Metropolis Towers Cleanup Phase No. 1

Public Meeting

Frank Conwell Middle SchoolJersey 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

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

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

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

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

Cleanup LocationsMetropolis

Towers

Overview: Metropolis Towers CleanupChromium 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

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

Metropolis Towers Overview

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.

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.

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.

Phasing: Original SequenceCleanup 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.

PHASE

1

PHASE

2

PHASE

3

PSE&G ELECTRICAL LINES

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.

PHASE

1

PHASE

2

PHASE

3

PSE&G ELECTRICAL LINES

What to Expect in Phase 1Approximately 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.

What to Expect in Phase 1Contractor 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

What to Expect in Phase 1

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.

Truck Routes

What to Expect in Phase 1

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.

Truck Routes

What to Expect in Phase 1All 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.

Comprehensive Exposure Prevention Plans

Multiple, overlapping, prevention and protection plans:Dust Suppression Plan Entire Site Air Monitoring PlanResident Safety and Security PlanTraffic Safety and Control Plan

Developed by PPG Reviewed by Independent Technical Consultant, DEP,

City/ERFS

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

Exposure Prevention Plans - Continuous Air MonitoringKey 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

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.)

Examples of Air Monitoring Locations

Work Zone

Air Monitors

Worker Hand Held

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.)

Air Monitoring WebsiteSite 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.

Exposure Prevention Plans - Site Health & SafetyKey elements of Resident Safety & Security Plan: Resident and worker health and safety designated

as 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

Exposure Prevention Plans - Traffic ControlKey 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

Questions and Answers

How to Reach Us

Phone: 201-777-2099

E-mail: Info@chromecleanup.com

Mail: Chromium Cleanup PartnershipP.O. Box 15981Jersey City, N.J. 07305

Visit: PPG’s Garfield Avenue Renewal Company90 Forrest St.

Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 201-938-0909 info@garfieldavenuerenewal.com