2013 / Q1 News Briefs

An excavator loads a truck with chromium-impacted soil and debris in parking lot west of Building No. 1. Air quality is measured 24/7 to ensure contamination does not become airborne. Air quality results show that the excavation has been conducted at levels well within limits set by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Numerous air monitors are set around the site and one can be seen in the photo to the right of the truck (black box on a tripod with yellow canister on the top).
First phase of cleanup at Metropolis Towers is under wayspacer

JERSEY CITY, N.J., March 30, 2013 – About 30 residents and interested parties attended a public meeting March 21 to learn about the progress being made in cleaning up nine chromium waste sites on Garfield Avenue.

Mike McCabe, the independent, court-appointed site administrator for PPG industries’ cleanups, said in his presentation that remediation has been completed at the two cleanup sites that are among the 11 properties being transformed into Berry Lane Park, which will increase the amount of useable open space in Jersey City by nearly 10 percent.

Ben Delisle of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency, which is building the park, said nearly 50,000 tons of chromium-impacted soil and debris were removed during the PPG-funded cleanup to make way for the park. Delisle added the first phase in constructing the park should be complete in late spring or early summer when the baseball field opens.

Meanwhile, McCabe said approximately one-third of the cleanup has been completed at PPG’s former plant location, also known as the Garfield Avenue Site, which is the largest of the 20 sites for which PPG is responsible. More than 200,000 tons of chromium-impacted soil and debris have been dug up and hauled away.

On the eastern side of the former plant site, PSE&G is cleaning up coal tar, a byproduct from a manufactured gas plant that once operated there. Rich Blackman of PSE&G told audience members in his presentation that the company expects to remove 350,000 tons of waste by the time his company’s cleanup is complete next spring.

McCabe said PPG plans to expand its cleanup at the Garfield Avenue Site in the next few weeks and begin work at two sites south of Carteret Avenue. He added resolution of property issues is needed before PPG can begin work at additional sites south of Carteret, which are the subject of ongoing negotiations regarding property access and acquisition.

Results from the blood testing program indicate the exposure-prevention measures in place at the Garfield Avenue Site are working as planned, McCabe said. The third round of blood testing involving residents living near the Garfield Avenue Site showed no changes in hexavalent chromium despite increased excavation activity. In fact, McCabe added, the results from all three rounds were typical for urban areas without chromium contamination.


Ben Delisle of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency says the baseball field at Berry Lane Park will open in late spring or early summer.
Meeting highlights progress being made on Garfield Avenue

JERSEY CITY, N.J., March 30, 2013 – About 30 residents and interested parties attended a public meeting March 21 to learn about the progress being made in cleaning up nine chromium waste sites on Garfield Avenue.

Mike McCabe, the independent, court-appointed site administrator for PPG industries’ cleanups, said in his presentation that remediation has been completed at the two cleanup sites that are among the 11 properties being transformed into Berry Lane Park, which will increase the amount of useable open space in Jersey City by nearly 10 percent.

Ben Delisle of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency, which is building the park, said nearly 50,000 tons of chromium-impacted soil and debris were removed during the PPG-funded cleanup to make way for the park. Delisle added the first phase in constructing the park should be complete in late spring or early summer when the baseball field opens.

Meanwhile, McCabe said approximately one-third of the cleanup has been completed at PPG’s former plant location, also known as the Garfield Avenue Site, which is the largest of the 20 sites for which PPG is responsible. More than 200,000 tons of chromium-impacted soil and debris have been dug up and hauled away.

On the eastern side of the former plant site, PSE&G is cleaning up coal tar, a byproduct from a manufactured gas plant that once operated there. Rich Blackman of PSE&G told audience members in his presentation that the company expects to remove 350,000 tons of waste by the time his company’s cleanup is complete next spring.

McCabe said PPG plans to expand its cleanup at the Garfield Avenue Site in the next few weeks and begin work at two sites south of Carteret Avenue. He added resolution of property issues is needed before PPG can begin work at additional sites south of Carteret, which are the subject of ongoing negotiations regarding property access and acquisition.

Results from the blood testing program indicate the exposure-prevention measures in place at the Garfield Avenue Site are working as planned, McCabe said. The third round of blood testing involving residents living near the Garfield Avenue Site showed no changes in hexavalent chromium despite increased excavation activity. In fact, McCabe added, the results from all three rounds were typical for urban areas without chromium contamination.


Garfield Avenue Cleanup shows results.
Public meeting set for Thursday; Newsletter in mailspacer

JERSEY CITY, N.J., March 17, 2013 – Officials with the Chromium Cleanup Partnership will provide an update on the progress being made in digging up and hauling away chromium-impacted soil and debris at sites on Garfield Avenue at a public meeting Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Fred W. Martin Center for the Arts, 59 Wilkinson Ave., Jersey City.

Mike McCabe, the independent, court-appointed site administrator for PPG Industries’ cleanups, as well as representatives from PPG, which is responsible for the cleanup, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the City of Jersey City will be available to answer questions. No preregistration is required.



Frank Conwell Middle School will play host to a public meeting concerning the Metropolis Towers cleanup.
Public meeting Thursday will review first phase of chromium cleanup plans for Metropolis Towersspacer

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Feb. 20, 2013 – A public meeting to review plans for the first phase of the chromium cleanup at Metropolis Towers will be conducted Thursday, Feb. 21, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Frank Conwell Middle School, 107 Bright St., Jersey City. Excavation is expected to begin within the next two weeks.

Representatives from PPG Industries, the company responsible for the cleanup; the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; the City of Jersey City; and the independent, court-appointed site administrator will attend the meeting and be available to address questions from audience members

If unable to attend, residents and interested parties can ask their questions by:

  • Calling 201-777-2099;
  • Sending an e-mail to info@chromecleanup.com; or
  • Writing to Chromium Cleanup Partnership, P.O. Box 15981, Jersey City, N.J. 07305

Information about the partnership’s activities is also available at its website, www.chromecleanup.com


About the Chromium Cleanup Partnership

The Chromium Cleanup Partnership includes the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the City of Jersey City and PPG Industries, which have agreed to participate in a process to clean up PPG’s 20 chromium sites in Hudson County. The fourth participant, the independent site administrator, was appointed by the Superior Court of New Jersey and given oversight responsibilities for PPG’s cleanups. As part of their 2009 agreement, the participants established a five-year goal for cleaning up all PPG sites.