Starting after the July Fourth holiday, Equilon Enterprises LLC dba Shell Oil Products US (Shell) will begin excavation at 85 Willow Street (Block 24.03, Lot 35) in East Rutherford to remediate soils impacted by its former operations. Site preparation will begin in mid-June.
Please join us Thursday, June 15, 2023 for a community information session at the 333 Grove Street Community Center, formerly the American Legion building on the corner of Clinton Pl. and Grove St.
The community information session will take place between 4 pm and 8 pm. There is no formal presentation or set agenda. Maps and graphics will be available for review and members of the project team will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about the work.
The community is encouraged to contact us with any questions or concerns about the project. Please call our Project Information Line: (201) 494-4886 or email us at comments@willowstreetproject.com. Please check our project website www.willowstreetproject.com for updates and answers to frequently asked questions.
Anticipated work to be performed during the next two weeks
- June 14-16 – Mobilize construction trailer, dumpster and other materials to the site. Install temporary power to trailer.
- June 15 – Hold community information session June 15th at the Grove Street Community Center.
- June 20-23
- Remove a portion of existing PSE&G fence and install temporary fencing.
- Remove large trees along fenceline with permission of property owners. Some of this work will involve a crane.
- Begin to install soil and erosion controls.
- Ongoing – Continue to mobilize materials to site as needed.
Work completed: Week of June 5
- Contractors for Verizon, a former owner of 85 Willow Street, abandoned onsite monitoring wells in preparation for the Shell project.
Community Outreach
- Issued project update to Borough of East Rutherford, county health officials, and nearby property owners.
- The week of June 5th, Shell community liaisons notified neighbors and interested residents of the June 15th community information session.
- Community liaisons canvassed the neighborhood within 200 feet of the project site to provide a flyer and updated fact sheet.
- Residents near the site also were notified by mail of the community information session.
- Adjacent property owners also were notified by phone.
- A copy of the flyer and fact sheet were provided to the Borough of East Rutherford Clerk, Bergen County Health Services Health Officer and the residents of the Willow Street Square condominiums.
Project Background
The Shell 85 Willow Street Project will begin with site preparation in mid-June by mobilizing construction trailers and installing temporary fencing. Excavation work will begin in early July and all work is expected to be completed in September 2023.
The purpose of the remediation is to remove and replace onsite impacted soils with clean fill between 1 and 13 feet below ground surface. Approximately 16,000 cubic yards of soil will be removed. Impacted soils will be transported offsite to a licensed facility for beneficial reuse. To access these soils safely, some trees located in the neighboring properties and other vegetation will need to be removed, with the permission of the respective property owners.
For restoration, onsite areas will be backfilled with stone to original grade. Off-site areas impacted by the soil investigation will be restored to their original condition in coordination with property owners and in compliance with all applicable Borough of East Rutherford ordinances.
All work is being performed in accordance with the guidance and regulations of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), and under the oversight of the Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) of record.