Text Box: The USEPA provided comments on the Sites 31 and 101 Feasibility Study (FS) on May 16, 2005. A number of specific comments were provided regarding the report. An overview of the FS was given by Kevin Gerdes of Shaw Environmental at the June 9, 2005 RAB meeting. The FS left open the selection of a preferred remedial alternative and provided a number of possibilities for soil and sediment – the alternatives provided for creation of other alternatives by combining different options. EPA’s main conclusions regarding the proposed remedial alternatives are provided below: “All alternatives and combinations thereof, with the exception of the no-action alternative, appear acceptable. While excavation and offsite disposal of all contaminated soil is the most protective of human health and the environment, it is not Text Box: the most cost effective. Regardless of the alternative chosen, all soil with a PCB concentration above 100 ppm must be excavated as proposed. If soil with a PCB concentration above 50 ppm is Text Box: EPA Gives Input on the Sites 31 and 101 Feasibility Study

POINTS OF INTEREST:

· The next RAB meeting will be held in October 2005 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Rockaway, New Jersey.  Members of the public are invited to attend.

· Lieutenant Colonel Kerry Skelton assumed leadership of Picatinny Arsenal as Garrison Commander on June 10, 2005.  Lieutenant Colonel Paul Seitz relinquished his command after a two-year tenure for an assignment in the Middle East.  LTC Seitz was a frequent attendee at the RAB meetings and provided his support for additional TAPP funding for the RAB.

· The NJDEP approved the ROD for Green Pond Brook and Bear Swamp Brook in early July 2005.  The USEPA signed the ROD and it was public noticed in August.  The public meeting for the ROD was held in December 2003. 

mammal study

2

PBC out for Bid

2

IAP may ‘05

2

NJDEP manpower

3

MMRP Funding

3

RAB gets funding

4

Tech Conference

4

 

Area D changes?

4

Area C FS

5

In The field

5

LuC Rod

5

BRAC 2005

5

Fish consumption

6

Text Box: The Picatinny Arsenal Environmental Restoration Advisory Board’s TAPP Contractor presents Text Box: JULY 2005 Text Box: Volume 2, issue 2 Text Box: Environmental Happenings At Picatinny Arsenal Text Box: IN THE FIELD….. Text Box: Recent field activities for April, May, and June 2005 included the following: Group 3 Feasilibility Study: Collect soil samples in the 3400 Building area near Building 3517. 600 Area: Construct monitoring wells in the 600 Text Box: Building area. Develop newly installed monitoring wells. Collect groundwater samples. Phase III & Phase I 2A/3A Ecological Risk Assessment: Performance of nesting bird surveys in the following areas: 1000 and 1400 building areas, 400 Text Box: building enclosure, the Lake Denmark picnic area, open area across from the heliport, and Area L (1000 building area), Area F (400 Building area). Monitor nesting birds and hatchlings in Area L and Area F. Place traps for small mammal surveys. Demarcate sampling location for the Smoke stacks

continued on page 3

Next Page

left on site, it must be capped. 

Alternative S-2, continued implementation of institutional controls  applies to all alternatives with contaminants left on site. 

 

Two combinations of alternatives appear to be the most cost effective.  The first would be Alternative S-3B (excavation of all PCB soils above 100 ppm and capping of the area) in conjunction with Alternative S-4B (excavation and offsite disposal of lead-contaminated soil adjacent to Green Pond Brook).  This combination does not address all lead-contaminated areas. But with the exception of the hot spot area around the Former Machine Press Area, with proper vegetation and runoff controls to prevent contamination of Green Pond Brook, and institutional controls to prevent human contact with the soil, this combination of alternatives is acceptable, considering the surface soil lead concentrations in the remaining soils.

A second acceptable alternative would be Alternative S-7, installation of an improved asphalt cap.  Additional consideration should be given to removing the lead-contaminated soil adjacent to Green Pond Brook to prevent erosion of the contaminated soil should Green Pond Brook change course in the future.”

Picatinny responded to the comments on May 27, 2005. Mr. Ted Gabel, the Picatinny Arsenal Project Manager for Environmental Restoration, asserts that the USEPA acknowledged their acceptableness  in a June 7th. e-mail.