Plant demolition completed near elementary school in Garfield

The demolition of the E.C. Electroplating plant, the cause of a chromium spill almost 30 years ago in Garfield, was completed without any disturbances to Roosevelt Elementary School, which is located near the site, on Oct. 22.

PHOTO/RICHARD MARDEKIAN

Demolition is complete of the E.C. Electroplating plant.

The Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) on-site coordinator Neil Norrell said that the building demolition was completed and the EPA is removing leftover debris.

During the demolition, air and dust monitoring systems were set up around the superfund site and at Roosevelt School 7. Norrell said no alarms went off during this time, except for one near the railroad tracks. Norrell said there were peaks in dust when trains were going by.

Garfield was added to the Superfund list of the most toxic places in the nation in September after 30 years of contamination in part of the city. The area is bordered by Van Winkle Avenue, Monroe Street, Sherman Place and the Passaic River. The E.C. Electroplating Co. plant is located on Clark Street, which is believed to be the source of the contamination. Roosevelt Elementary School 7 and a daycare center are also located near the site.

The E.C. Electroplating site is located in a mixed residential and commercial area of Garfield. In December 1983, approximately 3,640 gallons of chromium plating solution (chromic acid) containing about 5,400 pounds of chromium was discharged from a partially below ground storage tank contaminating groundwater beneath the site. Wells were installed to monitor groundwater and partially recover some of the discharged product.

School 7 was tested for chromium before demolition started and will be tested again once the debris is removed. Parents from School 7 had concerns about keeping their children in school during the demolition but the EPA said that there was no need to relocate them.

No transfers were given to students during the demolition. School Superintendent Nicholas Perrapato said one parent met with him to discuss having a transfer but after talking and he assured them of all the precautions that were made they were satisfied.

"Everything went smoothly at School 7," Perrapato said. "From the EPAs standpoint, from what they stated there werent any major concerns and they fulfilled their promises with no issues."

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Plant demolition completed near elementary school in Garfield