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Metropolis Towers Cleanup Phase No. 1 Public Meeting

Metropolis Towers Cleanup Phase No. 1 Public Meeting. Frank Conwell Middle School Jersey City, N.J. February 21, 2013. Welcome / Introduction. Remarks - Mayor Jerramiah Healy Remarks - Deputy Mayor Kabili Tayari Program format Panel introductions

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Metropolis Towers Cleanup Phase No. 1 Public Meeting

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  1. Metropolis Towers Cleanup Phase No. 1Public Meeting Frank Conwell Middle School Jersey City, N.J. February 21, 2013

  2. Welcome / Introduction • Remarks - Mayor Jerramiah Healy • Remarks - Deputy Mayor Kabili Tayari • Program format • Panel introductions • Presentation – Site Administrator | Project Manager Brian McPeak 2

  3. Overview Chrome processing in Hudson County Settlement agreement Metropolis Towers cleanup plans Timetable What to expect in Phase No. 1 Health and safety measures Questions and answers 3

  4. Chrome Processing Plants • Three chromium ore processing plants operated in Hudson County dating to early 1900s • All generated waste byproduct containing high levels of hexavalent chromium • Most highly contaminated waste (50,000 ppm +/-) was located at processing plant sites, such as Garfield Avenue / Morris Canal • Lower concentration (100-6,000 ppm +/-) soil-like chromium processing residue (CCPW) was used as fill at construction sites throughout Hudson County • NJDEP Chromium Policy requires the removal of soil contaminated with hexavalent chromium at levels above 20 ppm

  5. Settlement Overview • On June 26, 2009, NJDEP, Jersey City and PPG signed a settlement in Superior Court where they agreed to a process to clean up PPG chromium sites in Hudson County including Metropolis Towers • The agreement: • Established a 5-year goal to clean up all 20 PPG sites • Required sites to be remediated in accordance with the NJDEP Commissioner’s Chromium Policy and “Applicable Remedial Provisions” • Required a “judicially enforceable” Master Schedule be developed to prioritize site cleanups within the 5-year goal

  6. Settlement Overview (cont.) • The agreement: • Created new position of an independent, court-appointed Site Administrator with responsibility to develop a master schedule and to facilitate cleanup-related activities among the parties • Created new position of an independent technical consultant to assist site administrator and provide technical review and work plan evaluation in support of NJDEP regulatory responsibilities • Required parties to communicate activities with affected community

  7. Cleanup Locations Metropolis Towers

  8. Overview: Metropolis Towers Cleanup • Chromium contaminated soil will be hauled off-site to a licensed disposal facility • Clean fill will be placed in excavated areas • More than 28,000 cubic yards of soil and debris will be removed • Noisy activities will be planned for weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. • NJDEP has approved cleanup plan

  9. Metropolis Towers Overview • Soil-like chromium processing residue (CCPW) was used as fill at Metropolis Towers in 1961 • Buildings at the site were constructed between 1961 and 1967 • Remedial investigation data indicated the bulk of contamination detected was located beneath the former central building • Central building was demolished in 2006 to the concrete floor slab and area was enclosed by fencing • Concrete slab serves as stable cap for CCPW below and is regularly inspected for safety • Approximately 90% of the samples collected at Metropolis Towers contain hexavalent chromium at levels less than 100 ppm

  10. Timetable • Start of cleanup was delayed from last fall largely because it was determined the electrical conduits buried in the plaza, an area PPG must excavate chrome-impacted soil, will need to be addressed. • This also caused PPG to resquence the project. • Adding to the delay in the start of the cleanup was the impact of Hurricane Sandy on the residents of Metropolis Towers and the property itself. • PPG and Jersey City are working to resolve a few last-minute coordination items before work begins on Phase 1.

  11. Post-Sandy Inspection • A small patch of hexavalent chromium was discovered on a support column in the basement boiler room of Building No. 2 during post-Sandy inspection. • Building management was notified immediately and a meeting was held with staff that work in the area to inform them directly. • Area remains sealed off, meaning it poses no on-going exposure to workers or residents. • Investigation into the source of this chromium continues.

  12. Timetable • Cleanup is expected to last approximately 15 months, including pre-cleanup preparations and post-cleanup restoration. • Mobilization for first phase has already begun, and excavation is expected to begin once PPG and City coordination is completed. • The first phase is expected to last three months. • Public meetings will be conducted before the start of the second and third phases of the cleanup.

  13. Phasing: Original Sequence • Cleanup is being conducted in phases so property can remain in use throughout the excavation of chrome-impacted soil and restoration of the grounds. • This was the original sequence of excavation shared with the public in a meeting last July. • Four six-inch conduits are owned by PSE&G. • Conduits must be addressed before work can begin in plaza. PSE&G ELECTRICALLINES PHASE 1 PHASE 2 PHASE 3

  14. Phasing: Revised Sequence • This is the new sequence in which PPG plans to conduct the excavation of chromium-impacted soil. • There may be a break in activity from the end of the first phase and the beginning of the second as plans are developed for addressing electrical conduits. • Residents who park cars within the Phase 1 area have been provided with parking in an alternate location. • Changes to resident vehicle access and parking will occur in the second and third phases, too. PSE&G ELECTRICALLINES PHASE 3 PHASE 2 PHASE 1

  15. What to Expect in Phase 1 • Approximately 4,000 cubic yards of chromium-impacted soil and debris will be removed. • Maximum excavation depth: 8 feet. • Work area isolated by surrounding temporary fencing. • Cleanup site is guarded by security firm 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. • All work will be conducted in compliance with NJDEP approved plans and the agency’s chromium policy requirements.

  16. What to Expect in Phase 1 • Contractor intends to open excavation only as much as can be backfilled the same day • A combination of ground level and elevated air monitors will be used to maintain safe operations • Contractor expects a total of 14 trucks will make two trips a day to and from the site Air Monitors Ground Level Ground and Elevated Truck path

  17. What to Expect in Phase 1 Truck Routes • Trucks will not be staged on downtown streets. • Trucks will be “called in” on an as-needed basis. • Goal is to have no more than one truck inbound and one outbound to the turnpike at any time.

  18. What to Expect in Phase 1 Truck Routes • All trucks containing chromium-impacted soil will be washed and inspected before leaving the site. • Police officers will control traffic when trucks enter and leave the site.

  19. What to Expect in Phase 1 • All access to Building No. 1 is through back entrance. • Safety corridor in front of cleaners and building management office provides access to these businesses. • Access to cleaners and building management office will be reconfigured during part of Phase 1 but only for a few days and signs will be posted.

  20. Comprehensive Exposure Prevention Plans • Multiple, overlapping, prevention and protection plans: • Dust Suppression Plan • Entire Site Air Monitoring Plan • Resident Safety and Security Plan • Traffic Safety and Control Plan • Developed by PPG • Reviewed by Independent Technical Consultant, DEP, City/ERFS

  21. Exposure Prevention Plans - Dust Control Key elements of protective Dust Suppression Plan: Proven, comprehensive dust suppression methods Water misting of work areas Truck traffic only on paved areas Truck cleaning stations Spilled soil, if any, cleaned up immediately Direct loading of excavated materials On-site dust control technicians

  22. Exposure Prevention Plans - Continuous Air Monitoring Key elements of protective Entire Site Air Monitoring Plan: Proven detection and prevention system PPG will use the same highly effective dust-suppression methods being used at Garfield Avenue - methods that have achieved air quality levels lower than regulations require Air Monitoring Stations will continuously check to ensure that safe conditions are maintained during all cleanup activities - if conditions warrant, dust-suppression measures will be increased or work will be halted

  23. Key elements of Entire Site Air Monitoring Plan: By conducting air monitoring at the work zone, nearby residents are fully protected Technicians using hand-held air monitors will measure air quality at work zone Exposure Prevention Plans - Continuous Air Monitoring (cont.)

  24. Examples of Air Monitoring Locations Work Zone Worker Hand Held Air Monitors

  25. Key elements of Entire Site Air Monitoring Plan: Fulltime air monitoring technicians will be on site when excavation is under way Air monitoring results verified by independent technical consultant Results to be posted on Chromium Cleanup Partnership website: www.chromiumcleanup.com Exposure Prevention Plans - Continuous Air Monitoring (cont.)

  26. Air Monitoring Website • Site will display results for dust and chrome. • Dust concentrations will serve as a real-time proxy for hexavalent chromium concentrations. • Hexavalent chromium samples require laboratory analysis. • Metropolis Towers air monitoring webpage will be available once excavation begins.

  27. Exposure Prevention Plans - Site Health & Safety • Key elements of Resident Safety & Security Plan: • Resident and worker health and safety designatedas top priority • Safe work practices & procedures – workers and public protection • Cleanup meets DEP environmental requirements • Work practices & procedures meet OSHA rules • Storage, handling, and use of materials and equipment will be strictly controlled • Work site will remain fully fenced with 24-hour security

  28. Exposure Prevention Plans - Traffic Control • Key elements of protective Traffic Safety & Control Plan: • Waste material will be safely removed from the site using trucks whose beds are covered and contained • All trucks will be washed and inspected prior to leaving the site to prevent soil from being tracked off site; washwater collected, containerized and disposed off-site • Truck traffic routed to minimize community impacts and noise

  29. Questions and Answers

  30. How to Reach Us Phone: 201-777-2099 E-mail: Info@chromecleanup.com Mail: Chromium Cleanup Partnership P.O. Box 15981 Jersey City, N.J. 07305 Visit: PPG’s Garfield Avenue Renewal Company 90 Forrest St. Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 201-938-0909 info@garfieldavenuerenewal.com

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