New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) Long Branch Plant Site
Update
Long Branch, Monmouth County
November 2005
This 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
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. |
1) Long Branch Plant
Red Brick Building
In October 2005 NJNG began field activities to delineate the extent of
trichloroethene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) contamination in the
soil beneath the concrete pad where the red brick building was located,
and ground water sampling to evaluate potential ground water impacts.
NJNG was scheduled to submit a Remedial Action Work Plan (RAWP) to address
the subsurface soils in November 2005. However, NJNG did not begin the
field activities for this area of the site until October and the NJDEP
is currently working with NJNG regarding an acceptable due date for the
RAWP. The remedy would essentially consist of removing the remaining concrete
slabs, any underground storage tanks (if they exist), and contaminated
soil, followed by capping the area consistent with the rest of the site.
If ground water impacts are found, they will be addressed as part of the
site-wide ground water remedial action.
Soil Gas Investigation
In August 2005 NJNG submitted a Sub-Slab Sampling Remedial Investigation
Work Plan (RIWP), which detailed proposals to investigate potential vapor
intrusion at the Talco and Atlantic Plumbing Supply Company (APSC) buildings.
NJDEP conditionally approved the RIWP on September 20, 2005 and the sampling
for the Talco property is completed. NJDEP expects to receive a Remedial
Investigation Report (RIR) summarizing the findings of the soil gas investigation
for the Talco property in early 2006. However, a court order issued as
a result of the litigation between NJNG and APSC states that NJNG cannot
have access to the APSC property until APSC vacates the property, which
should occur in September 2006 according to the court order. Remedial
efforts will commence after this date.
Ground Water Investigation
In September 2005 NJDEP conditionally approved NJNG’s Remedial Investigation
Work Plan/Ground Water Pilot Test Work Plan, which contained proposals
to delineate the dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) and conduct ground
water treatment studies. NJDEP issued a letter on October 27, 2005 informing
NJNG that they were not in compliance with the Administrative Consent
Order when field activities did not proceed in accordance with the approved
schedule. However, NJNG plans to mobilize its contractor during the week
of December 5, 2005 and still expect to meet their deadline of March 6,
2005 for submission of a combined Remedial Investigation Report/Remedial
Action Work Plan to address site-wide ground water issues.
On-Site Portion of Troutmans Creek
Remediation of the southern on-site portion of the Troutmans Creek is
pending since this work cannot be implemented until NJNG is allowed access
to the APSC property. As noted above, these efforts will start after September
2006.
2) Troutmans Creek
NJDEP has finished reviewing the RIR that NJNG submitted in August 2005,
which summarized the results of the sampling it conducted at Troutmans
Creek since March 2004. NJDEP issued a letter on November 17, 2005 that
required NJNG to submit an Interim Remedial Action Work Plan within 90
days detailing its proposals to implement the following:
- complete remediation of the corrugated metal pipe culvert in accordance
with NJDEP’s conditional approval letter dated 11/3/04;
- remove all contaminated sediments from the concrete box culvert beneath
Seaview Avenue continuing north with in the creek channel to the southern
end of the Joline Avenue bridge (at a minimum);
- remove the free/residual product from the creek and the creek banks.
In addition, NJDEP required NJNG to submit an Ecological Risk Assessment
(ERA) within 90 days, including but not limited to conducting a benthic
community survey, sediment toxicity testing and collecting of sediment
samples for analysis of site-related contaminants. The ERA is necessary
to complete the Remedial Investigation and satisfy NJDEP’s Technical
Requirements of Site Remediation.
3) Off-Site Residential Areas
NJDEP collected soil samples from the right-of-ways along Long Branch
Avenue, Seaview Avenue and Ellis Avenue and from Grant Court in May 2005.
These samples were analyzed for volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile
organic compounds, total petroleum hydrocarbons and metals. NJDEP expects
to issue an RIR detailing its findings in late December 2005 or early
January 2006.
4) Seaview Manor
NJDEP is completing its review of the Remedial Action Report (RAR) for
Block 400, Lot 7. The RAR describes the restricted and unrestricted use
remedial actions that were completed at this parcel. NJDEP expects to
finish reviewing this RAR in late December 2005. A separate RAR for the
remainder of the parcels will be submitted in January 2006, with the exception
of the culvert (see below).
In order to meet its timeframes for allowing residents to return to their
community, the Long Branch Housing Authority (LBHA) began constructing
the foundations of the new Seaview Manor Housing complex in late October/early
November on Block 400, Lot 7, before NJDEP finished reviewing the RAR
for this area. NJDEP has sent a letter advising LBHA that construction
activities must be limited to the area that was subject to unrestricted
use remedial action and the area that was not impacted by the former plant’s
operations. NJDEP further advised LBHA that its developer and/or contractor
should not enter onto or disturb the portion of Block 400 Lot 7 that was
subject to a restricted use remedial action without NJDEP’s oversight.
Culvert Status
NJNG removed two feet of soil from the culvert area and capped it during
the remedial action for Block 400, Lots 6 and 7. The removal of the culvert
and any underlying contamination will occur in the spring and summer of
2006.
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