E2PM has been involved with this project from initial due diligence through the preparation of remedial designs for remediation, and most recently remediation contractor bid evaluation and selection.  The former Van Leer Chocolate Company site is located in Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey.  The site consists of two parcels – the north parcel (4.2 acres) and the south parcel (3.7 acres).  Historical manufacturing activities at the site included the production of weed control products, paints, lacquers, brick seal, soap and chocolate.  The Van Leer Corporation began manufacturing chocolate at the site in 1949.

Sixteen Areas of Concern (AOC) have been identified for the site, including historic fill, fuel oil underground storage tanks (USTs), a vertical waste oil UST, on-site groundwater, south parcel arsenic contamination, a New Jersey Transit Right-of-Way (ROW) and a City of Jersey City pump station.  Specific contaminants observed on the north parcel exceeding applicable NJDEP standards include VOCs in soil and metals, VOCs and SVOCs in groundwater.  Specific contaminants observed on the south parcel exceeding applicable NJDEP standards include metals, VOCs and SVOCs in both soil and groundwater.  The south parcel, where the majority of remedial activities are proposed, is located within the Jersey Avenue Redevelopment Plan Area (RPA).

E2PM has assisted in evaluating the remedial measures of elevated arsenic contamination, with consideration on redevelopment plans for excavation, shoring, dewatering and construction of subsurface foundations.  E2PM has supported our client (the Hudson Brownstone Company) on financial funding opportunities, Brownfield Cost Reimbursement, proposed engineering cap designs, and the development of a soil management plan that formed the basis of remediation bid specifications distributed to prospective bidders.

Site contamination requires carefully coordinated Health & Safety and construction management plans, strict dust controls, avoidance of public utilities during excavation and construction, and understanding of architecture and engineering controls to prevent worker, future resident and public contact with site contaminants.

The proposed, NJDEP-approved remedial approach for the site includes on-site treatment (stabilization) and off-site disposal of the arsenic-impacted soils, as well as appropriate engineering and institutional controls.  The approved remedial approach specifically requires the excavation of arsenic-impacted soils above a site-specific cleanup standard, to a depth of 16 feet, disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous soils off-site, dust controls during excavation, installation of engineering controls (i.e. cap installation), and establishment of a Deed Notice and a site-wide CEA.

E2PM staff conducted the site assessment for the six acre property, which included soil and groundwater sampling. All sampling was conducted in accordance with NJDEP Field Sampling Procedures Manual and the site investigation was developed and implemented in accordance with the N.J.A.C. 7:26E (Tech Regs). Sixteen areas of concern (AOCs) were identified for the site, including but not limited to, areas of historic fill; several fuel oil underground storage tanks (UST); waste oil UST; on-site groundwater, arsenic contamination, a  New Jersey Transit right-of-way (ROW), and a City of Jersey City pump station.  Specific contaminants observed on the north parcel exceeding applicable NJDEP standards include VOCs and metals in soil, and metals, VOCs and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in groundwater.  Specific contaminants observed on the south parcel exceeding applicable NJDEP standards include metals, VOCs and SVOCs in both soil and groundwater.  The south parcel, where the majority of remedial activities are proposed, is located within the Jersey Avenue Redevelopment Plan Area (RPA).

Observed concentrations of antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, thallium and zinc exceeded the NJDEP Residential Standards (RDCSCC). Of these compounds, arsenic was identified as the most prevalent and widespread. Arsenic concentrations up to 606,000 mg/kg (in excess of the RDCSCC of 19 mg/kg) were identified on the site and a number of VOCs and SVOCs in soil also exceeded the RDCSCC. The sampling results for soil samples collected within the north parcel indicate the presence of VOCs, SVOCs and metals above detection limits but below NJDEP RDCSCC. None of the sampling identified PCBs in soil. The groundwater sampling conducted at the north parcel indicated concentrations for arsenic, cadmium, total chromium, lead, nickel and zinc above the NJDEP Ground Water Quality Standards (GWQS).

Groundwater quality at the south parcel was evaluated by collecting samples from temporary borings installed throughout the site, from existing on-site monitoring wells and one off-site monitoring well. The majority of samples collected represent groundwater quality in the upper unconsolidated aquifer. Arsenic concentrations exceeded the NJDEP Groundwater Quality Criteria for Class II-A groundwater in the unconsolidated aquifer, with a maximum detected level of 1,110,000 µg/L.

Concentrations of antimony, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, nickel, thallium and zinc also exceeded the GWQC in samples collected from soil borings converted to temporary well points in the vicinity of the vertical waste oil tank, and from all on-site monitoring wells (except MW-7). A number of VOCs and SVOCs in groundwater were also detected above the GWQC in samples collected from temporary well points located in the area of the vertical waste oil UST and fuel oil USTs, as well as from the site monitoring wells.  VOCs were also detected in the bedrock monitoring well.

For the proposed remedial action and site redevelopment, E2PM assisted in evaluating the remedial measures of elevated arsenic contamination, with consideration on redevelopment plans for excavation, shoring, dewatering and construction of subsurface foundations.  E2PM has supported our client (first HBC, then BNE) on financial funding opportunities, Brownfield Cost Reimbursement, proposed engineering cap designs, and the development of a soil management plan that formed the basis of remediation bid specifications distributed to prospective bidders.  E2PM prepared all required submittals for the NJDEP in accordance with the Technical Regulations. The remedial actions of this contaminated Site included carefully coordinated Health & Safety and construction management plans, strict dust controls, avoidance of public utilities during excavation and construction,

understanding of architecture and engineering controls to prevent worker, future resident and public contact with site contaminants, and the removal of existing foundations and debris from the site. E2PM was successful in negotiating a site-specific soil remediation standard for arsenic at 1,000 ppm. Soils with arsenic concentrations greater than 1,000 mg/kg were excavated to a maximum depth of 16 feet (also the result of negotiations with the NJDEP) and disposed of off-site as hazardous waste.  Engineering controls will be constructed at the site to be protective of human health and the environment while meeting site development needs.

Approved Remedial Action: Because the area is zoned for residential use, an aggressive remedial solution was recommended for the site.  The proposed Remedial Action Alternative for the site included on-site treatment of soils containing hazardous levels of arsenic (no reduce those levels to non-hazardous levels) and off-site disposal of treated soils in combination with appropriate engineering and institutional controls to address contamination remaining on-site.  A detailed description of the proposed remedial action alternatives are presented below:

• Remove existing structures: Existing foundations and debris would be removed and either disposed of off-site (in the case of debris and concrete impacted at hazardous levels), or reused on-site (concrete determined to be suitable as RCA).  The retaining wall at the base of the cliff on the north parcel will not be removed.  These materials will be addressed of as solid/hazardous waste as appropriate in preparation for soil excavation and disposal.
• Excavate soils to 16 feet: Soils with arsenic concentrations greater than 1,000 mg/kg would be excavated to a maximum depth of 16 feet and disposed of off-site as hazardous waste.  Characterization of site soils was conducted to determine whether treatment was required for specific “batches.”
• Install engineering controls: Engineering controls will be constructed at the site to meet the site development needs while remaining protective of human health and the environment.  They will be adapted with respect to land use and the proposed redevelopment footprint.  The types of cap proposed include a typical building slab, paved roadway or landscaped areas.
• Dispose of soils as hazardous waste off-site: Excavated soil will be profiled and segregated into waste streams based on the corresponding off-site disposal venue or recycling. Institute dust controls during excavation and cap installation.

110 Hoboken Avenue LLC opted into the LSRP program in May 2012. Since the opt-in date, the following additional environmental services were performed: Receptor Evaluation; Site Ranking Score Compliance; Treatability study for In-Situ Solidification; RAWP Addendum for the In-Situ remediation; revised the remediation cost estimate; and prepared drawings for the engineering controls.  The treatability study addressed the high arsenic contamination in site soil.  As part of the treatability study, additional sampling was conducted for arsenic speciation.  Arsenic was speciated to the valent forms (arsenic V to arsenic III). E2PM was able to prove that due to the unique soil chemistry, in particular the high iron content in the soil, the arsenic was not mobile or very soluble. Consequently, through the completion of an off-site soil and groundwater study, E2PM determined that the highest arsenic contamination in soil and groundwater was relatively contained within the property.

The proposed, NJDEP-approved remedial approach for the site included on-site treatment (stabilization) and off-site disposal of the arsenic-impacted soils, as well as appropriate engineering and institutional controls. The approved remedial approach specifically requires the excavation of arsenic-impacted soils above a site-specific cleanup standard, to a depth of 16 feet, disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous soils off-site, dust controls during excavation, installation of engineering controls (i.e. cap installation), and establishment of a Deed Notice and a site-wide CEA.

During the period of January through August 2017, E2PM oversaw the remediation of impacted soils on both the north and south parcels. While impacted soils on the north parcel were addressed via hot spot excavation and off-site disposal, south parcel soils were remediated as noted above, specifically through the use of EnviroBlend® to reduce (through stabilization) hazardous arsenic levels to non-hazardous levels, and then off-site disposal.  Over 43,000 cubic feet of impacted soil was excavated from the south parcel and disposed off-site.  Specific activities conducted by E2PM included post-excavation sampling, perimeter air monitoring, management of day-to-day environmental issues, and the design of a vapor intrusion (VI) mitigation system.

E2PM is now in the process of drafting the project RAR as well as providing continued environmental consulting support during site redevelopment (i.e. building construction).  Additional planned activities include the completion of a post-remediation groundwater investigation, RAR submittal, completion of soil and groundwater Remedial Action Permits (RAPs), soil and groundwater Remedial Action Outcomes (RAOS), and preparation of the final Deed Notice and CEA.