.

There were "many spills along the ground, open drums, and drums present in the old still on site," the EPA said in a recap of conditions there.

In addition to the drums inside the still, there appeared to be evidence of solid waste and wooden pallets, showing evidence of burning.

Compounders Inc. for decades manufactured a number of chemical compounds, most likely for use in glues and adhesives. It appears at some point, the company moved on to manufacturing asphalts that were loaded into trucks for use.

The company stopped production in 2019 and sold its stock, but not the property in 2021.

The state Attorney General's office is investigating the circumstances surrounding the Feb. 9 fire.

Related stories

To read more Patch news about the 15 Marl Road cleanup site, you can refer to the following stories:

• New Howell Website Is Dedicated To Marl Road Chemical Cleanup
• Howell Chemical Cleanup: Call For A Second Community Meeting
• Worried Residents Seek Answers About Howell Chemical Cleanup
• Farmingdale 'In The Loop' For Howell Chemical Cleanup: Mayor
• Chemical Drum Cleanup In Howell Prompts Meeting, Evacuation Map
• Hundreds Of Abandoned Drums With Chemicals Found At Howell Business