"After that, we have no idea how long it will take to secure funding," said Elias Rodriguez, a spokesman for the EPA.
GARFIELD -- The federal Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday finalized a plan to clean up groundwater contaminated with chromium from a former electroplating plant on Clark Street, though it still lacks the funds to pay finish it.
"Because the company that created the toxic problem is no longer in business, the EPA will spend $37 million in tax dollars from our Superfund program to deal with this toxic legacy," Judith Enck, a regional administrator for the EPA, said in a statement.
The Garfield site is what's known as an "orphan site." The responsible polluter, E.C. Electroplating, is out of business, so cleanup funds have to come from the EPA itself.
The EPA has the money to complete the remedial design phase, in which it will sort out the technical details of the cleanup, but once that's done in a year and a half or so, the Garfield site must compete with other orphan sites for the cash to finish the cleanup.
"After that, we have no idea how long it will take to secure funding," Elias Rodriguez, a spokesman for the EPA, said.
Principal reinstated after mysterious leave
New Jersey legislators have pushed to restore funding for the Superfund program that came from a tax on polluters. The tax expired in 1995.
Rep. Bill Pascrell, a Democratic representing New Jersey's 9th Congressional District, which includes Garfield, said he was pleased the project had advanced and said the "polluter pays" tax must be restored.
"Taxpayers should not be stuck with the tab for reckless corporate polluters," he said.
The EPA plans to treat contaminated groundwater with an additive to convert highly toxic hexavalent chromium into a less harmful and less mobile form. The agency also plans to restrict groundwater use in the area.
More than 3,600 gallons of chromic acid spilled from an underground tank at the former E.C. Electroplating plant in December 1983. The plant continued to operate until 2009 as the chromium contaminated the soil and groundwater in the area.
The site was added to the federal Superfund list in 2011. Since then the EPA has spent $5 million to demolish the factory and removed contaminated soil, concrete and water from the site.
Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.