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

  

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

Long Branch, Monmouth County
April 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 is reviewing this document.

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
NJNG is conducting investigations to collect data for a Draft Phase 3 RIR for the ground water and dense non-aqueous phase liquid, as well as a Draft RAR for the soil investigation at Block 400, Lot 6 and Seaview Avenue.  NJDEP received the Draft Phase 3 RIR for the ground water and non-aqueous phase liquid in December 2007 and this document is 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.  The Draft RAR for the soil investigation is due on June 23, 2008.

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 is removing the contaminated sediments from the creek and this remedial action is expected to continue until late 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.  This addendum included plans to remove MGP-related products in soils on specific residential properties on the western side of Troutmans Creek.  This material will be removed prior to finishing the current Troutmans Creek remedial action.  Remediation of these residential properties should begin by mid-June and be completed within 4-6 weeks.  NJDEP approved the addendum on April 30, 2008.

3) Off-Site Residential Areas

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 late May or early June 2008.

LBHA submitted the RAR for the “restricted use” remedial action in December 2007 and this document is also being approved.  NJDEP has requested a modification to the proposed deed notice that was included in the report.  Once this is received, NJDEP will approve the report.  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 May 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 summer 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 the near future.

5) Related Information

LBHA Activities
NJDEP issued an approval letter in May 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 2007.  NJDEP expects 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.