"Explosives, Hazardous Chemicals Cleared From New Jersey Property"

"CLIFTON, New Jersey -- It took a court order, a bomb squad, and seven months of work by U.S. EPA specialists, but the Abrachem Chemical facility in Clifton, New Jersey now is decontaminated.

The former bulk chemical packaging facility had been storing over 1,600 abandoned, mislabeled and mishandled drums containing hazardous chemicals that posed what the EPA called 'serious risks' to the surrounding surrounding communities and the environment in Passaic and Bergen counties. ...

An initial investigation was triggered on October 29, 2008, when the EPA got a call from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection with a report that chemicals were being released from the Abrachem facility.

EPA investigators found that Abrachem was improperly storing drums and bulk containers of known and unknown chemicals in 17 shipping containers. Drums were leaking, and a strong chemical odor pervaded the facility."

Environment News Service had the story September 15, 2009.