1.1.1 Incident Category
Emergency PRP Removal Action without an enforcement instrument - partial takeover of RV3

1.1.2 Site Description
Barth Smelting Corp. operated on Block 2442, Lots 10, 11, 12 of the 99 Chapel Street property from at least 1946 until approximately 1982, and produced brass and bronze ingots and also worked with non-ferrous metals. Prior operators included the New Jersey Zinc & Iron Company, a former zinc smelter, and General Lead Batteries, a manufacturer of lead acid batteries. The New Jersey Zinc & Iron Company, also known as Newark Zinc Works, formerly operated on Block 2442, Lots 10-12 of the 99 Chapel Street property, as well as the property currently occupied by the Terrell Homes housing complex (Block 2442, Lot 1).

The Site was included on a list of hundreds of locations nationwide where secondary lead smelting or alloying may have been conducted according to entries in historical trade publications. The list was originally compiled by William P. Eckel in a doctoral dissertation for George Mason University, and the research was summarized in the article "Discovering Unrecognized Lead-Smelting Sites by Historical Methods" (Eckel et al, 2001).

1.1.2.1 Location
The Site is located in a mixed residential/industrial neighborhood within the Ironbound section of Newark, Essex County, New Jersey. The Site is bounded to the north by the Passaic River, to the south by Chapel Street and Lister Avenues, to the east by the 99 Chapel Street property, and to the west by the Terrell Homes.

The Site includes the historic footprint of the former Barth facility (Block 2442, Lots 10-12) and the extent of lead contamination adjacent to the former facility, including the former playground and grassy areas on the Newark Housing Authority's Millard E. Terrell Homes property (Terrell Homes). The Terrell Homes are a residential multi-family public housing complex owned by the Newark Housing Authority.

1.2.2 Description of Threat
Lead concentrations have been detected exceeding the EPA residential soil screening level of 400 mg/kg within the top two feet of soil along the 99 Chapel Street property line on the Terrell Homes side of a newly constructed cinder block security wall, with the highest concentration of lead detected in the top one inch of soil at 15,787 mg/kg.

Direct contact with the elevated levels of lead within the top one inch of soil may occur through common outdoor activities that occur in the play area, or by tracking lead contaminated dirt inside the home. Contact with the lead contaminated soils may present a health risk to residents, particularly young children.

The effects of exposure to lead are the same whether it enters the body through breathing or swallowing. The main target for lead toxicity is the nervous system, both in adults and children. Lead is a cumulative poison where increasing amounts can build up in the body eventually reaching a point where symptoms and disability occur. Particularly sensitive populations are women of child-bearing age, due to the fetal transfer of lead, and children. Cognitive deficits are associated with fetal and childhood exposure to lead.  

Long-term exposure of adults to lead has resulted in decreased performance in some tests that measure functions of the nervous system, and may also cause weakness in fingers, wrists, or ankles. An increase in blood pressure is the most sensitive adverse health effect from lead exposure in adults. Effects on the kidney, nervous system and heme-forming elements are associated with increasing blood lead concentrations, both in children and adults. Other symptoms include: decreased physical fitness, fatigue, sleep disturbance, aching bones, abdominal pains, and decreased appetite.   

The Department of Health and Human Services has determined that lead and lead compounds are reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens based on limited evidence from studies in humans and sufficient evidence from animal studies, and the EPA has determined that lead is a probable human carcinogen.

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

Soil borings were installed throughout the Terrell Homes property to determine if historic operations conducted on this property and adjacent properties had impacted the soils. A total of thirty soil borings were installed throughout the property. Twenty-four soil borings were installed in unpaved areas, and six soil borings were installed in an asphalted area located on the northern corner of the Terrell Homes property. Each soil boring was completed to a depth of two feet.

Soil samples were collected from each soil boring at the following depth intervals: 0 to 1 inches, 1 to 6 inches, 6 to 12 inches, 12 to 18 inches, and 18 to 24 inches below ground surface (bgs). For the borings installed within the asphalted area, the 0 to 1 inch depth interval was not collected (asphalt is one inch thick). An additional six locations where bare soil was present in a high use area were sampled to a depth of 6 inches. A hand auger was used to collect soil samples from the 0 to 1 inch and 1 to 6 inch depth intervals in an additional six locations where bare soil was present within high use areas (ie - front entrances, walkways, etc). All soil samples collected were submitted for laboratory analysis for TAL Metals plus tin and mercury.

Two of the soil borings were installed in a grassy area adjacent the Community Building. The Community Building serves as a recreational area for the residents and contains a water park area (sprinklers) for children to play outdoors and a basketball court. Elevated levels of lead, which pose a significant threat to the local residents, were detected in the grassy area immediately adjacent the water park area.

Additional soil sampling along the property line determined that elevated concentrations of lead are present along the 99 Chapel Street property line on the residential side of a cinder block security wall. Concentrations of lead along the property line range from 158 mg/kg to 15,787 mg/kg, with the highest concentration of lead detected in the top one inch of soil .