2014 - Work Begins
Senior staff at DEP has coined this project as the most thoroughly reviewed remediation within the Department in a decade. Because of certain detractors the clean-up has been delayed for almost two years. These delays have caused additional unchecked deterioration and new problems, aided by Sandy, have gotten worse, including exposed sludge washouts and breaks and fissures in the berms.
We have been ready to start work for months. The geotechnical studies and engineering were performed and evaluated, the necessary filings were made, the public hearings were conducted, the discussions with DEP, county, local and federal regulators have all taken place, the prerequisite permits have been issued, rolling stock was delivered, initial workers hired and...
...work has finally begun to remediate the property.
The entrance and security gate to the site, which had fallen into disrepair, were repaired. Silt fence was installed, the processing area graded, illegally dumped materials cleaned up and utilities and processing equipment ordered. If permitted by DEP and USACE, we would like to clean up the illegally dumped materials outside of the roadways and berms in the wetlands to prevent and discourage more such dumping in these areas.
The well for dust suppression and tire washing was drilled and developed, the truck weigh scale and tire washers installed, and numerous other site preparations performed.
Site preparations continued, the weighscale was certified, and the office is now functioning.
Despite statements in the press to the contrary, the cap will be very flat, being sloped just enough to promote stormwater to run off to the perimeter of the site rather than pond and percolate. The thickest layer will be 15' over the existing grade. The average thickness is less than 8'. The final elevation will be below surrounding features by more than 20'.
Please click on the image above to view full-size.
This grade is almost unnoticeable and is hard to visualize (you may need a magnifying glass to see the tiny grade changes) especially on plans drawn to scale. These elevations will make excellent habitat along this stretch of the Rahway. The majority of the remediated areas will be planted with native grasses, and several riparian sections will be planted in native trees and vegetation to promote wildlife habitation where open cyanide sludge once poisoned anything that tried to grow or live there.
This site is very secluded, surrounded by landfills, warehouses, heavy industrial operations, tank farms, salvage yards, railroad, and turnpike, with power plants, more tank farms and more landfills in the distance. This is not a pristine area, and the site is virtually invisible to residential properties due to the distance and surrounding industrial structures. RCRA, CERCLA and undocumented historic fill sites dot the landscape around us. As stated in the opening, this is a consequence of the early growth that started 100 years ago before environmental laws changed how we manage such wastes. Short videos of the existing conditions at the site can be viewed via the following link (YouTube link).
The fact that it is so isolated may be why it has sat unaddressed for decades. Nevertheless, it needs to be addressed now and we are on our way to doing just that.