The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized its plan to address contamination in three areas of the Ringwood Mines/Landfill Superfund site in Ringwood, New Jersey. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, these areas were used to dispose of waste materials, including paint sludge and waste in drums, from the Defendant's automobile assembly plant in Mahwah, New Jersey. Sampling of the paint sludge found that it contained lead, arsenic, chromium and other contaminants. The cleanup of the Ringwood site is being conducted and paid for by the Defendants, with oversight by the EPA. The cost of the cleanup plan for the three areas is currently estimated to be $20 million.
The EPA and the State of New Jersey entered into a Consent Decree with the Defendants on August 5, 2020 to implement the cleanup plan for Operable Unit 2 of the Site. The cleanup is at an estimated cost of $17,617,100, and the Defendants will reimburse past costs in the amount of $3,599,997 to EPA and in the amount of $2,132,127 to the State of New Jersey. Additionally, the Defendants shall pay future response costs to EPA and the State for their oversight of the Work under the Consent Decree.