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Community Relations Community Relations Site List NJNG Long Branch Site June 2008 Update

  

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

Long Branch, Monmouth County
June 2008

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP) Site Remediation Program (SRP) provides this report in response to a request by the Concerned Citizens Coalition of Long Branch (CCC) for monthly updates on work 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/ej/longbranch/. For more information, see NJDEP’s Environmental Justice web page at https://www.nj.gov/dep/ej.

1) Long Branch Plant

Red Brick Building
After reviewing NJNG’s Remedial Investigation Report (RIR) for this area, NJDEP required NJNG to conduct additional soil sampling to verify that the volatile organic compounds and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the soil had been fully delineated.  NJNG collected post-remediation soil samples in this area and submitted a Remedial Action Report (RAR) for this work in September 2007.  NJDEP approved this report on July 9, 2008.  

Atlantic Plumbing Supply Co., On-Site Portion of Troutmans Creek and remainder of MGP
NJNG implemented remedial actions at these areas and submitted a draft revised RAR in January 2008 summarizing its work.  NJDEP is reviewing this document. 

Ground Water Investigation
NJDEP received the Draft Phase 3 RIR for the ground water/non-aqueous phase liquid in December 2007 and addendum in January 2008.  These documents are being reviewed.  NJNG is also continuing the pilot test study to obtain data to support a remedy selection and reports the data to NJDEP quarterly.  NJNG submitted the Draft RAR for the soil remedial action in February 2008 and NJDEP is reviewing this document. 

2) Off-Site Portion of Troutmans Creek

NJDEP approved NJNG’s Remedial Action Work Plan (RAWP) for the off-site portion of Troutmans Creek in August 2007.  NJNG finished removing the contaminated sediments from the creek on June 6, 2008.  Regrading of the creek and enhancing the natural ecosystem will continue into the fall of 2008. 

In September 2006, NJDEP issued a conditional approval letter for NJNG’s Remedial Investigation Work Plan (RIWP) outlining plans to delineate free and residual product and soil contamination on the banks of Troutmans Creek.  NJNG submitted an RIR summarizing its findings in March 2007.  NJDEP has not commented on this report; however, NJNG submitted an addendum to the approved RAWP on April 23, 2008.  NJDEP approved the addendum on April 30, 2008.  This addendum included plans to remove MGP-related products in soils on specific residential properties on the western side of Troutmans Creek.  Remediation of the residential properties began on June 9, 2008 and should be completed by the end of August 2008.

In May 2008, NJDEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson, the NJDEP Case Manager Bob Hayton, and the NJDEP Community Relations Coordinator Heather Swartz met with CCC representatives, their advisors and other members of the community in Long Branch to view the creek cleanup and discuss the status of the NJNG site.  CCC raised concerns about long-term monitoring of the residual coal tar contamination at the Long Branch Plant, NJNG’s and NJDEP’s delineation of the coal tar product in the off-site portion of Troutmans Creek, and the utilization of Natural Resource Damages monies that may be obtained for this site.  NJDEP is arranging a technical meeting with CCC for mid-August 2008 to discuss the Troutmans Creek sediment data.

3) Off-Site Residential Areas

The Long Branch Housing Authority (LBHA) submitted the RAR for the deep soil contamination at Grant Court in May 2007.  NJDEP has approved this report and is in the process of notifying LBHA.  A No Further Action (NFA) letter will be issued to LBHA in July 2008.

LBHA submitted the RAR for the “restricted use” remedial action in December 2007 and this document is also being approved.  NJDEP requested a modification to the proposed deed notice that was included in the report.  The modified deed notice was received in May 2008, and NJDEP expects to approve the report in July 2008.  NJDEP is also investigating the extent of soil contamination beneath the pavement at Ellis Avenue.  NJDEP collected the soil samples from this area in November 2007.  Additional soil samples will be collected from the eastern side of Ellis Avenue in July 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. Post-remediation samples taken in December 2007 indicated additional MGP-related material exists under the current sprung structure.  This material is expected to be removed after Troutmans Creek and the western properties are remediated and the sprung structure is taken down.  NJDEP anticipates that this will happen in late fall of 2008. 

Culvert Status
NJNG has completed the remedial action to remove the culvert and underlying contamination and submitted a draft deed notice for this portion of the site.  NJDEP expects to approve the deed notice in August 2008.

5) Related Information

LBHA Activities
NJDEP issued an approval letter in May of 2007 for LBHA’s RAR detailing the installation of the storm water and sanitary sewer lines and decontamination of the sheet piling in Troutmans Creek.  In response, LBHA provided a recorded deed notice in June of 2007.  NJDEP plans to issue a No Further Action (NFA) for this area concurrent with the NFA for Troutmans Creek, which is expected to be issued in late 2008 or early 2009.