A plan for removing the radioactive material at the former Shieldalloy Metallurgical Company site in Newfield, New Jersey has been approved. The Shieldalloy plant manufactured specialty steel and alloy additives, powdered metals, and optical surfacing products until shutting down in the late 1990s and permanently closing in the early 2000s. About 50,000 tons of low-level radioactive slag and baghouse dust, located on the seven-acre spread, will be removed and transported to federal disposal sites. According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the company has 60 days to hire a removal contractor, and then nine months to offer a specific cleanup plan. However, the DEP acknowledges that the cleanup will take several years to complete and has not settled on a final destination for the toxic material.
Exposure to radioactive materials puts individuals at risk for several different types of cancer because it directly attacks cells, causing them to mutate and eventually become cancerous. Pregnant women and children are especially vulnerable when exposed.
If you or your loved ones developed illnesses to exposure to radioactivity, contact our environmental lawyer at the Marrone Law Firm, LLC at 866-732-6700. Contact us online for a free initial consultation to learn how we can help you pursue your claim.