Rolling Knolls Landfill, Chatham Township, New Jersey
Site Status Update
November 24, 2008
As previously noted, the field activities have been met with a few substantial delays. During the test pit sampling and other recent sampling events delays occurred due to weather conditions and property access. Off-site property access was necessary to enter the site to conduct sampling at various remote locations which posed some concerns that resulted in schedule delays. The drum investigation was added to the field activities and was not apart of the original scope. As a result of the aforementioned, the overall site investigation schedule has been extended about six months. In addition, as the winter approaches, weather conditions may again impact field activities as we move forward with the background soil sampling and soil sampling.
EPA has designated Tanya Mitchell as the new Project Manager for the site. Ms. Mitchell may be reached at (212) 637-4362 or Mitchell.tanya@epa.gov.
Ms. Mitchell has provided an update to the June 2008 site status along with current and future activities at the site. A similar site status report is planned for Spring 2009.
EPA remains committed to working with the PRP to complete this investigation within a timely manner with technically sound data.1. We are in the process of approving a background soil sampling effort that, once completed, will allow for a comparison between the soil results found at Rolling Knolls with soil results from nearby locations considered to be a good representation of the surrounding area (at locations without landfill impacts).
The background soil sampling has been approved and is scheduled for December 2008.
2. EPA is currently overseeing a bog turtle habitat survey which was requested by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This should be completed over the next few days.
Correction
The Phase I Bog Turtle Habitat Survey is completed. The results of the survey indicate that two areas of suitable wetland habitat were identified within the study area. In consultation with USFWS, a Phase II survey may be necessary and if so, it will be tentatively planned for Spring 2009. Indiana Bat has also been identified in areas above and below the Rolling Knolls Landfill, and the Landfill is within the known range of occurrence. Thus, USFWS has provided recommendations to limit any disturbance to potential Indiana Bat during the investigation.
3. EPA is preparing to provide oversight of an additional site micro-investigation commencing over the next few weeks. This effort involves an area of interest that is suspected to be a drum field. The investigation will determine: if there is an actual drum field; its size; and, the nature/content of the drums if found. The current schedule is tentatively set to start on June 30th and last a few weeks. Please note that at this time, there are drum remnants found on the surface in only one specific location within the landfill.
The Drum investigation is completed. Approximately, 100 drums were found and most drums contained a plastic-like resin material. An additional 50 drum carcasses were also found. Preliminary results detected volatile organic compounds (VOCs), metals and pesticides.
4. When our summer field efforts are completed and available to be reviewed internally, EPA plans to meet with the PRPs (responsible parties) sometime in October to review and discuss all results and to plan for additional sampling efforts in areas that may have been missed or in need of further investigation.
Due to unforeseen delays, this meeting has been rescheduled to April 2009. This new date accounts for the schedule delay and will allow for the background soil sampling, QA/QC review of sample results and collation of site data for the proposed EPA/PRP meeting. This time is necessary for the PRP to prepare a good presentation which will serve as the foundation to develop the next round of sampling activities for the site.
5. Once these additional areas have been identified and planned resulting from the EPA/PRP meeting, the next field sampling effort will most likely occur in late Winter.
The next round of field activities will be based on the outcome of the EPA/PRP meeting and any additional field activities deemed necessary.
6. We would also like to organize an additional public information session sometime in the late Fall in order to provide an update of our findings, and also to inform the Township and public of future work. Unfortunately, the timing of this session depends on our efforts this summer, results obtained, and the meeting between the PRPs and EPA. At a minimum, EPA will keep the Township and general public informed through an additional fact sheet as progress is achieved.
An informational meeting will be held once all of the field activities have been completed and the results of the data have been evaluated. Although sampling events may take two weeks, the results and evaluation of the data generally takes an additional 8-12 weeks, depending on the complexity of the analyses. Based on current site activities and schedule, this may not occur until late summer 2009.
7. Using the current schedule progress, we expect to have a Remedial Investigation (RI) Report available in the Summer of 09, again, dependent on field progress and availability of all pending results.
The RI report is anticipated to be available 2010.
Future Activities
1. Community Interviews. EPA will conduct interviews with community residents, state and local officials December 2009.
2. Bog Turtle Phase II Survey Spring 2009