1980 Chemical Control Site Fire and Cleanup USEPA

This hazardous materials site fire in April of 1980, helped lead to the passage of the Superfund legislation later that year. The Chemical Control Corporation (CCC) site consisted of a 2-acre parcel of land adjacent to the Elizabeth River. From 1970 to 1978, CCC operated as a hazardous waste storage, treatment, and disposal facility, accepting various types of chemicals including: acids, arsenic, bases, cyanides, flammable solvents, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), compressed gases, biological agents, and pesticides. Throughout its operations, CCC was cited for discharge and waste storage violations. In 1979, the State of New Jersey initiated a site cleanup that included removal of bulk solids and liquids, drums at and below the soil surface, gas cylinders, infectious wastes, radioactive wastes, highly explosive liquids, debris, tanks, and 3 feet of soil. Excavated soil areas were replaced with a 3-foot gravel cover. An explosion and fire in 1980 interrupted the site cleanup and created additional cleanup needs; the site was completely destroyed and reportedly, drums of burning waste launched into the air. Contaminated runoff from fire fighting efforts entered the Elizabeth River. After the fire and explosion, the preliminary cleanup was accelerated and was completed in 1981. The final cleanup took many more years. For more information on this site and cleanup, go to the EPA's NPL Listing history at: http://www.epa.gov/Region2/superfund/npl/0200037c.pdf . This cleanup was one of the first where first responder and cleanup worker health and safety was a major concern. NIOSH conducted an early study looking at the hazards and their control and their published report can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hhe/reports/pdfs/1980-0077-0853.pdf . OSHA Hazwoper standard to protect these workers would not be established until 1987. This is clipped from a 1990s EPA video, Cleanup by the CRV.

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• materials
• hazmat
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• NIOSH
• industrial
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[Sirspet1]

my fiance was there as a hazmat tech. he is the tech in the blue level B suit on the right.

[biloxijay]

my Dad fought this fire. He was gone from home for 3 days. Passed away in 2010.

[Rome169]

my pop pop faught that fire

[sfstrauss]

Thanks Mark for taking the time to post this video and the links to the reports. Tragically many of the firemen that worked this fire pasted away years ago from various cancers primarily suspected due to working at this incident.