Marl Road Project In Howell May Need Six To Eight Months Of Work

HOWELL, NJ — The federal cleanup of the Compounders Inc. site at 15 Marl Road is expected to take six to eight months, the township said in an update on the project Monday.

The Environmental Protection Agency since April has been overseeing the sampling and removal of what it now counts as more than 400 drums and 1,000 small containers found at the former industrial site. Compounders Inc. for decades manufactured chemicals used in adhesives. It also processed asphalt materials, the update notes.

"EPA will continue its work until all the materials at the site have been assessed and secured to be taken away," the township site said on Monday.

The township provides regular updates on its website about progress there, as well as information from the EPA and recordings of the two community meetings that have taken place to hear from members of the public.

In the two outreach meetings, residents, especially those in Farmingdale where some houses are only a block or two away from the site, have expressed concern about air and water quality in the area and about the potential for a need for evacuation.

But the federal authorities have set up air monitors, and have reassured residents that the surrounding area is safer now that they are on the site. "At this time, EPA has not had any alarms exceeding EPA’s harmful levels," the update Monday said.

Stephen McBay, an EPA spokesman, has said 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.

EPA and its contractors are opening, identifying and then characterizing the contents of each container and drum at the site to ensure that they are properly handled before they are removed, according to the update.

EPA is labeling and staging the drums of chemicals for testing and disposal. If a drum or container does not meet the Department of Transportation’s standards to allow for shipping off-site, EPA will move its contents to a new, suitable container.

The federal agency is coordinating with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to investigate the site and evaluate the soil and groundwater conditions after the drums are removed.

EPA is monitoring the air for particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and at this time, as noted above, EPA has not had any alarms exceeding the agencies safe levels.

The agency has also placed a water tank on the site to provide dust suppression if monitors indicate elevated levels. If volatile organic compounds are detected, EPA will identify what the source is and mitigate it.

If EPA determines throughout the cleanup that these sensors are not capable of monitoring for
a substance discovered on site, EPA will adjust the air monitoring plan as necessary, the update says.

The site is now fenced and has 24/7 security.

See the prior Patch story for more information and more links to articles written about the site.

Visit the township website link to see its latest updates and other information on the cleanup.

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.