METUCHEN, NJ – The New Jersey Attorney General and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) have filed a lawsuit against the current and former owners of a contaminated former gas station site at 304 Main Street in Metuchen. The suit aims to force compliance with environmental laws, demanding immediate remediation of soil and groundwater tainted with hazardous substances, and closure of non-compliant underground storage tanks (USTs).
The site has been contaminated since at least 2001 with high levels of harmful substances including tert-butyl alcohol, methyl tert-butyl ether, and benzene. These substances can cause severe damage to human health, affecting the liver, kidneys, central nervous system, and eyes. Despite the risks, the owners, 304 Main Street and SGS & DHIND, have refused to remediate the site. Furthermore, Ravi Oil, the operator of the site’s USTs, failed to comply with a 2019 Final Administrative Order and has not paid the required penalties.
The lawsuit seeks immediate remediation of the soil and groundwater, closure and proper management of the USTs, repayment of prior remediation costs to the DEP, and imposition of civil penalties. The legal action underscores the state’s ongoing commitment to enforce environmental laws and protect public health.