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Community Relations Site Highlights NJ Natural Gas Long Branch Jan 2007

New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) Long Branch Plant Site Update

Long Branch, Monmouth County
January 2007

PDF Version of the Update [pdf 120 Kb]
Community Relations Site Listing's Entry
Site Highlights Entry

This report is provided in response to a request by the Concerned Citizens Coalition of Long Branch (CCC) for monthly updates from the Site Remediation and Waste Management Program (SRWM) on work conducted and planned at four areas associated with the former Long Branch Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP). These areas are:

• the former MGP (including the former Conrail properties, eastern off-site property, and former Jerry Morgan Park)
• the off-site portion of Troutmans Creek that flows north of the MGP
• residential areas where the community has expressed concern about potential soil contamination (Long Branch Avenue, Seaview Avenue, Grant Court and Ellis Avenue)
• the former Seaview Manor housing complex

All work is consistent with NJDEP’s Technical Requirements for Site Remediation, which were developed to ensure remedial actions protect human health and the environment.

For historical information about activities that NJDEP and NJNG have conducted at these areas, please refer to the monthly updates NJDEP has provided to CCC since January 2005. The updates are available at http://www.nj.gov/dep/srp/community/highlights.htm. For more information, see NJDEP’s Environmental Justice web page at http://www.nj.gov/dep/ej.

1) Long Branch Plant

Red Brick Building
Based on its review of NJNG’s Remedial Investigation Report (RIR) and Addendum Letter for this area, NJDEP has determined that additional soil sampling must be conducted to verify that the volatile organic compounds (PCE and TCE) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the soil have been fully delineated. To address this requirement, NJNG submitted a Draft Revised Remedial Action Work Plan (RAWP) that includes post-remediation sampling in November 2006. NJDEP discussed the contents of the Draft RAWP with NJNG during a January 23, 2007 site visit. NJNG was instructed to submit a letter clarifying certain items and/or providing additional details. NJDEP received the letter on February 2, 2007 and will complete its review of the Draft RAWP by the end of the month.

APSC, On-Site Portion of Troutmans Creek and remainder of MGP
In November 2006, NJDEP approved NJNG’s revised RAWP Addendum outlining its plans to remediate these areas and NJNG is implementing the remedial action. NJDEP approved a design change on January 31, 2007 for a proposal to use a sheet pile retaining wall instead of a concrete retaining wall. NJNG is scheduled to submit a Draft Revised Remedial Action Report (RAR) summarizing the remedial work conducted in this area in January 2008.

Ground Water Investigation
NJDEP approved NJNG’s Draft Remedial Investigation Work Plan (RIWP) for the ground water in December 2006. NJNG will mobilize its contractors and conduct the investigation to collect data for the following documents:

  • Draft RAR for the soil investigation at Block 400, Lot 6 and Seaview Avenue
  • Draft Phase 3 RIR for the ground water and dense non-aqueous phase liquid

The Draft RAR for the soil investigation is due on May 23, 2007 and the Draft Phase 3 RIR for the ground water and non-aqueous phase liquid is due on August 27, 2007. NJNG is also continuing the pilot test study to obtain data to support remedy selection and reports the data to NJDEP in quarterly ACO progress reports.

2) Off-Site Portion of Troutmans Creek

NJNG has completed the fieldwork described in the Draft Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) Work Plan dated March 2006 and submitted a Draft RIR (ERA) summarizing its findings on January 18, 2007.

In August 2006, NJDEP issued comments on NJNG’s March 2006 Draft RAWP for Troutmans Creek. NJDEP advised NJNG that it must first complete the ERA and delineate soil and product contamination in the creek (see next paragraph) before submitting a revised RAWP for this area. The revised RAWP for the off-site portion of Troutmans Creek is due on March 13, 2007.

In September 2006, NJDEP issued a conditional approval letter for NJNG’S RIWP outlining plans to delineate free and residual product and soil contamination on the banks of Troutmans Creek. NJNG initiated the fieldwork described in the RIWP in October 2006 and will submit an RIR summarizing its findings to NJDEP on March 13, 2007.

3) Off-Site Residential Areas

The Long Branch Housing Authority (LBHA) previously addressed findings documented in NJDEP’s February 2006 report for this area. LBHA subsequently conducted a remedial investigation to delineate the extent of contamination at Grant Court. NJDEP issued an approval letter for LBHA’s RIR and RIR Addendum for the deep soil contamination at Grant Court in August 2006. The approval letter confirmed that LBHA adequately delineated the soil contamination in this area and requested LBHA submit an RAWP for Grant Court. NJDEP received the RAWP in October 2006 and plans to issue comments to LBHA in February 2007.

NJDEP will investigate the extent of the soil contamination beneath the pavement at Ellis Avenue. The timing of NJDEP’s investigation is still being discussed, but will likely be scheduled for late spring/early summer 2007.

4) Seaview Manor

NJNG reviewed NJNG’s February 2006 RAR for the remainder of the LBHA properties and adjacent properties and issued a comment letter in August 2006. NJDEP required NJNG to submit an RIWP Addendum with proposals to satisfy the post-remediation sampling requirements for Block 400, Lot 6 and further investigate potential soil contamination beneath Seaview Avenue. The RIWP Addendum was integrated into the RIWP described under the ground water investigation section of this update and was received by NJDEP in October 2006. NJDEP issued an approval letter for the RIWP Addendum in December 2006.

Culvert Status
NJNG initiated a remedial action to remove the culvert and underlying contamination in late in October 2006. All site activities are completed and NJNG plans to submit the RAR Addendum for the culvert area on April 9, 2007.

Related Information

LBHA Activities
Installation of the storm water and sanitary sewer lines was completed in August 2006, along with decontamination of the sheet piling installed within Troutmans Creek. NJDEP received LBHA’s RAR for this area in December 2006 and is currently reviewing the report.

Miscellaneous
On January 30, 2007, NJDEP issued a No Further Action approval to NJNG for the former Can-Do Demolition property.