NJDEP SRP - Hudson Chromate Project: Update 24 (April 1996)

Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Tahesha Way

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SRP Community Relations Site Information Program Hudson Chromate Project Update #24

Chrome Update 24 (April 1996)

MEMORANDUM

TO: Hudson County Chromate Waste Sites Mailing List

FROM: Ronald T. Corcory, Project Coordinator, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

SUBJECT: Hudson County Chromate Update #24, April 1996

The following summarizes significant developments which have occurred between June 1995 and April 1996 regarding the Hudson County Chromate Waste Sites.

ALLIEDSIGNAL, INC.

AlliedSignal, Inc. (Allied) is responsible for the investigation and remediation of 21 Chromite Ore Processing Residue Sites in Hudson County. These 21 chromium sites are categorized into six (6) study areas based upon hydrogeologic subregions. Since the execution of the Administrative Consent Order of June 17, 1993, Allied has submitted remedial investigation work plans on all six (6) study areas, which were subsequently reviewed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP or Department). Specific guidance was provided to Allied regarding these submissions, and Allied is currently revising the work plans to incorporate the NJDEP comments.

The Interim Remedial Measure (IRM) scheduled for Chromium Site #71 (Communipaw Jug), has not been completed. The property owner has refused access to Allied to complete this work. Negotiations between Allied and the property owner are continuing.

NJDEP performed an inspection of Chromium Site #115 (Roosevelt Drive-In) on October 31, 1995 and identified several deficiencies. The Department detailed the specific measures required at this location and Allied has subsequently addressed most of them. Allied is currently preparing a supplemental IRM work plan to address NJDEP's additional concerns about the durability of the IRM.

MAXUS ENERGY CORPORATION

Maxus Energy Corporation (Maxus) on behalf of Occidental Chemical Corporation is continuing it's remedial investigation of 36 Chromium Sites in Kearny, Secaucus and Newark. To date, Maxus has completed Phase I soil delineation at 32 of the 36 sites. Chromium Sites 46, 49, 56, and 148 are the remaining sites scheduled for field work. A Phase II soil delineation work plan for "off-site" delineation was submitted to NJDEP for review on April 3, 1996. As a result of the off-site delineation, several new sites will likely be identified.

Chromium Site 195 (Belleville Turnpike #1) is currently listed as included in the NJDEP Orphan Site #2 category which means public funds are being used for the site investigation because no private party has accepted responsibility for it. However, Maxus, on behalf of Occidental Chemical Corporation has expressed a willingness to perform an IRM at this site. Maxus submitted an IRM work plan for this site which was subsequently reviewed and approved by NJDEP. It is anticipated that the work will take place in Spring 1996.

On the weekend of January 20, 1996 a discharge of hexavalent chromium into Sellers Street in Kearny was reported to NJDEP due to unusual flooding at Chromium Site 41 (St. Johnsbury Trucking). Maxus immediately engaged their contractor to remove all of the contamination, which was done to NJDEP's satisfaction. Emergency IRM work has also been completed in order to address the situation on a short-term basis. Maxus is currently developing an IRM work plan addendum which will comprehensively address this situation and prevent it's recurrence.

On January 29, 1996, Maxus submitted a request for extension of time on the submission of their remedial investigation report to April 7, 1997. The Department granted this request.

PPG INDUSTRIES, INC

PPG Industries, Inc. (PPG) completed additional remedial efforts on chromium sites 6, 39, 127, and 128 due to recurring hexavalent chromium "blooms" on building materials (cinder block and brick) which occurred approximately one (1) year after excavation on adjacent lots. This work involved removal of the contaminated section of basement wall, reconstruction and back-filling the site. NJDEP received and approved a remedial action report, detailing the above mentioned work.

PPG submitted a Remedial Action work plan for Site #164 in December 1995. NJDEP approved this work plan with modifications in January 1996. Site work is scheduled to begin in spring 1996. Investigative work at the remaining sites is currently on hold due to the possible change in the chromate cleanup standards.

JULY 2, 1993 ALLIEDSIGNAL DIRECTIVE SITES

The preliminary site characterization soil investigations have been completed at six sites (Sites #015, #68, #69, #70, #130, & #178). The analytical data from these investigations is currently undergoing Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) review at the NJDEP. Monitoring wells to sample the ground water quality were installed at two sites (Sites #015 & 178) these wells have not been sampled as yet. Seventeen sites remain to be investigated under this directive.

INTERIM REMEDIAL ACTIONS AT PUBLICLY FUNDED SITES

Interim Remedial Actions (IRMs) were completed at sixteen sites over a period of seven months ending in December 1995. These sites for which the investigations are being funded by public funds are classified as either Allied Directive, Orphan #1 or Orphan #2 sites. The IRM work consisted of taking measures to prevent erosion and/or physical contact with chromium contaminated soils in the interim between site investigation and clean up. Fencing was installed in 1994 at most of the sites to limit access. The actions completed in 1995 included fencing, capping with asphalt, laying down riprap (gravel) and covering areas with geotextile tarps secured with soil or stone. An executive summary of the IRMs will be put into repository when completed. IRMs were performed by NJDEP contractors at the following sites:

Site #	Site Name
15	Liberty State Park
19	Philip Street
20	NJ Turnpike Bayview
67	Chapel Avenue
68	Clendenny Outfall
69	Clendenny Avenue
70	Colony Restaurant & Diner
86	Nicholas/Hamilton Trucking
101	Stockton Avenue
130	Communipaw 5 (aka: sites #104 & 105)
139	IMTT (Bayonne Industries)
141	Zeneca (aka: ICI Americas, Inc.)
150	Coastal Oil (aka: Belcher Tank Terminal)
165	Tempestra & Sons, Inc.
174	Dennis P. Collins Park
186	JM Towing Co.

SUGGESTED SOIL CLEANUP CRITERIA FOR TRIVALENT AND HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM

In September 1995, NJDEP released a preliminary proposal for revising and setting interim soil cleanup criteria (SCC) for trivalent and hexavalent chromium. Interested parties were encouraged to submit comments on the basis for selection of the levels and background documents supporting these SCCs during an informal public comment period which ran from September 13, 1995 to November 3, 1995. Comments from 12 interested parties were received, and the NJDEP is in the process of reviewing them. However, in response to the comments received, the NJDEP has determined that a different course of action is more appropriate. Rather than releasing guidance in the form of SCCs, the original intent of this process, the NJDEP will be initiated in the near future, a formal rule-making proposal with the purpose of issuing soil cleanup standards for trivalent and hexavalent chromium. This proposal will be applicable for trivalent and hexavalent chromium only and will include a methodology for calculation of an alternative soil remediation standard.

NEW CHROMIUM SITES

NJDEP has been able to identify six (6) additional chromium sites through the cooperative efforts of the City of Jersey City and New Jersey Transit Corporation. These sites have been temporarily placed into the NJDEP Orphan II category, until a responsible party can be identified. This brings the total number of potential chromium locations examined by the Department to 202 (See Attachment 1 below). The additional sites are as follows:

SITE #	SITE NAME	LOCATION	TOWN	LAND TYPE
196	POTW Outfall Line	Former CRRNJ Freight Yard at LSP	Jersey City	Recreational
197	Grand Street	Grand Street between Washington and Warren Streets	Jersey City	Public Land
198	Hartz Mountain #1	Caven Point Road	Jersey City	Public Land
199	Sludge Line 2	Sludge Line between Garfield Avenue and Halladay Street	Jersey City	Public Land
200	Sludge Line 3	Sludge Line between Arlington Avenue and MLK Drive	Jersey City	Public Land
201	NJ Turnpike Kearny #2	Belleville Turnpike and NJ Turnpike (Western Spur)	Kearny	Public Land

CHROMIUM SITE MAPS

NOTE: The maps referred to in this section are not currently available on the SRP Web page but can be requested by contacting Elizabeth Mataset, Community Relations Coordinator, at 609/984-3081.

NJDEP has received numerous requests to update the chromium locator maps which were originally prepared in 1990. As a result of these requests, the Department is now utilizing the Geographic Information System (GIS), to accurately pinpoint these locations and subsequently plot them with the New Jersey Plane Coordinate System. Attached to this update, please find the following site maps:

Jersey City Chrome Sites Map (Large Scale)
Jersey City Chrome Sites Map (Kellogg Street Area - Small Scale)
Jersey City Chrome Sites Map (Lincoln Highway Area - Small Scale)
Jersey City Chrome Sites Map (Grand Street Area - Small Scale)
Kearny and Newark Chrome Sites Map (Large Scale)
Kearny and Newark Chrome Sites Map (Central and 3rd Avenue Area - Small Scale)
Kearny and Newark Chrome Sites Map (Schuyler Avenue Area - Small Scale)
Kearny and Newark Chrome Sites Map (Belleville and NJTPK Area - Small Scale)
Bayonne City Chrome Sites (Small Scale)
Weehawken Township Chrome Sites (Small Scale)

Attachment 1

Chromite Ore Processing Residue Sites Status - February 1, 1996

Attachment 1

Responsible Party (RP)	Total Sites	Active Sites	Remedial Investigations	Interim Remedial Measures Completed	Interim Remedial Measures Scheduled
Allied Signal	21	21	21	11	1
Allied Directive	24	24	24	9
Exxon	1	1	1	1
Maxus	36	36	36	36
PPG	32	32	32	30
Orphan #1	16	16	16	7
Orphan #2	12	12			1
De-Listed Clean Sites	[1]	28
De-Listed NFA Sites	[2]	32

TOTAL	202	142	130	94	2

1		Sites investigated and determined to be clean.
2		Sites Cleaned-Up with No Further Action (NFA) warranted (29 Residential and 3 Non-Residential).

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