Pollution/Situation Report Profile

Riverside Avenue Site
Newark, NJ - EPA Region II
POLREP #12

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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 #12
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:

3/2/2012

Reporting Period:

02/11/12 thru 03/02/12

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:	10/17/2011	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. OSC Glenn and OSC Hoppe covered several days within the time range. Building #7 Tanks-The process of the solid residue varnish removal from the tanks on the third floor has continued. The tank contents vary from a “caramel-like” substance to a harden material that requires chipping. All material is being packaged, temporarily staged in the tank areas and then eventually moved all at once by lowering containers from the second and third floors via telescoping lull fork lift. Frac Tank Aqueous Material-All disposal analytical as well as additional Dioxin data has been received on the aqueous material currently stored in Frac Tanks . There are three Frac tanks storing the aqueous material removed from Building #7 basement (TO#: 38/approximately 60,000 gallons). There were two Frac tanks storing the aqueous material from the assessment of Building #15 (TO #43/approximately 32,000 gallons). OSC has been working with NJDEP and EPA to evaluate data and compare to NJDEP Surface Water Discharge Criteria. The results from Building #15 Frac Tanks fall below the discharge standards. This was expected due to the fact that no hazardous materials were found in the tanks staged in Building #15 and the aqueous material is rain water that slowly built up due to breaches in the building walls. This rain water discharge into the storm water system commenced on 02/13/12 and was completed on 02/14/12. The aqueous material in Frac Tank #1 and #2 of Building #7 Basement contained liquid skimmed from the upper phase of the liquid. Carbon/Sand/Bag filters will be utilized prior to discharging the material. Analytical was provided to the filter supplier in order to calculate the appropriate filtration set up for contaminant removal. Frac Tank #3 contains the aqueous material that was in contact with the sludge/solid material contained in the basement. This material will be shipped off site for proper disposal due to higher analytical results that exceeded NJDEP Surface Water Discharge Standards. The disposal bid was sent out and the low bid facility has been identified. Senior Enforcement Analyst OES Enforcement Office US EPA Region 01 confirmed that facility can accept this waste. On 02/28/12, the disposal facility sampled the material in Frac Tank #3 for sampling/analysis. Building #7 Basement sludge/solid Material-Due to rain, some amounts of liquid has accumulated in the basement since the initial pump out. This aqueous/sludge material will be pumped into a poly tank. OSC/KEMRON are still evaluating best way to safely access the basement area. The tentative plan is to cut out a portion of the concrete floor in order to provide access to a mini excavator. This material will be stored in roll-off container, sampled/analyzed and properly disposed of. Building #7 Loading Dock-An area located below the loading dock was discovered with piping and a tank. Entry into the area from within Building #7 was covered with a concrete ramp. However, a tunnel from Building #12 was located that leads to this area. The aqueous material will be pumped out, the air quality monitored via mulit-rae, and then the tunnel will be cleared for access and future assessment. Underground Storage Tanks-UST #1 and #2 were drained and the material removed offside via tanker truck for proper disposal. However, due to the analytical received on the UST contents, the visible liquid material present around and below the UST pits, the visible staining of the soil observed in the two pits as well as a distinct odor emitting from the pits, it was determined that the UST tanks were leaking significantly. Therefore, the plan to remove the UST and back fill has been put on hold. A sampling assessment to determine delineation of contamination surrounding the UST envelope (tank farm area) was initiated by Tetra Tech on 01/25/12 and concluded on 01/27/12. Test pits were excavated around the envelope and samples were taken at depths of 4 feet, 8 feet, and 10 feet. The following parameters were requested for the soil analysis: Dioxin, Metals (TAL), VOC, SVOC, PCB, PEST/HERB. Tetra Tech has received the data for this assessment work and the results are being compared to New Jersey Non-Residential Direct Contact Soil Cleanup Criteria. Enforcement Sampling- DESA visited the site on 12/14/11 to conduct enforcement sampling on the material inside the Underground Storage Tanks (UST) and the pigment hoppers located in Building #12. On 01/05/12, the enforcement team requested that the UST pits be sampled for enforcement. On 01/17/12, DESA returned to the site to perform sampling in UST #1 and UST #2 Pits. The analytical results were received this week. These records will be passed onto the enforcement team as well as stored in the site files.
2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal

2.2 Planning Section