| Huntsman Corporation West Deptford Plant |
| Huntsman Corporation (Huntsman) is located on a 300-acre parcel of land in West Deptford acres of woodland and pasture, and approximately 90 acres was formerly used for the production of polypropylene. From 1962 to 1987, Shell conducted polypropylene manufacturing on the site. In 1987, Huntsman purchased the site and continued operations until 1999. Beginning in 1987 at the time of the sale to Huntsman, Shell conducted an environmental evaluation under the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Environmental Cleanup and Responsibility Act (ECRA). The ECRA activities included soil and groundwater sampling and hot-spot removal of impacted soils. The evaluation continued until 1992 when Shell received a no further action determination from NJDEP. Three main processes were used during the production of polypropylene at the facility: 1) the Wet End Process; 2) the Dry End Process; and 3) the Utilities Process. Water was supplied to the site through four onsite wells. Three of the onsite wells were process water wells and one was a potable water well. All water obtained from these wells were treated onsite prior to its use. Currently, none of the four wells are being utilized. Process materials were stored in various quantities in tanks within the Boiler-Utilities area. Three boilers generated steam required for the process operations. Boiler #3 also burned waste oil. Burning of waste oil ceased in 1995 and the boiler was closed in 1998. The plant chemical and sanitary sewers drained to an onsite wastewater treatment facility. From 1962 to 1972 effluent from the onsite wastewater treatment system was discharged under a NJDEP permit directly to the Delaware River. From 1972 to 1975 treated wastewater was discharged to Mantua Creek. From 1975 until the cessation of manufacturing operations, all discharges went directly to the Gloucester County Utilities Authority (GCUA) treatment plant. On March 4, 1999 Huntsman announced the cessation of operations at the facility. Thirty-one areas of concern (AOCs) ( namely, AOCs A through FF , not including I and O, and Groundwater) were identified in the facilities Preliminary Assessment (PA) Report, dated January 19, 2000. The PA was conducted under the NJDEP Industrial Site Recovery Act (ISRA) the successor program to ECRA. Nine of those AOC’s (identified as AOCs 1 through 9) warranted further investigation, according to the PA. I would like to thank the EPA's RCRA Corrective Action Division for the information above pertaining to the Huntsman Plant. All remains of the Huntsman Plant have been demolished. |
