Title
Dept/ Agency: Offices of Municipal Council/City Clerk
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Urging/Supporting
Purpose: Supporting aggressive action by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to address significant contamination at homes and businesses located on Manufacturers Place, Newark
Additional Information:
Sponsor: Councilmember Amador
body
WHEREAS, NJDEP is conducting indoor air sampling and indoor air and vapor remediation at homes and businesses in the area of Manufacturers Place and Vincent Street, Newark; and,
WHEREAS, Ronson Metals Corporation (Ronson) formerly operated its manufacturing operation since the 1950s on Manufacturers Place. After 1989 when Ronson closed the facility, soil and groundwater contamination was identified. The groundwater contained various volatile organic compounds, primarily Trichloroethene or TCE; and,
WHEREAS, under NJDEP oversight, Ronson claimed to have cleaned up the soil but it appears that the groundwater investigation and clean up was never completed; and,
WHEREAS, under DEP oversight, a successor to Ronson (Prometcor, Inc.) filed a Deed Notice to restrict the use of some, if not all, of the properties to parking and non-residential uses. In addition the Deed Notice required continued NJDEP oversight of the property; and,
WHEREAS, beginning in 1999, the Ronson property changed hands and eventually was redeveloped with 19 homes and other buildings; and
WHEREAS, in late 2012 NJDEP claims for the first time to have discovered that the portions of the Ronson site had been redeveloped into residential properties; and,
WHEREAS, in 2013 NJDEP sampled the indoor air and sub-slab soil gas at residential and non-residential buildings at Manufacturers Place and are planning on doing some testing on Vincent Street. NJDEP discovered vapor levels of TCE above the Residential Indoor Air Screening Level. NJDEP uses Screening Levels to evaluate whether additional investigation is needed. NJDEP installed remediation systems inside the buildings; and,
WHEREAS, residents of the affected area want to see a full investigation to determine the extent of the TCE groundwater plume and a comprehensive cleanup; and,
WHEREAS, it is imperative that NJDEP provide:
· A definitive and swift timeline and assurances on beginning the delineation of the contamination and cleanup of the groundwater contamination that is causing these vapor issues
· Coordination with the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to conduct health consultations with residents in homes that were found to have elevated levels of TCE;
· Tests of standing water in and around the Manufacturers Place neighborhood;
· Install automated vapor remediation systems in the homes and;
· Develop a mitigation plan to address any additional expenses placed on the homeowners because of the temporary vapor intrusion systems.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY THAT:
The Council urges the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to take aggressive action to address significant contamination at homes and businesses located on Manufacturers Place, Newark. The plan should include:
1. Develop a long-term plan with a timeline for a complete cleanup that eliminates the health risks and addresses the full extent of the groundwater contamination. The installation of remedial systems for the vapor intrusion risk is only the first step and meant to be temporary, in addressing the root problem of a significant health risk.
2. Coordination with the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to conduct health consultations with residents in homes that were found to have elevated levels of TCE.
3. Tests of standing water in and around the Manufacturers Place neighborhood.
4. Install automated vapor remediation systems in the homes and.
5. Develop a mitigation plan to address any additional expenses placed on the homeowners because of the temporary vapor intrusion systems.
6. A certified copy of this resolution be served upon Governor Chris Christie, Senator Theresa Ruiz, Assemblywoman Grace Spencer, and Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin, Freeholders of Essex County, NJ
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to take aggressive action to address significant contamination at homes and businesses located on Manufacturers Place, in the City of Newark.