Author: David Zybin
Technical review: David Zybin, Laser Safety Officer and NYS DOL Class B Mobile Laser Operator
Last technically reviewed: August 25, 2026
Short answer: New Jersey has many federal Superfund and state-regulated remediation sites, but the number and status change as EPA proposes, lists and deletes sites. This guide therefore does not use a fixed “115 active sites” claim. Use EPA’s live search for the current site inventory.
Use the current EPA inventory
EPA’s searchable Superfund database includes proposed, current and deleted National Priorities List sites and Superfund Alternative Approach sites. Filter the live database by New Jersey rather than relying on a static count. See EPA’s Superfund site search.
The secondary-waste question
Surface-remediation work can create coating debris, abrasive media, liquids, filters, wipes and other residues. Whether a material is hazardous depends on its identity, characteristics, exclusions and the applicable federal and state rules. EPA states that generators must identify their hazardous waste and that requirements vary by generator category. See EPA’s hazardous-waste generator categories.
NJDEP states that the generator is responsible for determining whether waste is hazardous and offers a waste-classification process. For certain non-household lead-based-paint debris, NJDEP describes representative sampling and the RCRA toxicity characteristic for lead. See NJDEP hazardous-waste determination guidance and NJDEP lead-based-paint disposal guidance.
Where laser cleaning may fit
Laser cleaning does not introduce abrasive media or blasting water. On a suitable project, that may reduce the mass of introduced material that later requires management. It does not make the removed contaminant disappear. Coating residue, particulate, filters and other collection media still require capture, characterization and disposal appropriate to the site.
Laser-material interaction can also generate particulate and gaseous contaminants. See the NIOSH-hosted paper on laser-generated air contaminants.
Method-selection questions for remediation scopes
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| What is the contaminant? | Determines exposure controls, sampling, capture and waste-management assumptions. |
| What is the required endpoint? | Decontamination, coating removal, inspection preparation and visual restoration are different scopes. |
| What material will be introduced? | Abrasive, water, chemical or filter media changes the waste stream and cleanup plan. |
| What material will be collected? | Removed coating and contaminated collection media may require characterization. |
| What is the substrate? | A representative test area is needed where selectivity, surface profile or heat response is uncertain. |
| Who is the generator? | EPA notes that generator status and responsibility depend on who first causes the waste to become regulated and on the site-specific arrangement. |
Primary sources
- EPA — Search for Superfund sites
- EPA — Hazardous-waste generator categories
- EPA — Hazardous-waste generation questions
- NJDEP — Hazardous-waste determination
- NJDEP — Lead-based-paint disposal
- NIOSH-hosted paper — Laser-generated air contaminants
Site status and regulatory requirements change. Confirm the current inventory and project obligations with EPA, NJDEP and the site’s environmental professional.