Catherine McCabe, commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced Thursday that the action against Tirpok Cleaners, which burned down in 2017, was one of eight lawsuits filed to address pollution and environmental hazards in minority and lower-income communities.
The suit alleges that a dry cleaning solvent from the Reaville Avenue business, which opened in 1948, leaked from a wastewater holding pit on the property, contaminated soil and groundwater, and ended up in one of the borough’s water company’s wells READ: Neshanic Flea Market sold to Somerset County, Branchburg In 1989, the DEP discovered that tetracloroeothene (PCE) was in the Flemington Water Company Well 6 at the intersection of Elmwood Avenue and Williams Street.
But the link between the cleaners and the well was not confirmed until 2003.
Exposure to PCE, a degreasing solvent, has been linked to kidney dysfunction, respiratory tract irritation and cognitive and neurological effects, according to a news release from the DEP and Office of Attorney General.
In the lawsuit, the DEP is seeking an order requiring Tirpok to clean up the contaminated soil and groundwater and to reimburse the DEP for the costs.
In 2003, the DEP installed six monitoring wells, three on the Tirpok property and three at Wendy’s on Route 31, which was between Tirpok and the borough well.
The results from the monitoring wells, the lawsuit states, showed "compelling evidence that PCE contamination … adversely impacted the groundwater" in the Flemington well.
State officials are calling the eight lawsuits a new "environmental justice" initiative to support communities that have historically suffered some of the worst environmental problems in the state.
“But too often, the same communities suffer the worst environmental problems over and over again but don’t get the support that they need."
In 1948 he built the Reaville Avenue location.