New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) Long Branch Plant Site
Update
Long Branch, Monmouth County
March 2005
(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.)
This monthly report is provided in response to a request by the Concerned
Citizens Coalition of Long Branch (CCC) for monthly updates 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, the eastern
off-site property, and the 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 are
protective of human health and the environment.
- Long Branch Plant
NJNG’s contractor demolished the red brick building situated on
the western portion of the former MGP site in March 2005. Removal of
the building debris is underway and should be completed in early April.
In late March NJNG proposed modifications to their plan to investigate
the area where the building was formerly located in response to recommendations
outlined in NJDEP’s conditional approval letter dated February
17, 2005. NJDEP is reviewing the modified plan and expects to approve
it in mid-April. Investigation of the area should begin by the end of
April.
Remediation of the southern on-site portion of the Troutmans Creek is
still pending, as this work cannot be implemented until NJNG obtains
access from the owner of Atlantic Plumbing Supply Company (APSC) property.
NJDEP previously approved a Remedial Action Work Plan (RAWP) that proposed
a restricted use remedial action subject to NJNG obtaining the property
owner’s consent. However, the owner did not consent, therefore
NJDEP required NJNG to submit an unrestricted use RAWP for the APSC
property. NJNG submitted the second RAWP on February 15, 2005 and the
NJDEP issued a conditional approval letter on April 5, 2005. The unrestricted
use remedial action will be implemented once NJNG finishes negotiating
access to the property.
NJDEP has reviewed NJNG’s ‘Phase 1 Post-Cap Ground Water
Monitoring Report’ dated January 2005. The report summarizes ground
water sampling results from on-site and off-site monitor wells. NJDEP
issued a conditional approval letter for the report on March 15, 2005.
NJDEP has also reviewed NJNG’s letter work plan dated February
17, 2005 for a well point investigation. This investigation will better
define ground water contaminant levels adjacent to the Talco and APSC
buildings. NJDEP issued a conditional approval letter for the work plan
on March 23, 2005. The information obtained from the tasks outlined
in these two documents will allow NJNG to develop a ground water RAWP
for the site and help evaluate the potential for vapor intrusion at
the Talco and APSC buildings.
- Troutmans Creek
NJNG collected surface water and sediment samples from Troutmans Creek
between Seaview Avenue and Joline Avenue and halfway between Joline
Avenue and Atlantic Avenue between November 2004 and February 2005.
NJNG also plans to collect soil samples from the creek banks between
Seaview Avenue and Joline Avenue, but cannot start this work until access
is negotiated with all of the affected property owners. NJDEP originally
expected NJNG to submit a report summarizing all of its sampling results
on May 20, 2005, but this due date assumed that all sampling activities
would be completed by January 2005. NJNG recently submitted a request
for an extension that details the reasons why the sampling was not completed
on time and proposed a new due date of August 8, 2005 for submitting
the report. NJDEP is evaluating the request and will provide CCC with
a copy of its response. NJDEP provided CCC with the names and addresses
of the property owners that have not granted NJNG access in an email
on April 5, 2005.
NJDEP is evaluating the analytical data from surface water and sediment
samples that it collected from the creek between Joline Avenue and Atlantic
Avenue in December 2004 and expects to issue a preliminary report on
its findings in April 2005. In addition, NJDEP now plans to collect
six sediment samples between Seaview Avenue and Joline Avenue in the
near future. The Scope of Work (SOW) for the sampling will be finalized
after CCC provides information about how many of these samples they
would like to split with NJDEP.
- Off-Site Residential Areas
NJDEP is moving forward with plans to collect soil samples from various
locations around the site in order to address concerns expressed by
community members about potential off-site soil contamination. On March
2, 2005 NJDEP forwarded a SOW for collecting soil samples along Long
Branch Avenue, Seaview Avenue and Grant Court to CCC for their comments.
Additional sampling locations were added on Ellis Avenue based on agreements
reached during the March 24, 2005 meeting with NJDEP Commissioner Campbell
and information later provided by CCC. The soil samples for Long Branch
Avenue, Seaview Avenue and Ellis Avenue will be collected within the
right-of-ways. The sampling is now likely to be conducted in May or
June, pending permission from Long Branch City and LBHA to collect samples
from these areas.
- Seaview Manor
NJNG is in the process of removing all of the contaminated soil from
areas where buildings are to be re-built, and a minimum of two feet
of contaminated soil from the other areas. The schedule calls for substantial
completion of remedial activities by September 2005 and submission of
a Remedial Action Report in January 2006.
Remedial Activities Conducted in March 2005
- Continued to de-water portions of Block 400 Lots 6& 7. To date
approximately 3,850,000 gallons of ground water have been pumped, treated
in the on-site wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), and discharged to
the Long Branch Sewerage Authority (LBSA).
- Continued to excavate contaminated soil to a depth of two feet from
portions of Block 400 Lot 6 situated east of the WWTP, followed by backfilling
with certified clean fill.
- Continued to excavate contaminated soil to depths of two feet, four
feet or twelve feet below grade, depending on specific area, of the
southern portion of Block 400, Lot 7, followed by backfilling with clean
soil.
- Started to excavate contaminated soil to a depth of twelve feet on
the northern portion of Block 400, Lot 7.
- Continued on-site processing/handling of contaminated soil for subsequent
transport to off-site treatment facility. To date approximately 9,000
tons of contaminated soil have been processed and transported off site.
- Continued to conduct land surveying, dust suppression, odor control,
and air monitoring.
- Continued to decontaminate heavy equipment and trucks.
Remedial Activities Planned for April 2005
- De-water Block 400, Lots 6 and 7, followed by on-site treatment and
discharge to LBSA.
- Excavate and backfill remaining portions of Block 400 Lot 6.
- Excavate and backfill remaining portions of Block 400 Lot 7.
- Process/handle contaminated soil on site, followed by transport to
off-site treatment facility.
- Conduct land surveying, dust suppression, odor control and air monitoring.
- Decontaminate heavy equipment and trucks.
Other Upcoming Remedial Activities
After Block 400 Lots 6 & 7 are remediated, NJNG will proceed to
remediate the utility easement (Block 400 Lot 5.01) east of Block 400
Lot 6, the LBSA property (Block 401 Lot 23), and the culvert area that
connects the on-site portion of Troutmans Creek to the off-site portion
of Troutmans Creek north of Seaview Avenue.
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