|
Public
Comment Period Begins Tomorrow on Air Pollution Control
Permit for Hamilton Post Office Anthrax Cleanup
(03/105) TRENTON--New Jersey Department
of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell
today announced the start of a public comment period on
a state air pollution control permit for fumigation of the
Hamilton Post Office.
"It is important that we remain vigilant
in our efforts to oversee the upcoming anthrax cleanup in
Hamilton Township," said Commissioner Campbell. "Sharing
information with the community about environmental safety
measures required by the state to ensure a successful outcome
helps residents learn about how the fumigation process will
proceed."
A 30-day public comment period for the
air permit runs July 29 through August 28. Also, DEP technical
staff will be available to answer questions at the next
community meeting on the Hamilton Post Office cleanup scheduled
for 7 p.m. Thursday, August 7 at the Reynolds Middle School
auditorium, 2145 Yardville-Hamilton Square Road.
DEP is conducting various environmental
reviews of the U.S Postal Service's cleanup plan along with
the Department of Health and Senior Services, New Jersey
State Police, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and local
officials to coordinate approval of all work.
"We continue to provide a thorough
analysis of air pollution control requirements, emergency
response plans and chemical usage along with other state,
federal and local officials as this project moves closer
to anticipated startup testing this fall," said Commissioner
Campbell.
The U.S. Postal Service proposes to expose
interior areas of the building to chlorine dioxide gas as
part of a sanitization of the Hamilton Post Office to address
anthrax contamination. During the fumigation process, high
efficiency particulate arrestor (HEPA) filters will capture
any anthrax spores that might be vented from the building.
In addition, scrubber and activated carbon filter systems
will be used to neutralize and remove chlorine dioxide in
the indoor air before it is vented outdoors. Stack testing
of the vent from the air pollution control systems and outdoor
air quality monitoring will be conducted to confirm that
concentrations of chlorine dioxide are below allowable levels.
An air pollution control fact sheet with
more details about the permit is available on DEP's web
site at www.state.nj.us/dep/aqpp.
Public comments on DEP's intent to approve
an Air Pollution Control Preconstruction Permit for the
Hamilton Post Office cleanup project may be sent to:
New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection
Air Quality Permitting Element
Bureau of Preconstruction Permits
401 East State Street - 2nd Floor, Box 27
Trenton, NJ 08625
The draft permit, permit application, stack
test protocol, and air monitoring protocol are available
for review at the address listed above. If you would like
to inspect the draft permit at DEP's Trenton headquarters,
please call in advance for an appointment at (609) 633-2829.
These documents also will be available for review at the
Hamilton Township Clerk's office, 2090 Greenwood Avenue,
and at the DEP's Horizon Center offices, 300 Horizon Boulevard,
Robbinsville, (609) 584-4100.
|
