Curtis Paper  Milford Mill
The Curtis Specialty Papers site is a former paper mill occupying approximately 105 acres at 404 Frenchtown Road in
Hunterdon County, New Jersey. Most of the site is on two parcels totaling approximately 70 acres that are located in
Milford Township. The aeration pond is on an adjacent parcel of approximately 35 acres located in Alexandria Township.
The site includes a number of buildings, including the main mill building, former coatings facility, a cogeneration power
plant, and a wastewater treatment plant. The paper mill operated for approximately 90 years. The main mill, known as
the Milford Mill, is comprised of approximately 61 separate areas and was used to convert paper pulp to finished food
grade paper. The former coatings facility is located approximately 400 feet northwest of the main Milford Mill building.
The coatings facility operated from approximately 1935 to 1988; in these buildings, solvent-based resins were
compounded and coated onto paper and other products.
The surrounding area is predominantly residential, with the nearest residences approximately 0.1 mile to the north and
southeast. Quequacommissacong Creek, officially known as Hakihokake Creek, is located on the site. Part of
Quequacommisacong Creek also is known as Milford Creek.
From 1907 to 1971, the Milford Mill was operated by the Riegel Paper Corporation. It was purchased by Riegel Paper
Corporation in 1972, which later became part of the James River Paper Company, Inc. In 1995, the mill was bought by
Crown Vantage, which operated it until 2001. In 2001, the mill was bought and operated by Curtis Papers, Inc. During the
time the mill was in operation, the facility reported several spills on the property. The New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection (NJDEP) issued several notices of violation to the facility. The notices of violation included
unpermitted discharges and improper containers, training, and record keeping. The facility also held air permits and New
Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits, operated a wastewater treatment plant, and utilized numerous
USTs. In July 2003, the mill was shut down and, in November 2004, Curtis Paper, Inc. declared bankruptcy.


Threat and Contaminants
The primary contaminant is polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PCBs have been detected in soil located within areas at
the facility and in sediment of Quequacommisacong Creek at locations which are used for fishing for human
consumption.


Cleanup Approach
The site was proposed for inclusion on the National Priorities List on September 3, 2008.


Cleanup Progress
In August 2001, Curtis Papers, Inc. submitted a preliminary assessment report and remedial investigation work plan to
the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) as part of the state’s Industrial Site Recovery Act. The
company identified 20 areas of concern at the Curtis Specialty Papers site. In July 2003, Curtis Papers, Inc. shut down
its operations. The facility was closed down and left unsecured. On October 20, 2006, NJDEP and its emergency
response contractor began activities that included securing oil and hazardous materials containers, classifying materials
for waste disposal, inspecting above ground storage tanks, collecting and stowing empty containers at the former
hazardous materials storage area, and transporting and disposing of materials. Approximately two dozen drums and lab
packs were removed from the facility.
Curtis Specialty Papers 1 7/23/09
In May 2007, EPA tasked the EPA Super fund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) contractor to
perform a removal assessment at the Curtis Specialty Papers facility. On May 4, 2007, START mobilized to the facility
and met with EPA to conduct a site walk and discuss the upcoming multimedia sampling event. In August 2007, START
returned to the Curtis Specialty Papers facility to collect additional soil samples in AOCs and sediment samples from
Quequacommissacong Creek. The soil samples collected from the 2007 investigation identified the presence of PCBs in
AOCs known to be used for the storage of PCB-containing transformers, waste materials, and other miscellaneous
materials. PCBs also were identified in the bank soil of Quequacommissacong Creek and in the sediment of one of the
facility’s discharge pipes. The presence of PCBs in the bank soil of Quequacommissacong Creek and in one of the
discharge pipes to Quequacommissacong Creek indicates PCB contamination from the Curtis Papers facility has
migrated to banks of Quequacommissacong Creek through various outfalls from the facility into Quequacommissacong
Creek. The locations of the bank soil samples containing PCBs have been documented to be flooded by
Quequacommissacong Creek. PCBs were detected in a sediment sample collected from Quequacommissacong Creek
downstream of the facility outfalls. The presence of PCBs in areas known to be used for the storage of PCBs, in banks of
Quequacommissacong Creek, in the sediment (sludge) of a discharge pipe from the facility, and in the sediment of
Quequacommissacong Creek downstream of the facility outfalls, indicates that the Curtis Specialty Papers site has
released PCBs to Quequacommissacong Creek.
In June 2009, EPA executed a Settlement Agreement and Administrative Order on Consent with Georgia-Pacific
Consumer Products and International Paper for performance of the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study.
Above is formation was obtained from
the Environmental Protection Agency
Region 2
EPA ID#: NJD057143984
The Milford site is considered
very dangerous and one of the
most hazardous sites in the
state of NJ.  The site is
currently being cleaned up by
the EPA.