EPA Expanding Fair Lawn Superfund Testing

The EPA will be taking samples at new locations around the Westmoreland well field this month and next month to determine if pollutants in groundwater have accumulated under slabs below nearby homes and Westmoreland Elementary School.

The Westmoreland well field was first added to the EPA's list of Superfund sites in 1983 because the wells were found to be contaminated with semi-volatile organic compounds — chemicals used in paints and numerous industrial products which can easily evaporate. The pollution was believed to have come a business in the nearby industrial park, Thermo-Fisher Scientific, Sandvik or Kodak.

Previous samples taken by the EPA in 2009 and 2010 found that the chemicals were in low enough quantities to be below their screening levels, but Fair Lawn residents requested further testing during a meeting with EPA officials last year. No new contaminants have been found to necessitate the additional sampling.

The samples will be collected on Westmoreland Avenue, Elliot Terrace, Henderson Boulevard, Parmelee Avenue, Kossuth Avenue, Forest Street, Chester Street and 11th Street, according to EPA Remedial Project Manager Michael Zeolla.

After the sampling is finished, the EPA will compile it with their other data from the area and create a plan to remediate the site. They will hold public meetings to explain the plan and take comments from residents.