September 5, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a proposed consent decree that would pay EPA’s past and future costs of cleanup at the Raritan Bay Slag Superfund Site in Old Bridge Township and Sayreville, New Jersey.
| City | Old Bridge Twp/Sayreville |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| State | New Jersey |
| Coordinates | 40.46459, -74.25802 |
Raritan Bay Slag is a federal Superfund site in New Jersey. The Superfund program, created by Congress in 1980, addresses sites where hazardous substances have been released or threaten release into the environment. EPA scores potential sites using the Hazard Ranking System; those that score high enough are placed on the National Priorities List.
Current status: Cleanup underway. Active cleanup is underway, meaning EPA has approved a remediation plan and work is in progress. Cleanup timelines vary widely — some sites take decades depending on contamination depth, groundwater involvement, and funding availability.
EPA has identified 7 contaminants of concern at this site, including arsenic, copper, iron. Contamination has been detected in surface water, soil, sediment.
If you live near this site and have health concerns, your state health department can provide site-specific guidance. EPA maintains a community involvement program for most NPL sites, and site documents — including the Record of Decision, five-year reviews, and public health assessments — are typically available through EPA's Superfund site profile.