EPAANNOUNCES RESULTS OF
ADDITIONAL SAMPLING FOR LEAD AND
WORK COMPLETED TO SECURE BEACH
AND SEAWALL AT RARITAN BAY SITE
Community Update June 2009
The NJDHSS, in cooperation
with ATSDR, has deter-
mined that portions of the
Raritan Bay Slag site pose a
Public Health Hazard and
recommend restricted access
to the seawall and a beach in
Laurence Harbor and a jetty
in Sayreville.
QUESTIONS? Please Contact
Community Involvement
ft -•* JL
Coordinator
Pat Seppi
212-637-3679
seppi.pat@epa.gov
On-Scene Coordinator:
Andrew Confortini
732-906-6827
confortini.andrew@epa.gov
Visit EPA's Web site at:
www. epa. gov/region02/ superfund
DEFINITIONS:
Removal Action - a short-term action
taken under the Superfund Program to ad-
dress a release or threat of release of a haz-
ardous substance that may present an im-
minent and substantial danger to the public
health or welfare, or the environment.
Slag - a by-product of processing rocks to
extract minerals such as lead.
INITIAL SAMPLING EFFORT
EPA has been evaluating the Raritan Bay Slag site for a Superfund
Removal Action. Samples were collected at the site in September
2008. The sampling included the collection of soil, sediment, wa-
er, biological, and waste samples along the seawall in Laurence
Harbor, the western jetty at the Cheesequake Creek Inlet, and the
>eaches and park area situated near these two locations. Analytical
results indicate that significantly elevated levels of lead and other
leavy metals are present in the soils, beach sand, and sediment, in
and around both the seawall in Laurence Harbor and the western
etty at the Cheesequake Creek Inlet. Lead was also identified on
he first beach between the western end of the seawall and the first
etty in Old Bridge Waterfront Park. Based on the results of the
sampling, the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Ser-
vices (NJDHSS) in conjunction with the Agency for Toxic Sub-
stances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), has determined that por-
tions of the Raritan Bay Slag site pose a Public Health Hazard and
recommend restricted access to the seawall and a beach in Laur-
ence Harbor and a jetty in Sayreville.
The results of the biota sampling have confirmed the presence of
Head in clams, mussels, forage fish and sea lettuce. The potential
nmpact of the concentrations identified are currently under evalua-
www.epa.gov/regi
tion by marine biologists.
ADDITIONAL SAMPLING EFFORT
[n late April 2009, EPA conducted additional beach and sediment
sampling along additional sections of shoreline. Approximately
300 soil, sediment and water samples were collected. The results
obtained from this event are pending final evaluation. EPA also
collected samples of battery casing material from two Old Bridge
)eaches and the western jetty along Cheesequake Creek Inlet. The
concentrations identified range from 1.7 to 170 ppm. The results
confirmed lead levels to be very low.
[n late April 2009, E PA and its marine team conducted extensive
sonar and dive investigations within the Cheesequake Creek Inlet.
The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether slag
material from the jetty was present within the waterway and collect
sediment samples if present. The investigation did not identify
on02/superfund/npl/raritanbayslag
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any large pieces of slag material within the waterway. The investigation determined that much of the
inlet bottom was primarily gravel covered and free of fine sediments which could be sampled. Where
sediments were observed, samples were collected. The results confirm the presence of an elevated lead
level at one location along the base of the jetty.
In late April 2009, EPA and its contractors completed the installation of a security fence prohibiting ac-
cess to the western jetty along the Cheesequake Creek Inlet in Sayreville. This work involved the instal-
lation of 425 linear feet of chain link fence.
In mid-June 2009, EPA and its contractors completed the installation of the chain-link fence along the
Old Bridge Waterfront Park beach, park area and along Rt. 35. Installation of the fence and appropriate
signage was completed during this same time-frame.
In April 2009, the Raritan Bay Slag site was proposed for inclusion on the National Priorities List
(NPL). The NPL is a list of the worst hazardous waste sites that have been identified by Superfund.
Sites are only put on the list after they have been scored using the Hazard Ranking System, and have
been subjected to public comment. Any site on the NPL is eligible for cleanup using Superfund Trust
money. The comment period for the Raritan Bay Slag site ended on June 8, 2009. The determination on
whether the site will be finalized is pending and we should have an answer within the next few months.
HISTORY/BACKGROUND INFO:
The Raritan Bay Slag site is located in the Laurence Harbor section of Old Bridge and in Sayreville
along the Raritan Bay. The overall site spans approximately 1.3 miles in length and consists of the wa-
terfront area between Margaret's Creek and the area just beyond the western jetty at the Cheesequake
Creek Inlet. The portion of the site that is in Laurence Harbor is part of what is now called Old Bridge
Waterfront Park. Lead slag, reportedly in the form of blast furnace pot bottoms, was deposited along the
beachfront in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The other portion of the site that is in Sayreville is located
on, and adjacent to, the western jetty at the Cheesequake Creek Inlet. The slag on the jetty is similar in
appearance to that which is present on the seawall. Crushed battery casings are also evident on the jetty.
The Raritan Bay Slag site is part of a larger effort which includes the area around Margaret's Creek, an
area in which the NJDEP discovered lead-contaminated material.
US EPA Region 2 has designated an Ombudsman as a point-of-contact f or community concerns and
questions about the federal Superfund program in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the US Vir-
gin Islands. To support this effort, the Agency has established a 24-hour, toll-free number that the pub-
lic can call to request information, express their concerns or register complaints about Superfund. The
ombudsman for EPA's Region 2 office is:
George H. Zachos
US EPA, Region 2
2890 Woodbridge Avenue, MS-211
Edison, New Jersey
(732)321-6621
Toll free (888) 283-7626
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