DATE:
SUBJECT:
FROM:
TO:
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
„ k ,o inoc	REGION II
December 18, 1985
Status of The Federal Facility"- Raritan Arsenal
Barbara Metzger, Director
Environmental Services Division
All Edison Staff

EPA is considering acquiring the land currently held by GSA that surrounds
the acreage now owned by us. Because of the past practices that occurred
at this facility, I requested the Field Investigation Team to perform a
site investigation. The report is complete. As you may be aware Marlene
Lynch Ford has subpoenaed Chris Daggett to give testimony on the Federal
Facilities in New Jersey. Before long the press will be reporting on the
findings in the site investigation report. Chris wanted you to know the
facts before you read the press accounts.
To accomplish this I am placing in our library the
-	Final Draft Site Investigation Report Hazard Ranking System GSA
Raritan Depot, Edison, N.J. and
-	Briefing Document for GSA, Raritan Depot, Edison, N.J.
for your examination. In addition I am attaching to this memo a map of
the facility that shows where contamination was found and a copy of the
letter from Raymond Bath to Rick Spear describing a toxicological review
and land use assessment of the data.
Many of you are also aware that levels of gamma radiation above normal
background readings exist in some buildings. The results of a survey
made by Radiation Branch staff show that Building 209 gave readings of
5-10 micro R/hr which is normal background. Buildings 211, 245, and 246
were found to have similar background levels. Buildings 205 and 214,
both of which have railroad tracks directly into the buildings, had
readings of 20 to 30 micro R/hr. These buildings have almost a five
times higher than background readings. Ellery Savage of the Environ-
mental Response Team says this is equal to about 17% of the allowable
ICRP/NCRP guidance value for exposure 270 days per year at 8 hrs. per
day at the highest observed gamma value and from this standpoint alone
the levels in Building 205 cannot be considered health-threatening.
I am also placing the material on the radiation work in the library if
you choose to examine it.
REGION II FORM 1320-1 (9/85)

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- 2 -
I hope the knowledge of the facts before the press reports appear will
help you to evaluate what you may see in the press. It is clear that
parts of the facility exhibit surface contamination and that this con-
tamination does not add additional risk to working at the EPA facility
in Edison.
Attachments

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CORPORATION
RARITAN PLAZA III. FIELOCREST AVENUE
EDISON. NEW JERSEY O0B37
201-223-61 SO
INI US	ourrfr-"
m-^ year
C-584-12-85-45
December 9, 1985
Dr. Richard Spear
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region II
Edison, New 3ersey 08817
Dear Dr. Spear:
A toxicological review and land use assessment has been made from the data of the
December 2, 1985 report (C-584-11-85-152) on the June 20, 1985, NUS FIT II site
inspection of the Raritan Depot. The samples taken, four suface water, four
sediment, and 62 soil samples, were from locations chosen on the basis of historical
aerial photographs and present site conditions. This biased sampling design would
have determined the areas with the highest contamination. The majority of the
samples were taken along the northeast side (rail line) and the rear of the property,
however the former demolition ground was not sampled.
The data shows that low level chemical contamination exists on the site. Four
main classes of chemicals were detected: metals; pesticides; semi-volatile
aromatic hydrocarbons, specifically the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's);
and volatiles. Given the previous use of the site, the chemical concentrations
detected are not excessive and represent previous routine use rather then storage
or disposal.
The metal contamination exists throughout the area with 13 of the 62 samples
having greater than trace quantities. Given the previous tennant use it is very
surprising that much greater metal concentrations were not found. The levels of
metals, however, do not indicate the need for special occupational or safety
procedures in the area.
Pesticides were found in a variety of locations, however, the types and levels
detected indicate that the probable source was general spraying and not storage or
disposal. At the levels detected, the pesticides do not present a hazard to
occasional occupational contact.
A Halliburton Company

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C-584-12-85-45
Dr. Richard Spear
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
December 9, 1985 - Page Two
Volatile chemical contaminants were found in the low area south'of the tarmac.
Due to the fact that local surface waters drain to this area, the low concentrations
indicate a potential run-off problem and do not indicate that this area was used for
storage or disposal. The levels detected do not represent a health problem to
occassional occupational contact.
Semi-volatile compounds, specifically the (PAH's), were found in five specific
areas: along the rail line; three areas along the rear of the property; and a large
area centered around the debris area to Avenue D. PAH's are found whenever
there is incomplete combustion of organic materials. It is well known that many
PAH's are carcinogenic, however, even at the highest concentrations found, sample
NJP6-S64, the increased cancer risk of 1 X 10"^ would require the ingestion of 250
mg of soil every day for 70 years to present a problem. This fact, as well as the
knowledge that PAH's are microbially degradable and the low planned utilization of
the area, lessen the impact of these chemicals on the potentially exposed
population.
In summary, unless major land useage or construction were planned for these areas,
the chemical contaminants are well contained from the general public and do not
present an occupational hazard to the occasional worker. Caution must be shown
only in the low areas at the rear of the property where the potential for the
collection of chemicals is present. Major construction activities including
excavation can occur if adequate provisions are made to insure that contaminated
soil(s) do not leave the site, monitoring for volatile contaminants during excavation
is performed, and test borings for the determination of the depth of contamination
are performed.
Very truly yours,
Toxicologist
RJB/mas

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0 HEAVY METALS
| 3,3* DICML0R09EMZI0INE
v NOTE ALL SAMPLE POINTS
PRECEDED BY NJP6
ANALYTICAL RESULT SUMMARY
GSA, RARITAN DEPOT, EDISON, N.J.
(NOT TO SCALE)
JMUS
	I CORPORATION
c A Halliburton Company

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