DEP CALLS FOR DUST SUPPRESSION,
TESTING AT TRENTON SCHOOL SITE
State Requires Schools Construction Corporation to Control Soil
Contamination
(05/113) TRENTON -- The State Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) today directed the New Jersey Schools Construction
Corporation (SCC) to take aggressive actions to eliminate any
potential exposure to contaminated soil at the Martin Luther
King/Jefferson School site in the city of Trenton. Under the
Directive, SCC must implement both interim and long-term measures
related to dust suppression at the site and conduct testing needed
to develop a cleanup plan for the construction site of a new
middle school.
“Nothing can be more important than protecting the health
of our school children,” said Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey. “It
is vital that the New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation
take appropriate measures to eliminate dust concerns and ensure
permanent safeguards for the entire school site and surrounding
community.”
DEP directed SCC to perform interim dust suppression measures
within seven days at the site, augmenting these actions aggressively
as needed to eliminate fugitive dust and prevent exposure to
contaminated soil and fill material found at the site. DEP also
directed SCC to submit in 14 days a proposal for permanent dust
suppression measures that must be implemented and completed within
21 days after DEP approval.
“More aggressive action is warranted by the SCC to ensure
no contaminated soil is leaving the site,” said Commissioner
Campbell. “It is time for action to ensure the school community
is protected and this project moves forward.”
Prompted by concerns about potential exposure of Thomas Jefferson
Elementary School students to soil contamination, the Trenton
Board of Education recently moved the children, who were scheduled
to attend the Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, to an alternate
location. The Trenton Board of Education's concerns include exposure
through dust migration from ongoing and past construction activities
at the site.
Under the directive, SCC also must initiate within 21 days a
study of the potential migration of dust from the site, including
but not limited to the Thomas Jefferson Elementary School and
surrounding community. SCC has 60 days to submit a report that
includes remedial alternatives and proposals to DEP for review.
DEP also directed SCC to submit a scope of work and implementation
schedule for additional sampling that would enable the Department
to determine appropriate permanent remedies to address site contamination
issues.
The Martin Luther King/Jefferson School site is located at Martin
Luther King Boulevard and Brunswick Avenue. Within the property
are two existing schools: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle
School located in the northwest portion of the property; and,
Thomas Jefferson Elementary School located to the southeast portion
of the property. The area located between the two schools is
subject to construction activities by SCC to construct the new
middle school.
Construction History at the MLK/Jefferson Site
From May 2004 through February 2005, SCC, through its contractor,
excavated and removed approximately 35,000 cubic yards of soils
from the site. From May 2004 through February 2005, materials
containing recycled concrete aggregate and other materials
were deposited on the site by SCC.
From March 2005 though July 2005, SCC collected samples of the
fill deposited on the site and analyzed them for various hazardous
substances. Sampling results revealed hazardous substances in
excess of DEP's Residential Direct Contact Soil Cleanup Criteria,
including polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), metals, polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs) and pesticides.
The Trenton Board of Education is the current owner of the site.
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