Pollution/Situation Report Profile

Riverside Avenue Site
Newark, NJ - EPA Region II
POLREP #8

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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Riverside Avenue Site - Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region II

Subject:

POLREP #8
Riverside Avenue Site
02PC
Newark, NJ
Latitude: 40.7670135 Longitude: -74.1593681

To:

Benjamin Tuxhorn, USCG-AST
Andrew Raddant, Department of Interior
Dave Sweeney, NJDEP
David Isabel, Golub & Isabel
Danielle Torok, City of Newark
Fred Mumford, NJDEP

From:

Eric M. Daly, On-Scene Coordinator

Date:

12/8/2011

Reporting Period:

11/19/11 thru 12/07/11

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:	02PC	Contract Number:	EP-S2-10-01
D.O. Number:	0038	Action Memo Date:	8/23/2011
Response Authority:	CERCLA	Response Type:	Time-Critical
Response Lead:	EPA	Incident Category:	Removal Action
NPL Status:	Non NPL	Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:	9/30/2011	Start Date:	10/17/2011
Demob Date:		Completion Date:
CERCLIS ID:	NJSFN0204232	RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:		State Notification:
FPN#:		Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category

Time-Critical CERCLA Removal Action

1.1.2 Site Description

The Riverside Avenue Site is an abandoned industrial facility on the banks of the Passic River. Since the early 1900s the Site had been used for many businesses, including a paint manufacturer, a packaging company, and a chemical warehouse. It consists of two abandoned buildings on approximately two acres. The property is owned by the City of Newark and was acquired in tax foreclosure proceedings.

1.1.2.1 Location

29 Riverside Avenue, Newark, Essex County, New Jersey, between the Passaic River and Mcarter Highway.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Ten abandoned 12,000-15,000 gallon USTs containing hazardous wastes have been identified on the property. Approximately 100 3,000 -10,000 gallon ASTs have been identified in the buildings, many of which have been sampled for hazardous materials. Two tanks containing an oily wastes have been identified in the basement of one of the buildings. A number of 55-gallon drums and smaller containers have been observed in the buildings.
In addition, there are a number of sumps that may contain hazardous substances.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

The preliminary assessment was completed in 2010. Two basement tanks in one building and the sumps of the other building have been sampled for hazardous waste characterization. See Documents Section for results of the site assessment sampling/analytical.

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

2.1.1 Narrative

See Profile section.

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
OSC Daly was at Riverside to oversee removal operations during this time period. Riverside Site was shut down (all except armed security) on 11/18/11 for the holiday. Work commenced on 11/28/11. There were some security service issues during the time off. A building lock was broken and signs of trespassing were observed on 11/28/11. Also, rain water somehow entered the generator fuel tank during this time period and maintenance was required. Lastly, on several occasions, security guards were observed sleeping during their shift. These issues have been brought up to the security service manager and will be addressed appropriately. A new security service will be hired if any of these issues are repeated. ERRS finished cleanup of all paint chips, asbestos dust, and floor debris in work/travel areas in Building #7. All this material was bagged and staged for proper disposal. The sampling preparation continued for Building #7, Floor 2/3 Varnish Tanks. Product levels and tank access were recorded, process piping cut to make room for sampling effort. Each tank will need to be cut in order to pull samples for disposal analysis. DESA visited the site on 11/28/11to reconnaissance the UST for enforcement sampling. This sampling is tentatively planned for 12/14/11. On 11/28/11, two 21,000 gallon frac tanks were mobilized near Building 7. Liquid from the basement was pumped into the frac tank for the next 3 days. On 11/29/11, EPA Pre-Remedial Team visited the site to conduct sampling and install sampling wells. On 11/30/11, a frac tank was mobilized at Building 15. A second frac tank was mobilized on 12/01/11. The draining of the liquid in this building is necessary for assessment of the building and tanks within. This assessment action is under another Task Order separate from the existing removal action. The cut out piece of the cinder block wall was removed and the liquid was pumped out into the frac tank for the next 2 days. A level B entry is planned for 12/08/11 with a team of OSCs. Once the initial assessment is conducted, the information will be passed onto Tetra Tech Personnel in order to plan a sampling event in the near future. If this City of Newark Property is deemed removal eligible, it may be included into the existing removal action. OSC Daly is working with the Passaic Valley Sewer Commission and NJDEP on how to properly dispose of the liquid recovered in both Building #7 and Building #15. The liquid that was in Building #12 receded since initial mobilization and impact due to Hurricane Irene. On 12/01/11 OSC Daly attended an Enforcement Team Phone Conference. Review of PRP search efforts, site priorities, future enforcement sampling efforts, and interaction with other EPA programs was discussed.

2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)

EPA met with representatives from the City of Newark on the site on 11/09/09 to discuss the history of the site and the City's environmental assessment activities for the property to date. EPA will work with the City of Newark to identify PRPs for the site. During the 2/11/2011 recon the OSC discovered paperwork in a former office area bearing the logo of "Ted Frey Industries" and "Abrachem Logistics", both companies are believed to have operated at this location in the past. However, from prior knowledge at another Superfund site, both of these companies went bankrupt and ceased to exist years ago. The OSC has identified three other PRPs and will work with regional ORC to gather additional information regarding these PRPs.

On 12/01/11 OSC Daly attended an Enforcement Team Phone Conference.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal

2.2 Planning Section