Updated Groundwater Cleanup Plan for Radiation Technology Inc. Superfund Site
The update follows years of study showing that contamination from historic rocket engine testing remains deep in the bedrock.
Image via Shovan Datta from Pexels
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing a revised approach to groundwater cleanup at the Radiation Technology Inc. Superfund site in Rockaway Township. The update follows years of study showing that contamination from historic rocket engine testing remains deep in the bedrock and is not moving toward nearby homes or Lake Denmark.
According to EPA findings, the remaining contaminants are breaking down naturally and staying confined well below the surface. Because of that, the agency is proposing long term groundwater monitoring rather than new active treatment. The goal is to confirm that contaminant levels continue to decline and that the site remains protective of people and the environment.
This proposal builds on decades of cleanup work completed between 1994 and 2021. During that period, EPA removed contaminated soil and buried waste, demolished unsafe structures, and addressed hazardous materials including asbestos, PCBs, and lead based paint. Those actions targeted the most immediate risks and eliminated pathways for human exposure. With surface and structural hazards addressed, the focus has shifted to groundwater.
Groundwater cleanup at the site has been handled in phases due to complex geology. A pump and treat system was selected in 1994, but later studies showed that fractured bedrock limits the effectiveness of that approach. The updated plan acknowledges three small areas where contamination is embedded deep in fractured rock and cannot be reached by treatment systems. In those locations, EPA is proposing to recognize the limits of engineered cleanup while continuing site wide monitoring.
EPA is accepting public comments on the proposed plan for 45 days, from December 22, 2025 through February 5, 2026. Residents can submit comments by mail or email to the agency’s remedial project manager.
The agency will also host a virtual public meeting on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. to explain the proposal and answer community questions. Registration details are available through EPA’s meeting link.
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