NPL Listing/Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

Based off of preliminary investigations done in 1977, Reich Farm was one of 418 sites placed on the EPA’s proposed NPL that was published in December of 1982 (EPA 1988).  Final approval for inclusion on the NPL was given in September of 1983 and the site was officially listed on the National Priorities List (1983), based on the use of the EPA’s Hazard Ranking System (EPA 1988).  Three responsible parties were identified for the contamination of the Reich Farm site:  The Reichs, Union Carbide Corporation, and Mr. Fernicola (the waste hauler) (UCC 2003).  Union Carbide Corporation has paid for the majority of cleanup costs whereas the Reichs responsibilities are mostly limited to allowing cleanup companies access to their property, although they were ordered to pay for the construction of a fence around the contaminated area.  Mr. Fernicola eventually had all charges against him dropped by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in exchange for his agreement to stop transporting and disposing of chemical wastes (EPA 1988).