2010 / Q1 News Briefs

Site administrator Keeps Court Informed

JERSEY CITY, N.J., March 31, 2010 – Mike McCabe, the independent site administrator for PPG Industries’ chromium cleanups, is responsible for providing New Jersey Superior Court Judge Thomas P. Olivieri with updates on the progress of the Chromium Cleanup Partnership. McCabe was appointed by court order last year to oversee the cleanup.

In his presentation to the judge March 9, McCabe reviewed the partnership’s success in meeting the initial requirements of the agreement in which the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the City of Jersey City and PPG Industries agreed to work together in addressing the 20 chromium sites in Hudson County that will be remediated by PPG. 

Among the key accomplishments discussed were the hiring of an independent technical consultant, establishing a judicially enforceable master schedule and the implementation of program in which residents and property owners can request an inspection of homes near cleanup sites if they suspect chromium waste is in or on their property.

Other topics included McCabe’s forthcoming recommendation on whether future health studies that examine exposure to chrome manufacturing residue near the Garfield Avenue site in Jersey City are needed, initial steps in the development of a local hiring initiative and the partnership’s efforts to communicate with residents.


Contractor to close 40 monitoring wells permanently at Garfield Avenue site

JERSEY CITY, N.J., March 30, 2010 – A well driller licensed by the State of New Jersey will close and permanently seal 40 monitoring wells in accordance with NJDEP regulations at the 900 Garfield Avenue Site, beginning the week of April 5 in preparation for initial cleanup activities to be conducted there later this spring.

These wells were installed by PPG Industries as part of a network to gauge groundwater levels and collect samples for the purpose of determining the horizontal and vertical extent of contamination at the site. The wells being closed are located on and around two of the elevated concrete slabs at the site, which will be removed as part of interim remedial measures to be conducted later this year. A support truck and possibly a truck-mounted drill rig will be used to perform the work, which should require approximately two days to complete.

Workers will be dressed in protective gear such as hard hats, gloves and synthetic jump suits and boot covers in accordance with an NJDEP approved health and safety plan because they will be working in close proximity to hazardous materials. Individuals living and working near PPG cleanup sites will not require special protection because monitoring measures will be in place to prevent them from being exposed to hazardous
materials from the site.


Residential inspection program is under way

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Jan. 21, 2010 – Site Administrator Mike McCabe provided details tonight of a program that enables residents living near PPG Industries chromium cleanup sites to request an inspection of their homes if they suspect chromium waste is in or on their property.

Speaking to an audience of more than 50 residents and other interested parties at the Mary McLeod Bethune Life Center, McCabe said homes within 400 feet of PPG cleanup sites in Jersey City and Bayonne are eligible for the program as well as homes south of Bramhall Avenue, west of Halladay Street, east of Ocean Avenue and north of Bayview Avenue in Jersey City. He added residential-related properties located within these boundaries, such as daycare centers, school and playgrounds, are also eligible.

McCabe said residents could request inspections beginning the next day, using English and Spanish -language forms that were provided at the meeting and are available on the Chromium Cleanup Partnership’s Web site. Other methods of requesting inspections include:

  • Calling or faxing the partnership at 201-777-2099;
  • Sending an e-mail to inspection@chromecleanup.com; or
  • Mailing a letter to the Chromium Cleanup Partnership, P.O. Box 15981, Jersey City, N.J. 07305   

Residential property inspection, testing and/or remediation will be assigned the highest priority in his scheduling of site work, said McCabe, the independent, court-appointed site administrator responsible for “facilitating” PPG’s chromium cleanups.

Flanking McCabe during his presentation were Brian McPeak, site administrator/project manager; Prabal Amin, independent technical consultant to the site administrator; Tom Cozzi of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Scott Mikaelian of AECOM, consultant to PPG.  

Through the 1970s, chromate refining operations in Hudson County generated approximately 2 million tons of a waste product known as chromate chemical production waste or CCPW, which contains hexavalent chromium.  
CCPW is solid material that often has the characteristics of dirt and was widely used as residential and commercial construction fill material in Jersey City.


Residential inspection program is under way

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Jan. 21, 2010 – Site Administrator Mike McCabe provided details tonight of a program that enables residents living near PPG Industries chromium cleanup sites to request an inspection of their homes if they suspect chromium waste is in or on their property.

Speaking to an audience of more than 50 residents and other interested parties at the Mary McLeod Bethune Life Center, McCabe said homes within 400 feet of PPG cleanup sites in Jersey City and Bayonne are eligible for the program as well as homes south of Bramhall Avenue, west of Halladay Street, east of Ocean Avenue and north of Bayview Avenue in Jersey City. He added residential-related properties located within these boundaries, such as daycare centers, school and playgrounds, are also eligible.

McCabe said residents could request inspections beginning the next day, using English and Spanish -language forms that were provided at the meeting and are available on the Chromium Cleanup Partnership’s Web site. Other methods of requesting inspections include:

  • Calling or faxing the partnership at 201-777-2099;
  • Sending an e-mail to inspection@chromecleanup.com; or
  • Mailing a letter to the Chromium Cleanup Partnership, P.O. Box 15981, Jersey City, N.J. 07305   

Residential property inspection, testing and/or remediation will be assigned the highest priority in his scheduling of site work, said McCabe, the independent, court-appointed site administrator responsible for “facilitating” PPG’s chromium cleanups.

Flanking McCabe during his presentation were Brian McPeak, site administrator/project manager; Prabal Amin, independent technical consultant to the site administrator; Tom Cozzi of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Scott Mikaelian of AECOM, consultant to PPG.  

Through the 1970s, chromate refining operations in Hudson County generated approximately 2 million tons of a waste product known as chromate chemical production waste or CCPW, which contains hexavalent chromium.  
CCPW is solid material that often has the characteristics of dirt and was widely used as residential and commercial construction fill material in Jersey City.