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Community Relations Community Relations Site List NJNG Long Branch Site October 2007 Update

  

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

Long Branch, Monmouth County
October 2007

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 Program (SRP) 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 https://www.nj.gov/dep/srp/community/highlights.htm. For more information, see NJDEP’s Environmental Justice web page at https://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. NJDEP issued an approval in March 2007 for NJNG’s Draft Revised Remedial Action Work Plan (RAWP) to address this requirement. The Draft RAWP includes proposals for post-remediation sampling. This work is underway, and additional post-remediation samples are now being collected near the Long Branch Housing Authority property. NJNG submitted a Remedial Action Report (RAR) for this work on September 25, 2007. This document is currently under review.

Atlantic Plumbing Supply Co., On-Site Portion of Troutmans Creek and remainder of MGP
NJNG is implementing remedial actions at these areas as detailed in its Revised RAWP. NJNG is scheduled to submit a Draft Revised RAR in January 2008 summarizing the remedial work conducted in this area.

Ground Water Investigation
NJDEP approved NJNG’s Draft Remedial Investigation Work Plan (RIWP) for the ground water in December 2006. NJNG will conduct investigations 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

On May 23, 2007, NJDEP granted extensions for the Draft RAR for the soil investigation and the Draft Phase 3 RIR for the ground water and dense non-aqueous phase liquid. The Draft RAR for the soil investigation is now due on June 23, 2008. The Draft Phase 3 RIR for the ground water and non-aqueous phase liquid, which was due on August 27, 2007, is now due on December 18, 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 its Draft Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) Work Plan and submitted a Draft ERA Report summarizing its findings in January 2007. NJDEP completed its review of the Draft ERA Report and issued a Notice of Deficiency to NJNG in March 2007. NJDEP received the revised ERA in April 2007, and issued an approval letter in September 2007. NJDEP also forwarded CCC’s comments on the ERA to NJNG.

In August 2006, NJDEP issued comments on NJNG’s 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 was received in March 2007 and Addenda were received in June 2007 and July 2007. NJDEP reviewed the documents and issued an approval letter in August 2007. NJNG began dredging the contaminated sediments from the creek in September 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 submitted an RIR summarizing its findings to NJDEP in March 2007. NJDEP is reviewing the RIR and expects to issue comments in December 2007. NJDEP has received comments on the RIR from CCC.

3) Off-Site Residential Areas

LBHA submitted the RAR for the deep soil contamination at Grant Court in May 2007. NJDEP is reviewing the RAR and expects to issue its response in November 2007. LBHA is scheduled to submit an RAR for the Restricted Use Remedial Action on December 27, 2007.

NJDEP will investigate the extent of the soil contamination beneath the pavement at Ellis Avenue. NJDEP plans to collect the soil samples in on November 14, 2007. Sampling results should be available in January 2008.

4) Seaview Manor

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. NJDEP expects NJNG will submit the RIR for this area after remediation of Troutmans Creek is completed.

Culvert Status
NJNG has completed the remedial action to remove the culvert and underlying contamination and submitted the RAR Addendum for the area in April 2007. NJDEP reviewed the RAR Addendum and issued an approval letter in May 2007. NJNG has submitted the draft deed notice for the site and NJDEP expects to approve the document in December 2007.

5) 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. Supplemental information on soil disposal was submitted by LBHA in February 2007. NJDEP reviewed the RAR and supplemental information and issued an approval letter in May 2007. In response, LBHA provided a recorded deed notice in June 2007. NJDEP expects to issue a No Further Action determination for this area in December 2007.