Background
Equilon Enterprises LLC dba Shell Oil Products US (Shell) conducted an ongoing environmental investigation and remediation of impacts to soils and groundwater at 85 Willow Street (Block 24.03, Lot 35). PSE&G is the current owner of the property and is not responsible for the Site’s remediation.
Prior to the 2021 purchase by PSE&G, the property has had four owners and multiple uses over the years.
- 1917-1928 Standard Bleachery (Textiles manufacturing).
- 1928-1931 Flintkote Company (Roofing material manufacturing).
- 1931-1968 Shell Eastern Petroleum, used as bulk storage facility for tar.
- 1968-2018 Bell Atlantic (later Verizon New Jersey) used the land as a telecommunications dispatch center.
- 2018-2021 PSE&G used the property as a laydown area.
- 2021 PSE&G purchased the property from Lascari & Leone, a commercial real estate firm.
In 1995, Bell Atlantic (now known as Verizon New Jersey) began the initial environmental investigation and remediated two areas of concern. A third area is the responsibility of Shell Eastern Petroleum, which owned the Site from 1931 – 1968 and operated it as a bulk storage facility for tar (consisting of bitumen material commonly used in asphalt, sealant, roofing and waterproofing tar commercial products). PSE&G purchased the property in 2021 and is not responsible for the Site’s remediation.
Area 3: Summary of Remedial Actions to Date
In 2016, Shell collected soil samples as part of an initial site investigation. Soil impact delineation, both horizontally and at depth, was completed in 2017.
In 2017, Shell installed monitoring wells to evaluate onsite groundwater quality. Data collected from the monitoring wells indicate that groundwater impacts are delineated.
A proposed Classification Exception Area (CEA), an institutional control for impacts to groundwater, was submitted to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). Groundwater is not a source of local drinking water.
All work will be performed in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NJDEP and under the oversight of a Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP).
In 2019, the Site Investigation Report and Remedial Investigation Report – both approved by the LSRP – were submitted to NJDEP documenting work completed to date.
Investigation and Remediation
Work to address onsite soils and limited offsite soil investigation began in July 2023. In preparation for remediation, PSE&G removed a vacant building in December 2021. In October 2023, all onsite excavation and backfilling with certified clean fill was completed.
For restoration, onsite areas were covered with stone to original grade. Installation of permanent fencing is underway.
The purpose of the remediation was 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 were removed. Impacted soils were transported offsite to a licensed facility for beneficial reuse.
To access these soils safely, some trees located in the neighboring properties and other vegetation were removed with the permission of the respective property owners.
Onsite areas were backfilled with certified clean fill and covered with stone. 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
Focus of the Remediation
The focus of the current remedial work has been to address impacts to soils by tar and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs, which were found in the subsurface soil and groundwater at the site.
The potential concerns with these compounds are associated with ingestion (eating) of the affected soil or drinking of the affected groundwater. The fencing, asphalt cover, vegetation and building at the site all have served as an effective barrier to the materials in the soil.
Schedule
Site preparation began in June 2023 and remediation began in July 2023. As of October 2023, all onsite excavation and backfilling with certified clean fill was completed.
Work took place weekdays between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Private Potable Well Survey
Groundwater in the area is not a source of drinking water for East Rutherford’s municipal water system, which is serviced by Veolia.
Shell completed a well survey in September 2022 as a precaution to confirm no private wells are in use near the site and ensure public health and safety is protected.