United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste And
Emergency Response
(5401G)
EPA510-F-01-007
September 2001
www.epa.gov/oust
USTFIELDS PILOTS
Trenton
Last year EPA's Office of Underground Storage Tanks (OUST) launched the
USTfields Pilot program, which is helping states address contamination from
federally-regulated underground storage tanks (USTs) at idle or abandoned
commercial properties known as "brownfields." Cleanup of petroleum
contamination is generally excluded from coverage under EPA's Brownfields
program, so EPA provided 10 pilot states with up to $100,000 of LUST
Trust funds each to cover the costs of petroleum cleanups at Brownfields
sites. Using the pilot funds, each state is working with Brownfields
communities to assess, clean up, and monitor petroleum-impacted UST sites.
The cleanup of these sites is removing barriers to their reuse and allowing
communities to return them to productive use.
Background
EPA selected the State of New Jersey to
participate in the USTfields Pilot program.
New Jersey is working with the City of
Trenton, an EPA Brownfields Assessment
Pilot and Showcase Community. Trenton
has already received more than $2 million in
federal resources to undertake a citywide
investigation and cleanup of brownfields
sites. While performing its cleanups, the
city has identified petroleum contamination.
The city and the state have identified 11
sites as potential candidates to benefit from USTfields Pilot funds. The actual number of sites
that will eventually be funded will be determined by the costs associated with extent of their
contamination. Actual or potential petroleum contamination from underground storage tanks is
the city's final hurdle in completing cleanup and subsequent reuse plans at these sites. In
addition to these 11 sites, the City of Trenton is looking toward the future and has developed a
list of 23 additional properties that would benefit from EPA's USTfields Initiative.
What follows is a description of the successful partnership among EPA, the State of New Jersey,
the City of Trenton, and its local communities to remove barriers to reuse of petroleum-
contaminated property at six sites in Trenton.
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USTFields PILOTS - NEW JERSEY
Westward Firehouse
The City of Trenton purchased a 1.5-acre
property in its West Ward for redevelopment.
Prior to this acquisition, the site was home to the
office of a local newspaper, a pizzeria, and an
auto service station. Three gasoline
underground storage tanks were removed from
the auto service station prior to the
promulgation of current UST regulations.
Several underground storage tanks remain on
the property, including a heating oil tank on the
west side of the property and an abandoned
underground storage tank on the east side. The
community was concerned that the existing and
previously closed underground storage tanks
could be discharging fluids. Once the site has
been remediated, the city plans to build a new firehouse on the site.
Accomplishments
The city removed USTs and cleaned up soil contaminated by
a leaking underground storage tank and is investigating the
site to determine the extent of the residual contamination. In
addition, the city is developing preliminary plans for the
future firehouse.
Challenges
The most challenging aspect of the cleanup of this property is
estimating costs. Several unknown factors, such as the
number of underground storage tanks that are still in place
and previous discharges from USTs that were removed and
not properly closed, contribute to the overall difficulty in
accurately predicting the costs. The USTfields Pilot funds
are helping to cut the cost of the cleanup to the city.
Until the mid-1980s, most underground storage tanks
(USTs) were made of bare steel, which is likely to corrode
over time and allow a tank's contents to leak. Faulty
installation or inadequate operation and maintenance can
also cause tanks to leak. The greatest potential hazard
from a leaking underground storage tank is that the
petroleum or other hazardous substance can seep into the
soil and groundwater, the source of drinking water for
nearly half of all Americans. Leaking tanks can present
other health and environmental risks, including the
potential for fire and explosion.
Partners
City of Trenton
-Working with the State <
New Jersey to clean up
petroleum contamination
New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection
-Received USTfields Pilot
designation from EPA and
entered the site into the
state's Voluntary Cleanup
Program
New Jersey Economic
Development Authority
-Manages USTfields funds
used to conduct
investigations
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USTFields PILOTS - NEW JERSEY
Children's Multicultural Museum, YMCA, and Hi-Tech Offices
A 7.2-acre property on Clark Street was part of a massive Roebling & Sons, Inc. complex where
wire rope was manufactured. The City of Trenton purchased the property for redevelopment.
Before the site could be reused, the city had to conduct a groundwater investigation. This
investigation found free product discharged from previously removed underground storage tanks,
and additional work is required to clean up the groundwater contamination. Once these tasks are
completed, the city will begin redevelopment. Currently, the site is earmarked for a children's
multicultural museum, a YMCA facility, and a high-tech office facility.
The city has improved the marketability and redevelopment
prospects of this site with the demolition of several buildings
and the completion of some infrastructure improvements.
Because of the marketing done to date, developers have chosen
to redevelop two of the three buildings on the site.
Challenges
Estimating the cost of cleaning up discharges from the
removed underground storage tanks has been difficult because
the extent of contamination is unknown, but an investigation
will be conducted to determine the level of this contamination.
Once the investigation is completed, USTfields Pilot funds
may be used to clean up the site.
.
• City of Trenton
-Working with the State of
New Jersey to clean up
petroleum contamination
New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection
-Received USTfields Pilot
designation from EPA and
entered the site into the
state's Voluntary Cleanup
Program
New Jersey Economic
Development Authority
-Manages USTfields funds
used to conduct
investigations
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USTFields PILOTS - NEW JERSEY
Parking Lot and HUD Housing
This 2-acre site is owned by the State of New Jersey and is
currently used as a parking lot. Former uses include two
gasoline stations, a coal storage facility, an icehouse, an
automobile dealership, and an auto maintenance shop. The
city is planning to construct housing to be used as part of
Trenton's Homeownership Zone.
Accomplishments
The city conducted a preliminary assessment and geophysical
survey that indicated the presence of six underground storage
tanks on the property. In addition, the city is currently
developing plans for the future use of the site.
Challenges
The removal of the six underground storage tanks on the site
is estimated to cost $60,000. In addition, the cost of
addressing potential discharges from the tanks is mknown.
USTfields Pilots funds do not cover the actual removal of a
non-leaking tank but will help the city pay for the cost of
cleaning up petroleum contamination.
City of Trenton
-Working with the State of
New Jersey to clean up
petroleum contamination
New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection
-Received USTfields Pilot
designation from EPA and
entered the site into the
state's Voluntary Cleanup
Program
New Jersey Housing and
Mortgage Finance Agency
-Assisting in providing funds
to potential homebuyers in
the Homeownership Zone.
U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban
Development
-Planning/managing the
housing to be considered as
part of the Homeownership
Zone.
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USTFields PILOTS - NEW JERSEY
Assunpink Creek Greenway
The following three USTfields Pilot sites are
part of a larger effort by the City of Trenton to
acquire, investigate, and clean up these and
other brownfields properties along the
Assunpink Creek. Once all of the sites are
clean, it is the city's intent to turn the entire
area into a greenway This greenway will be a
corridor of either undisturbed or rehabilitated
land on either side of the creek and will run
the entire length of the creek. This improves
the quality of the water and provides
greenspace for the residents of Trenton.
Site One
This 8-acre site on North Olden Avenue is a former maintenance facility operated by NJ
TRANSIT. It is currently owned by the City of Trenton and NJ TRANSIT, which are planning
to conduct a site investigation to identify underground storage tanks and petroleum
contamination. During previous investigations, fill and vent pipes were found that suggested the
presence of one large underground storage tank on the
property. Discharges from any underground storage tanks Partners
found on the property must be addressed after the city has
completed the removal of the tanks.
Site Two
This 0.5-acre site on North Olden Avenue is owned by the
City of Trenton. It contains a defunct powerhouse and a
small concrete building. The city is planning an investigation
to determine the source of power used at the former power
generation station. A visual investigation of the site indicates
that there are five aboveground steel vessels and several vent
pipes on the property.
Site Three
This 2-acre site on North Olden Avenue is also owned by the
City of Trenton. It is the site of a former wire manufacturing
facility that has been demolished. The city visually
examined the property and did not find underground storage
tanks. It discovered, however, several cut-off steel pipes in
the concrete suggesting the presence of underground storage
tanks.
City of Trenton
-Working with the State of
New Jersey to clean up
petroleum contamination
New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection
-Received USTfields Pilot
designation from EPA and
entered the site into the
state's Voluntary Cleanup
Program
New Jersey Economic
Development Authority
-Manages USTfields funds
used to conduct
investigations
U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers
-Conducting the
investigations of the sites
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USTFields PILOTS - NEW JERSEY
Accomplishments
This greenway project benefits communities in Trenton and helps private organizations that are
seeking to protect and rehabilitate the Assunpink Creek and its surrounding environment. The
City of Trenton and the State of New Jersey are creating a positive effect not only in the pilot
communities but also along the entire 25-mile creek. The greenway project is helping to
establish a precedent for cooperation among federal, state, local, and citizen organizations to
clean up and reuse brownfields.
Challenges
The most significant challenge at these sites is estimating costs for environmental remediation,
including the removal of underground storage tanks, and addressing potential discharges. The
removal processes have the potential to be expensive. Cleanup costs depend in part on the
number of tanks as well as the size and condition of the tanks. USTfields Pilot funds do not
cover the actual removal of non-leaking tanks but will help the city pay for the cost of cleaning
up petroleum contamination at these sites.
Contacts
New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection
Terri Smith
(609) 292-1250
TSMITH3@dep. state, nj. us
U.S. EPA Region 2
Ben Singh
(212) 637-4237
singh.ben@epa.gov
For more information
about USTfields Pilots, visit
the EPA Web site at
www.epa.gov/oust/ustfield
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