EPA/ROD/R02-91/157
1991
EPA Superfund
Record of Decision:
NAVAL AIR ENGINEERING CENTER
EPA ID: NJ7170023744
OU 04
LAKEHURST, NJ
09/30/1991

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CONSTANTINE SIDAMON-ERISTOFF
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR
US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, REGION II
(DATE) 3 SEPT. 1991
#SD
SITE DESCRIPTION
NAEC IS LOCATED IN JACKSON AND MANCHESTER TOWNSHIPS, OCEAN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, APPROXIMATELY 14 MILES INLAND
FROM THE ATLANTIC OCEAN (FIGURE 1). NAEC IS APPROXIMATELY 7,400 ACRES AND IS BORDERED BY ROUTE 547 TO THE
EAST, THE FORT DIX MILITARY RESERVATION TO THE WEST, WOODLAND TO THE NORTH (PORTIONS OF WHICH ARE WITHIN
COLLIERS MILL WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA), LAKEHURST BOROUGH AND WOODLAND, INCLUDING THE MANCHESTER WILDLIFE
MANAGEMENT AREA, TO THE SOUTH. NAEC AND THE SURROUNDING AREA ARE LOCATED WITHIN THE PINELANDS NATIONAL
RESERVE, THE MOST EXTENSIVE UNDEVELOPED LAND TRACT OF THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC SEABOARD.
NAEC LIES WITHIN THE OUTER COASTAL PLAIN PHYSIOGRAPHIC PROVINCE, WHICH IS CHARACTERIZED BY GENTLY ROLLING
TERRAIN WITH MINIMAL RELIEF.
SURFACE ELEVATIONS WITHIN NAEC RANGE FROM A LOW OF APPROXIMATELY 60 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL IN THE
EAST-CENTRAL PART OF THE BASE, TO A HIGH OF APPROXIMATELY 190 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL IN THE SOUTHWESTERN
PART OF THE BASE. MAXIMUM RELIEF OCCURS IN THE SOUTHWESTERN PART OF THE BASE BECAUSE OF ITS PROXIMITY TO THE
MORE ROLLING TERRAIN OF THE INNER COASTAL PLAIN. SURFACE SLOPES ARE GENERALLY LESS THAN FIVE PERCENT.
NAEC LIES WITHIN THE TOMS RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN. THE BASIN IS RELATIVELY SMALL (191 SQUARE MILES) AND THE
RESIDENCE TIME FOR SURFACE DRAINAGE WATERS IS SHORT. DRAINAGE FROM NAEC DISCHARGES TO THE RIDGEWAY BRANCH TO
THE NORTH AND TO THE BLACK AND UNION BRANCHES TO THE SOUTH. ALL THREE STREAM DISCHARGE INTO THE TOMS RIVER.
SEVERAL HEADWATER TRIBUTARIES TO THESE BRANCHES ORIGINATE AT NAEC. NORTHERN TRIBUTARIES TO THE RIDGEWAY
BRANCH INCLUDE THE ELISHA, SUCCESS, HARRIS AND OBHANAN RIDGEWAY BRANCHES. THE SOUTHERN TRIBUTARIES TO THE
BLACK AND UNION BRANCHES INCLUDE THE NORTH RUCKLES AND MIDDLE RUCKLES BRANCHES AND MANAPAQUA BROOK. THE
RIDGEWAY AND UNION BRANCHES THEN FEED PINE LAKE APPROXIMATELY 2.5 MILES EAST OF NAEC BEFORE JOINING TOMS
RIVER. STORM DRAINAGE FROM NAEC IS DIVIDED BETWEEN THE NORTH AND SOUTH, DISCHARGING INTO THE RIDGEWAY
BRANCH AND UNION BRANCH, RESPECTIVELY. THE PAINT BRANCH LOCATED IN THE EAST-CENTRAL PART OF THE BASE IS A
RELATIVELY SMALL STREAM WHICH FEEDS THE MANAPAQUA BROOK.
THREE SMALL WATER BODIES ARE LOCATED IN THE WESTERN PORTION OF NAEC: BASS LAKE, CLUBHOUSE LAKE, AND PICKEREL
POND. NAEC ALSO CONTAINS OVER 1,300 ACRES OF FLOOD-PRONE AREAS, OCCURRING PRIMARILY IN THE SOUTH-CENTRAL
PART OF THE BASE, AND APPROXIMATELY 1,300 ACRES OF PRIME AGRICULTURAL LAND IN THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE
BASE.
THERE ARE 913 ACRES ON THE EASTERN PORTION OF NAEC THAT LIE WITHIN MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP AND THE REMAINING
ACREAGE IS IN JACKSON TOWNSHIP. THE COMBINED POPULATION OF LAKEHURST BOROUGH, MANCHESTER AND JACKSON
TOWNSHIPS, IS APPROXIMATELY 65,400, FOR AN AREA OF APPROXIMATELY 185 SQUARE MILES. THE AVERAGE POPULATION
DENSITY OF MANCHESTER AND JACKSON TOWNSHIPS IS 169 PERSONS PER SQUARE MILE, WHEREAS THE DENSITY OF LAKEHURST
BOROUGH IS 3,061 PERSONS PER SQUARE MILE.
THE AREAS SURROUNDING NAEC ARE, IN GENERAL, NOT HEAVILY DEVELOPED. THE CLOSEST COMMERCIAL AREA IS LOCATED
NEAR THE SOUTHEASTERN SECTION OF THE CENTER IN THE BOROUGH OF LAKEHURST. THIS IS PRIMARILY A RESIDENTIAL
AREA WITH SOME SHOPS BUT NO INDUSTRY. TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH ARE STATE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS WHICH ARE
ESSENTIALLY UNDEVELOPED. ADJACENT TO AND SOUTH OF NAEC ARE COMMERCIAL CRANBERRY BOGS, THE DRAINAGE FROM
WHICH CROSSES THE SOUTHEAST SECTION OF NAEC PROPERTY. NAEC IS BORDERED TO THE WEST BY FORT DIX MILITARY
RESERVATION.
FOR THE COMBINED AREA OF MANCHESTER AND JACKSON TOWNSHIPS, APPROXIMATELY 41 PERCENT OF THE LAND IS VACANT
(UNDEVELOPED), 57 PERCENT IS RESIDENTIAL, ONE PERCENT IS COMMERCIAL AND THE REMAINING ONE PERCENT IS
INDUSTRIAL OR FARMED. FOR LAKEHURST BOROUGH, 83 PERCENT OF THE LAND IS RESIDENTIAL, 11 PERCENT IS VACANT,
AND THE REMAINING SIX PERCENT COMMERCIALLY DEVELOPED.

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IN THE LOCAL VICINITY OF THE NAEC, WATER IS GENERALLY SUPPLIED TO THE POPULACE BY MUNICIPAL SUPPLY WELLS.
SOME PRIVATE WELLS EXIST BUT THESE ARE USED PRIMARILY FOR IRRIGATION AND NOT AS A SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER.
IN LAKEHURST BOROUGH THERE IS A WELL FIELD CONSISTING OF SEVEN 50-FOOT DEEP WELLS, LOCATED APPROXIMATELY
TWO-THIRDS OF A MILE SOUTH OF THE EASTERN PORTION OF NAEC. THREE OF THE SEVEN WELLS (FOUR OF THE WELLS ARE
RARELY OPERATED) ARE PUMPED AT AN AVERAGE RATE OF 70 TO 90 GALLONS PER MINUTE AND SUPPLY DRINKING WATER FOR A
POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 3,000. JACKSON TOWNSHIP OPERATES ONE SUPPLY WELL IN THE LEGLER AREA,
APPROXIMATELY ONE-QUARTER MILE NORTH OF THE NAEC, WHICH SUPPLIES WATER TO VERY SMALL POPULATION (PROBABLY
LESS THAN 1,000) IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE NAEC.
SITE 28 (FIGURE 1A AND 2) IS APPROXIMATELY 2,800 FEET FROM THE SOUTHERN BOUNDARY OF NAEC. THREE NON-POTABLE
WATER SUPPLY WELLS (SW-13, SW-14, AND SW-15) ARE PRESENT AT THE SITE. THERE IS A SHALLOW GROUND WATER TABLE
AT SITE 28 AT A DEPTH OF APPROXIMATELY 7 TO 9 FEET. GROUNDWATER AT THE SITE FLOWS IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION
TOWARD PAINT BRANCH. THE PAINT BRANCH, WHICH FLOWS IN A SOUTHEASTERLY DIRECTION, IS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY
300 FEET NORTHEAST OF THE SITE. MOST OF THE GROUNDWATER FLOWS UNDER PAINT BRANCH IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION.
ACCORDING TO AVAILABLE INFORMATION (WETLAND AND FLOODPLAIN DELINEATIONS BY THE US FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE
AND THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS RESPECTIVELY) SITE 28 IS LOCATED IN AN UPLAND AREA. THERE ARE NO WETLAND
AREAS IMMEDIATELY DOWN GRADIENT OF THE SITE.
#SH
SITE HISTORY
THE HISTORY OF THE SITE DATES BACK TO 1916, WHEN THE EDDYSTONE CHEMICAL COMPANY LEASED FROM THE MANCHESTER
LAND DEVELOPMENT COMPANY PROPERTY TO DEVELOP AN EXPERIMENTAL FIRING RANGE FOR THE TESTING OF CHEMICAL
ARTILLERY SHELLS. TESTING WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN COOPERATION AND AGREEMENT WITH THE RUSSIAN IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT
UNTIL ITS FALL IN 1919. AT THAT TIME, THE US ARMY ASSUMED CONTROL OF CHEMICAL WARFARE TESTING BY THE
EDDYSTONE CHEMICAL COMPANY AND NAMED THE AREA CAMP KENDRICK. BY THE EARLY FALL OF 1919, CONSTRUCTION OF
HANGAR NO. 1 FOR THE NAVY HAD COMMENCED. CAMP KENDRICK WAS TURNED OVER TO THE NAVY AND FORMALLY COMMISSIONED
NAVAL AIR STATION (NAS), LAKEHURST, NEW JERSEY ON JUNE 28, 1921. NAEC WAS MOVED FROM THE NAVAL BASE,
PHILADELPHIA TO LAKEHURST IN DECEMBER 1974. AT THAT TIME, NAEC BECAME THE HOST ACTIVITY, THUS, THE NEW NAME
NAEC LAKEHURST.
CURRENTLY, NAEC'S MISSION IS TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS OF RESEARCH, ENGINEERING, DEVELOPMENT TESTING AND
EVALUATION, SYSTEMS INTEGRATION, LIMITED PRODUCTION, PROCUREMENT AND FLEET ENGINEERING SUPPORT IN THE
FOLLOWING AREAS: AIRCRAFT LAUNCHING, RECOVERY, AND LANDING AID SYSTEMS, GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT FOR AIRCRAFT
AND FOR AIRBORNE WEAPONS SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE, OPERATE AND MAINTAIN TEST SITES, FACILITIES, AND SUPPORT
SERVICES FOR TESTS OF THE ABOVE SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT AND CONDUCT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF EQUIPMENT AND
INSTRUMENTATION USED IN TESTS. NAEC SUPPORTS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) STANDARDIZATION AND SPECIFICATION
PROGRAMS, PROVIDES SERVICES AND MATERIAL, OPERATES AND MAINTAINS AVIATION AND OTHER FACILITIES IN SUPPORT OF
ASSIGNED PROGRAMS.
NAEC AND ITS TENANT ACTIVITIES NOW OCCUPY MORE THAN 300 BUILDINGS, BUILT BETWEEN 1919 AND 1979, TOTALING OVER
2,845,000 SQUARE FEET. THE COMMAND ALSO OPERATES AND MAINTAINS: TWO 5,000 FOOT LONG RUNWAYS, A 12,000 FOOT
LONG CATAPULT AND ARREST RUNWAY, ONE MILE LONG JET CAR TEST TRACK, FOUR ONE AND ONE-QUARTER MILE LONG JET CAR
TEST TRACKS, A PARACHUTE JUMP CIRCLE, A 79 ACRE GOLF COURSE, AND A 3,500 ACRE CONSERVATION AREA.
THE VARIOUS OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES AT NAEC REQUIRED THE USE, HANDLING, STORAGE AND OCCASIONALLY THE
ON-SITE DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES. DURING THE OPERATIONAL PERIOD OF THE FACILITY, THERE HAVE BEEN
DOCUMENTED, REPORTED OR SUSPECTED RELEASES OF THESE SUBSTANCES INTO THE ENVIRONMENT.
INITIAL INVESTIGATIONS:
AS PART OF THE DOD INSTALLATION RESTORATION PROGRAM, THE NAVY DEVELOPED THE NAVY ASSESSMENT AND CONTROL OF
INSTALLATION POLLUTANTS (NACIP) PROGRAM TO "IDENTIFY, ASSESS AND CONTROL ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION FROM
PAST METHODS OF STORAGE, HANDLING, AND DISPOSAL OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AT NAVAL SHORE FACILITIES".
AS PART OF THE NACIP PROGRAM, AN INITIAL ASSESSMENT STUDY (IAS) WAS COMPLETED IN 1983 BY THE NAVAL ENERGY AND
ENVIRONMENTAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY (NEESA) AT NAEC. THE PURPOSE OF THE IAS WAS TO "IDENTIFY AND ASSESS SITES

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POSING A POTENTIAL THREAT TO HUMAN HEALTH OR THE ENVIRONMENT DUE TO CONTAMINATION FROM PAST HAZARDOUS
MATERIALS OPERATIONS".
BASED ON INFORMATION FROM HISTORICAL RECORDS, AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS, FIELD INSPECTIONS, AND PERSONNEL
INTERVIEWS, THE IAS IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 44 POTENTIALLY CONTAMINATED SITES, WHICH WERE EVALUATED WITH REGARD
TO CONTAMINATION CHARACTERISTICS, MIGRATION PATHWAYS, AND POLLUTANT RECEPTORS. THE IAS CONCLUDED THAT "WHILE
NONE OF THE SITES POSE AN IMMEDIATE THREAT TO HUMAN HEALTH OR THE ENVIRONMENT, 16 WARRANT FURTHER
INVESTIGATION UNDER THE NACIP PROGRAM, TO ASSESS POTENTIAL IMPACTS". A REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION (RI)
(CONFIRMATION STUDY) WAS RECOMMENDED "TO CONFIRM OR DENY THE EXISTENCE OF THE SUSPECTED CONTAMINATION AND TO
QUANTIFY THE EXTENT OF ANY PROBLEMS WHICH MAY EXIST". FOLLOWING FURTHER REVIEW OF AVAILABLE DATA BY NAVY
PERSONNEL, IT WAS DECIDED THAT 42 OF THE 44 SITES SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION. TWO
POTENTIALLY CONTAMINATED SITES - AN ORDNANCE SITE (SITE 41) AND AN ADVANCED UNDERGROUND STORAGE FACILITY
(SITE 43), WERE DELETED FROM THE REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION BECAUSE THEY HAD ALREADY BEEN REMEDIATED.
NAEC WAS DESIGNATED IN 1987 AS A NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST (NPL) SITE UNDER CERCLA.
ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS/FEASIBILITY STUDY:
NAEC'S REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION (RI) WAS CONDUCTED IN TWO PHASES. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE VERIFICATION PHASE
(PHASE I OF THE RI) WAS INITIATED IN OCTOBER 1984. PHASE II OF THE RI WAS INITIATED IN THE SUMMER OF 1988 TO
(A) CONFIRM THE RESULTS OF THE PHASE I STUDY (FALL 1984), SPECIFICALLY THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF
CONTAMINATION; (B) DETERMINE WHERE CONTAMINATION IS PRESENT, CHARACTERIZE THE EXTENT OF CONTAMINATION, ASSESS
THE POTENTIAL FOR CONTAMINANT MIGRATION AND DEFINE THE SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION; AND (C) SUPPORT A
FEASIBILITY STUDY AND FINAL ACTIONS AT SITES. SEE TABLE 1 FOR A SUMMARY OF THE ANALYTICAL DATA FOR AREA
E - SITE 28.
THE FOLLOWING INVESTIGATIONS AND REMOVAL ACTIONS WERE CONDUCTED AT AREA E - SITE 28 FROM 1981 TO THE PRESENT:
PHASE I AND PHASE II INVESTIGATIONS FOR AREA E - SITE 28:
IN THE EARLY 1980S, TWO MONITORING WELLS (AN AND BU) WERE INSTALLED BY NAEC AND MONITORED ON A REGULAR BASIS
FOR THE PRESENCE OF FREE-FLOATING PRODUCT. A TRACE OF PRODUCT WAS DETECTED IN WELL AN ON JULY 20, 1984. NO
PRODUCT WAS DETECTED IN WELL BU.
DURING PHASE I REMEDIAL INVESTIGATION (FALL 84), NO CONTAMINATION WAS DETECTED IN THE GROUNDWATER SAMPLES
COLLECTED FROM WELL BU AND WELL DT, INSTALLED DOWNGRADIENT FROM THE SITE. LOW LEVELS OF TOLUENE WERE
DETECTED IN A GROUNDWATER SAMPLE COLLECTED FROM SUPPLY WELL SW-15.
DURING THE PHASE II INVESTIGATION (FALL-WINTER 1988), TWO ROUNDS OF SAMPLES WERE COLLECTED FROM MONITORING
WELLS AN, BU AND DT, AND SUPPLY WELL SW-15. ELEVATED LEVELS OF ALKYLBENZENES (BENZENE, TOLUENE, ETHYLBENZENE
AND XYLENES), TYPICAL COMPONENTS OF GASOLINE, WERE DETECTED IN WELL BU. IN ADDITION, LOW LEVELS OF
NAPHTHALENE AND 2-METHYLNAPHTHALENE WERE DETECTED IN THE SAME WELL. TOTAL PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS (PHC) WERE
DETECTED IN THE FIRST ROUND SAMPLE FROM WELL BU AT A CONCENTRATION OF 3.54 MG/L. ELEVATED LEVELS OF VARIOUS
TENTATIVELY IDENTIFIED COMPOUNDS (TICS), PRIMARILY BENZENE SUBSTITUTES, WERE ALSO DETECTED IN WELL BU.
FURTHERMORE, FLOATING PRODUCT, PROBABLY GASOLINE, WAS DETECTED IN THIS WELL. IT WAS SUSPECTED THAT A
POSSIBLE SOURCE OF THE CONTAMINATION WAS OVERFLOW FROM AND/OR SPILLS DURING THE FILLING OF THE NEARBY
300-GALLON GASOLINE TANK.
THE FREE PRODUCT LEVELS IN WELL BU WAS MONITORED IN JANUARY 1990. READINGS INDICATED "TRACE OF PRODUCT" TO
0.34 FEET. A SOIL GAS GROUNDWATER SURVEY (FIGURE 3) WAS CONDUCTED ON AUGUST 6-8, 1990 IN THE VICINITY OF
WELL BU TO ASSESS THE HORIZONTAL EXTENT OF VOC CONTAMINATION, AND IDENTIFY THE SOURCE OF THE FLOATING PRODUCT
THAT WAS OBSERVED IN WELL BU. THE RESULTS OF THE SOIL GAS/GROUNDWATER SURVEY (SUMMARIZED IN TABLES 2 AND 3
AND DEPICTED IN FIGURE 3 THROUGH 12), SHOWED THAT THE SOIL AND GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION BY GASOLINE
COMPONENTS APPEARED TO EXTEND AT LEAST 150 FEET DOWNGRADIENT (IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION) FROM
WELL BU.
ON AUGUST, 1990, NAEC CONDUCTED A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION TO VERIFY THE SOURCE OF THE GASOLINE THAT WAS

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DETECTED IN WELL BU. A SMALL AREA OF SOIL WAS EXCAVATED TO A DEPTH OF ABOUT 2 FEET ALONG THE NORTHWESTERN
SIDE OF BUILDING 308 TO EXPOSE A COPPER GASOLINE PIPE RUNNING FROM THE ABOVE GROUND GASOLINE TANK INTO THE
BUILDING. A GASOLINE LEAK WAS OBSERVED AT ONE OF THE PIPE COUPLINGS WHICH APPARENTLY WAS THE SOURCE OF
FLOATING PRODUCT AND DISSOLVED CONTAMINANTS DETECTED IN WELL BU. THE LEAK WAS REPAIRED AND APPROXIMATELY
FOUR DRUMS OF VISUALLY CONTAMINATED SOIL WERE REMOVED.
DURING THE PERIOD AUGUST 9 THROUGH AUGUST 13, AND FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THE SOIL GAS/GROUNDWATER
INVESTIGATION, A SERIES OF EIGHT TEST PITS WERE DUG IN THE AREA NORTHEAST OF BUILDING 308 TO VERIFY THE
PRESENCE OF SOIL GAS CONTAMINANTS. BASED ON OBSERVATIONS MADE IN THESE PITS, SOIL WAS EXCAVATED FROM AN AREA
MEASURING APPROXIMATELY 60 FEET LONG, 20 TO 40 FEET WIDE, AND 7 TO 8 FEET DEEP. DURING THE EXCAVATION, ABOUT
65 CUBIC YARDS OF VISUALLY CONTAMINATED SOIL WERE SEGREGATED AND TRANSFERRED TO A NEARBY ON-SITE HAZARDOUS
WASTE STORAGE AREA FOR ULTIMATE DISPOSAL AT AN APPROVED FACILITY. THE VISUALLY CLEAN SOIL WAS STOCKPILED AT
THE PERIMETER OF THE EXCAVATION.
IN APRIL 1991, THE FOCUSED FEASIBILITY STUDY (FFS) FOR AREA E - SITE 28 WAS DISTRIBUTED TO THE UNITED STATES
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (USEPA), REGION II AND THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AND ENERGY (NJDEPE), BUREAU OF FEDERAL CASE MANAGEMENT FOR THEIR REVIEW. THE PROPOSED INTERIM
REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN (PIRAP) WAS FINALIZED BY NAEC AND APPROVED (FINAL CONCURRENCE SUBJECT TO PUBLIC
MEETING AND COMMENTS) BY THE EPA ON JUNE 14 AND THE NJDEPE ON 21 JUNE 1991. THE FINALIZATION OF THE PIRAP
AND PUBLIC NOTIFICATION INITIATED A 30 DAY PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD (JUNE 19 TO JULY 19, 1991) .
HIGHLIGHTS OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
THE AREA E - SITE 28, PROPOSED INTERIM REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN WAS ISSUED TO INTERESTED PARTIES ON JUNE 17,
1991. ON JUNE 17-19, A NEWSPAPER NOTIFICATION INVITING PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE FFS AND PIRAP APPEARED IN THE
ASBURY PARK PRESS, THE OCEAN COUNTY OBSERVER, AND THE ADVANCED NEWS. THE COMMENT PERIOD WAS HELD FROM JUNE 19
TO JULY 19, 1991. THE NEWSPAPER NOTIFICATION ALSO IDENTIFIED THE OCEAN COUNTY LIBRARY AS THE LOCATION OF THE
INFORMATION REPOSITORY.
A PUBLIC HEARING WAS HELD ON JUNE 26, 1991. AT THIS MEETING, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NAVY, USEPA AND NJDEPE
WERE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT AREA E AND THE INTERIM REMEDIAL ALTERNATIVES UNDER CONSIDERATION. A
LIST OF ATTENDEES IS ATTACHED (SEE APPENDIX B).
A RESPONSE TO THE COMMENTS RECEIVED DURING THIS PERIOD IS INCLUDED IN THE RESPONSIVENESS SUMMARY, WHICH IS
PART OF THIS RECORD OF DECISION. THIS DECISION DOCUMENT PRESENTS THE SELECTED REMEDIAL ACTION FOR SITE 28
OF NAEC IN OCEAN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, CHOSEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH CERCLA, AS AMENDED BY SARA AND, TO THE EXTENT
PRACTICABLE, THE NCP. THE DECISION FOR AREA E IS BASED ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD.
SCOPE AND ROLE OF RESPONSE ACTION
THE REMEDIAL OBJECTIVES CONSIST OF MEDIUM-SPECIFIC OR OPERABLE UNIT-SPECIFIC GOALS FOR PROTECTING HUMAN
HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THE REMEDIAL ACTION OBJECTIVES OF THIS RESPONSE ACTION ARE REMOVING RESIDUAL
AMOUNTS OF FREE PRODUCT, RESTRICTING CONTAMINANT PLUME MIGRATION, AND COLLECTING DATA ON AQUIFER AND
CONTAMINANT RESPONSE TO THE INTERIM REMEDIAL RESPONSE CHOSEN.
THE INTERIM REMEDY IS NOT A FINAL ACTION FOR GROUNDWATER OR SOIL. THIS ACTION WILL BE THE FIRST OPERABLE
UNIT (I.E. THE FIRST CLEAN UP PHASE) OF THE REMEDIATION OF AREA E (SITE 28) ON THE NAEC FACILITY. ONE OR
MORE FUTURE RODS WILL ADDRESS THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE WHICH IS DECONTAMINATION TO ACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF ANY
CONTAMINATED MEDIUM, INCLUDING FINAL REMEDIATION OF GROUND WATER. THE INTERIM REMEDY PROPOSED, HOWEVER,
SHOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THOSE OBJECTIVES.
SUMMARY OF AREA CHARACTERISTICS
SITE 28 INCLUDES A FORMER DISPOSAL AREA TO THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF WEST FIELD HANGAR 7 (BUILDING 307), A FORMER
OIL STORAGE SHED (BUILDING 536), AND A FORMER PAINT LOCKER (BUILDING 538). SOLVENTS MAY HAVE ALSO BEEN
STORED IN THESE TWO BUILDING (FIGURE 2). THE STORAGE SHED AND PAINT LOCKER WERE DISMANTLED AND REMOVED IN
THE MID-1980S.

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THE DISPOSAL AREA HAS BEEN COVERED WITH SAND AND GRADED. THE ORIGINAL SITE WAS ABOUT 20 BY 20 FEET AND
DISCOLORED WITH LUBE OIL AND SOLVENTS TO A DEPTH OF 2 TO 3 INCHES. SIMILAR CONDITIONS EXISTED TO THE NORTH
OF HANGAR 7, BY THE EDGE OF THE BLACKTOP. UNKNOWN QUANTITIES OF WASTE OILS, HYDRAULIC FLUIDS, AND SOLVENTS
WERE DISCHARGED IN THIS AREA FROM ABOUT 1957 WHEN THE WESTFIELD HANGAR WAS CONSTRUCTED TO ABOUT 1980. THERE
ARE CURRENTLY FIVE ABOVE-GROUND STEEL STORAGE TANKS AT THE SITE: (1) A 300-GALLON GASOLINE TANK FOR A STANDBY
GENERATOR NEAR BUILDING 308; (2) A 200-GALLON DIESEL TANK FOR A STANDBY GENERATOR NEAR BUILDING 282; (3) ONE
300-GALLON TANK AND ONE 50-GALLON DIESEL TANK FOR STANDBY GENERATORS NEAR BUILDING 307; AND (4) A
20,000-GALLON NO. 2 FUEL OIL TANK LOCATED NEAR BUILDING 308. ALL TANKS ARE WITHIN SECONDARY CONTAINMENTS.
#SSR
SUMMARY OF SITE RISKS
A BASELINE RISK ASSESSMENT WAS NOT CONDUCTED FOR AREA E - SITE 28 FOR THE INTERIM REMEDIAL ACTION. HOWEVER,
BECAUSE FEDERAL MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVELS (MCLS), WHICH ARE GENERALLY RISKED BASED NUMBERS, HAVE BEEN
EXCEEDED FOR SEVERAL CONTAMINANTS, REMEDIAL ACTION IS NECESSARY. A COMPREHENSIVE FEASIBILITY STUDY AND RISK
ASSESSMENT WILL BE PREPARED PRIOR TO THE INITIALIZATION OF THE FINAL REMEDIAL ACTION AT THE SITE. THE RISK
ASSESSMENT WILL CONSIST OF HAZARD IDENTIFICATION, A DOSE-RESPONSE EVALUATION, EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT AND RISK
CHARACTERIZATION. THIS INTERIM ACTION IS BEING IMPLEMENTED TO STOP THE MIGRATION OF THE CONTAMINANT PLUME
AND RESIDUAL FLOATING PRODUCT (ENVIRONMENTAL RISK) FROM AREA E TOWARDS THE PAINT BRANCH, A TRIBUTARY OF THE
MANAPAQUA BROOK WHICH FEEDS PINE LAKE, A MAJOR RECREATIONAL BODY OF WATER IN THE COUNTY. THIS ACTION WILL
LIMIT EXPOSURE RISKS TO NATURAL FAUNA ALONG THE PAINT BRANCH, THE MANAPAQUA BROOK AND THE POPULATION USING
PINE LAKE FOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
TABLE 1 PROVIDES THE HISTORICAL SUMMARY OF ANALYTICAL DATA FOR SITE 28. THE PREDOMINANT VOLATILE ORGANIC
COMPOUNDS (VOCS) FOUND AT SITE 28 CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS OF FUEL:
BENZENE
ETHYLBENZENE
TOLUENE
XYLENES (TOTAL)
THE PRIMARY SEMI-VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS INCLUDE:
2-METHYLNAPHTHALENE
NAPHTHALENE
TOTAL PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS AND TENTATIVELY IDENTIFIED COMPOUNDS (TICS), PRIMARILY BENZENE SUBSTITUTES WERE
ALSO DETECTED IN THE GROUNDWATER AT SITE 28. FIGURES 3 THROUGH 12 SHOWS THE KNOWN EXTENT OF THE
CONTAMINANT PLUME AT SITE 28.
DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVES
ALTERNATIVE 1: NO ACTION
ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COST:	$40,000 (FOR MONITORING WELL
NETWORK)
ESTIMATED NET O&M COST:	$50,000/YR
ESTIMATED IMPLEMENTATION TIME FRAME: N/A
THIS ALTERNATIVE INVOLVES NO ADDITIONAL INTERIM ACTIONS AT SITE 28 OTHER THEN GROUNDWATER MONITORING OF THE
AQUIFER. NO CONTAMINANTS WOULD BE TREATED OR CONTAINED AND THE EXISTING HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS WOULD
REMAIN.
UNDER THIS ALTERNATIVE, NO FURTHER ACTION TO CONTROL GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION WOULD BE TAKEN. LONG-TERM
MONITORING OF THE SITE CAN BE IMPLEMENTED BY USING EXISTING MONITORING WELLS, WHICH MUST BE SUPPLEMENTED BY
ADDITIONAL MONITORING WELLS TO CREATE AN EFFECTIVE MONITORING WELL NETWORK.

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ALTERNATIVE 2: GROUND WATER PUMPING, REMOVAL OF FREE PRODUCT, TREATMENT, RECHARGE AND IN SITU SOIL FLUSHING
ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COST:
ESTIMATED NET O&M COST:
ESTIMATED IMPLEMENTATION TIME FRAME:
TIME FRAME FOR OPERATION OF SYSTEM:
$1,000,000
$ 100,000/YR
9 MONTHS
3 YEARS - AFTER WHICH A FINAL
ACTION FOR GROUNDWATER
REMEDIATION WILL BE INITIATED
THIS ALTERNATIVE INVOLVES PUMPING GROUNDWATER FROM TWO RECOVERY WELLS (50 GPM EACH), TREATMENT AND DISCHARGE
TO THE AQUIFER. DURING THE TEMPERATE MONTHS, THE TREATED EFFLUENT, WHICH WILL MEET NJDEPE GROUNDWATER
DISCHARGE EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS, WILL BE DISCHARGED TO THE AQUIFER VIA A SPRAY IRRIGATION SYSTEM. DURING THE
WINTER MONTHS DISCHARGE OF THE TREATED EFFLUENT WILL OCCUR VIA AN INFILTRATION SYSTEM. THIS IS NECESSARY
SINCE THE DISCHARGE OPTION WILL BE SEASONALLY DEPENDENT UPON CLIMATIC CONDITIONS. IT IS A DESIGN CRITERIA OF
THE RECOVERY SYSTEM THAT THE INFILTRATED/IRRIGATED TREATED WATER BE CONTAINED AS PART OF A CLOSED LOOP
GROUNDWATER SYSTEM.
TO TREAT THE VOLATILE ORGANIC AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS PRESENT IN THE EXTRACTED GROUNDWATER, A TREATMENT SYSTEM
WILL BE CONSTRUCTED AT SITE 28. THE CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER PUMPED FROM THE RECOVERY WELLS WILL ENTER A
TANK WHICH WILL SERVE AS A FLOW EQUALIZER. THE SYSTEM WILL CONSIST OF: (1) A PRETREATMENT UNIT FOR METALS,
FREE PRODUCT AND SOLIDS REMOVAL; (2) AIR STRIPPING COLUMN(S) (99 PERCENT VOC REMOVAL); (3) GRANULAR ACTIVATED
CARBON AIR FILTER FOR AIR STRIPPER EMISSIONS; AND (4) A GRANULAR ACTIVATED CARBON POLISHING FILTER FOR
RESIDUAL VOC AND SEMI-VOLATILE REMOVAL (99.9 PERCENT REMOVAL OF VOCS) FROM TREATED GROUNDWATER. THE
EXTRACTED FREE PRODUCT WILL BE SENT TO A PERMITTED DISPOSAL FACILITY. A SCHEMATIC REPRESENTATION OF
ALTERNATIVE 2 IS SHOWN IN FIGURE 2A.
THE EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS FOR THE INTERIM REMEDIAL ACTION WILL BE ESTABLISHED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEW
JERSEY POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NJPDES) REGULATIONS (NJAC 7:14A-1 ET SEQ.) AND THE NEW JERSEY
GROUNDWATER QUALITY STANDARDS (NJAC 7:9-6 ET SEQ.). THE EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS (MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVELS
(MCLS) AND SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT CRITERIA) WILL BE ISSUED TO NAEC IN THE FORM OF NJPDES DISCHARGE TO
GROUNDWATER (DGW) PERMIT EQUIVALENCE.
ALTERNATIVE 3: GROUND WATER PUMPING, TREATMENT AND DISCHARGE TO SURFACE WATER
ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COST:
ESTIMATED NET O&M COST:
ESTIMATED IMPLEMENTATION TIME FRAME:
TIME FRAME FOR SYSTEM OPERATION:
$ 950,000
$ 100,000/YR
9 MONTHS
3 YEARS - AFTER WHICH A FINAL
ACTION FOR GROUNDWATER WILL BE
INITIATED
THIS ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE SIMILAR TO ALTERNATIVE 2, EXCEPT TREATED GROUNDWATER WOULD BE DISCHARGED VIA PIPING
TO THE PAINT BRANCH INSTEAD OF BEING RECHARGED BACK INTO THE AQUIFER. FREE PRODUCT WOULD BE SENT TO AN
OFFSITE PERMITTED DISPOSAL FACILITY.
SUMMARY OF COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES
THE THREE ALTERNATIVES IDENTIFIED ABOVE WERE EVALUATED USING CRITERIA DERIVED FROM SECTION 300.430 (E9) OF THE
NCP AND SECTION 121 A AMENDED BY SARA OF 1986. THE CRITERIA ARE AS FOLLOWS:
OVERALL PROTECTION OF HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT DRAWS ON THE ASSESSMENTS CONDUCTED UNDER OTHER
EVALUATION CRITERIA AND CONSIDERS HOW THE ALTERNATIVE ADDRESSES SITE RISKS THROUGH TREATMENT, ENGINEERING, OR
INSTITUTIONAL CONTROLS.
COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE OR RELEVANT AND APPROPRIATE REQUIREMENTS (ARARS) EVALUATES THE ABILITY OF AN
ALTERNATIVE TO MEET ARARS ESTABLISHED THROUGH FEDERAL AND STATE STATUTES AND/OR PROVIDES THE BASIS FOR
INVOKING A WAIVER.

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LONG-TERM EFFECTIVENESS AND PERMANENCE EVALUATES THE ABILITY OF AN ALTERNATIVE TO PROVIDE LONG-TERM
PROTECTION OF HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE MAGNITUDE OF RESIDUAL RISK POSED BY UNTREATED WASTES
OR TREATMENT RESIDUALS.
REDUCTION OF TOXICITY MOBILITY OR VOLUME THROUGH TREATMENT EVALUATES AN ALTERNATIVE'S ABILITY TO REDUCE RISKS
THROUGH TREATMENT TECHNOLOGY.
SHORT-TERM EFFECTIVENESS ADDRESSES THE CLEANUP TIME FRAME AND ANY ADVERSE IMPACTS POSED BY THE ALTERNATIVE
DURING THE CONSTRUCTION AND IMPLEMENTATION PHASE, UNTIL CLEANUP GOALS ARE ACHIEVED.
IMPLEMENT ABILITY IS AN EVALUATION OF THE TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY, ADMINISTRATIVE FEASIBILITY, AND AVAILABILITY
OF SERVICES AND MATERIAL REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT THE ALTERNATIVES.
COST INCLUDES AN EVALUATION OF CAPITAL COSTS, ANNUAL OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE COSTS, AND NET PRESENT WORTH
COSTS.
STATE ACCEPTANCE INDICATES THE STATE'S RESPONSE TO THE ALTERNATIVES IN TERMS OF TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
ISSUES AND CONCERNS.
COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE EVALUATES THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS THE PUBLIC MAY HAVE REGARDING THE ALTERNATIVES.
A COMPARATIVE DISCUSSION OF THE THREE ALTERNATIVES ON THE BASIS OF THE EVALUATION CRITERIA PRESENTED ABOVE
FOLLOWS.
ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES
OVERALL PROTECTION - ALTERNATIVE 2, PROVIDES THE GREATEST OVERALL PROTECTION OF HUMAN HEALTH AND THE
ENVIRONMENT THROUGH TREATMENT OF GROUNDWATER AND TO SOME DEGREE SOIL. ALTERNATIVE 3, IS SIMILAR TO
ALTERNATIVE 2, EXCEPT TREATED GROUND WATER IS DISCHARGED TO SURFACE WATER AS OPPOSED TO THE AQUIFER. BY
IMPLEMENTING ALTERNATIVE 3, WATER IS EXTRACTED FROM THE AQUIFER AND DISPOSED OF TO SURFACE WATERS, THE
CURRENT OVERPUMPAGE OF THE COASTAL AQUIFER IS EXACERBATED. ALTERNATIVE 2 IS A CLOSED LOOP SYSTEM IN WHICH
THE AQUIFER IS RECHARGED BY THE TREATED GROUNDWATER. ALTERNATIVE 1, WHICH OFFERS NO SOIL OR GROUND WATER
TREATMENT IS THE LEAST PROTECTIVE ALTERNATIVE.
LONG-TERM EFFECTIVENESS AND PERMANENCE - ALTERNATIVES 2 AND 3 ARE INTERIM ACTIONS AND INTENDED TO BE
SHORT-TERM RESPONSES. THEREFORE, THE LONG TERM EFFECTIVENESS CANNOT BE ADDRESSED. HOWEVER, IF THE INTERIM
REMEDIAL ALTERNATIVE CHOSEN PROVES TO BE EFFECTIVE, IT WILL BE INCORPORATED AND/OR MODIFIED TO BECOME THE
FINAL REMEDIAL ACTION. ALTERNATIVE 1 PROVIDES NO TREATMENT AND IS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE EFFECTIVE.
REDUCTION OF TOXICITY, MOBILITY OR VOLUME - IN ALTERNATIVES 2 AND 3, THE VAPOR AND AQUEOUS PHASE CARBON
SYSTEMS WILL CAPTURE BY ADSORPTION VOLATILE AND SEMI-VOLATILE COMPOUNDS, HENCE THE MOBILITY AND TOXICITY OF
GROUNDWATER CONTAMINANTS WILL BE REDUCED BY THE REMOVAL OF THESE COMPOUNDS. DESTRUCTION OF CONTAMINANTS WILL
OCCUR DURING THE REGENERATION OF CARBON AT AN OFF-SITE FACILITY. ALTERNATIVE 1 OFFERS NO TREATMENT OF THE
CONTAMINATED MEDIA.
SHORT-TERM EFFECTIVENESS - INTERIM REMEDIAL ACTION ALTERNATIVES 2 AND 3 IN THE SHORT-TERM WILL HALT THE
SPREAD OF CONTAMINATED GROUND WATER AND RESIDUAL AMOUNTS OF FLOATING PRODUCT. THEY WILL ALSO STOP THE
MIGRATION OF THE CONTAMINANT PLUME AND RESIDUAL AMOUNTS OF FLOATING PRODUCT FROM ENTERING THE PAINT BRANCH.
ALTERNATIVE 2 HAS THE ADDED BENEFIT OF FLUSHING THE SOIL OF SOME CONTAMINANTS (IN AREAS WHERE TREATED WATER
IS BEING RECHARGED) AND INCREASING THE HYDRAULIC GRADIENT, THUS SPEEDING UP THE REMEDIATION PROCESS. IN
ALTERNATIVE 3, TREATED GROUND WATER IS RECHARGED INTO THE PAINT BRANCH, NO SOIL FLUSHING ACTION TAKES PLACE.
ALTERNATIVE 1 PROVIDES NO TREATMENT OF SOIL OR GROUNDWATER AND IS NOT CONSIDERED TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THE
SHORT-TERM BECAUSE RESIDUAL RISKS ARE NOT REDUCED.
IMPLEMENT ABILITY - ALTERNATIVE 1 OFFERS THE GREATEST IMPLEMENT ABILITY FOLLOWED BY ALTERNATIVE 2, AND 3 WHICH
INVOLVES CONVENTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES WITH PROVEN RELIABILITY.

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COST - ALTERNATIVE 1, THE NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE, HAS THE LOWEST ASSOCIATED COST. ALTERNATIVES 2 AND 3 HAVE A
CAPITAL COST OF ABOUT $1,000,000 AND O & M COSTS OF $100,000/YEAR. ALTERNATIVE 3 HAS A SLIGHTLY LOWER
CAPITAL COST OF APPROXIMATELY $950,000 SINCE THERE IS NO COST ASSOCIATED WITH THE INFILTRATION SYSTEM.
INSTEAD, THERE IS CONSTRUCTION OF A PIPING AND PUMP SYSTEM FROM THE TREATMENT BUILDING TO THE PAINT BRANCH.
O & M COST IS THE SAME.
COMPLIANCE WITH ARARS - ACTION SPECIFIC ARARS ARE NOT APPLICABLE TO ALTERNATIVE 1, AS THE "NO ACTION"
ALTERNATIVE. ALTERNATIVES 2 AND 3 WILL COMPLY WITH ACTION-SPECIFIC ARARS SUCH AS OSHA, RCRA, ENDANGERED
SPECIES, CLEAN AIR AND WATER ACTS. STATE AND FEDERAL ACTION AND CONTAMINANT SPECIFIC ARARS WHICH INCLUDE
SURFACE WATER, GROUNDWATER AND AIR DISCHARGE LIMITATIONS, AS WELL AS HAZARDOUS WASTE HANDLING REQUIREMENTS,
WILL BE COMPLIED WITH DURING THE INTERIM REMEDIAL ACTION.
BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED FOCUS OF THIS PROPOSED INTERIM ACTION, CONTAMINANT-SPECIFIC CLEAN-UP LEVELS FOR
GROUNDWATER HAVE NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR ALTERNATIVES 2 AND 3. THESE LEVELS WILL BE IDENTIFIED AND MET WHEN
A FINAL REMEDIAL ACTION IS CHOSEN FOR SITE 28. TREATMENT RESIDUALS WILL BE TESTED TO DETERMINE WHETHER RCRA
LAND DISPOSAL RESTRICTIONS APPLY FOR ALTERNATIVES 2 AND 3. LOCATION-SPECIFIC ARARS WHICH WILL INCLUDE
AQUIFER AND FACILITY GROUNDWATER REMEDIATION ISSUES WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THE FINAL REMEDY. THE NEW JERSEY
POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NJPDES) DISCHARGE TO GROUNDWATER (DGW) PERMIT EQUIVALENCE WILL BE
APPLIED FOR TO IRRIGATE AND INFILTRATE THE TREATED GROUNDWATER. THE TREATED WATER WILL MEET THE NJDEPE
GROUNDWATER DISCHARGE EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS AS SET FORTH IN THE PERMIT EQUIVALENCE.
STATE ACCEPTANCE - THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE (ALTERNATIVE 2) IS ACCEPTABLE TO THE NJDEPE.
COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE - COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE OF THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE HAS BEEN EVALUATED ON THE BASIS OF
PUBLIC COMMENTS AND IS DESCRIBED IN THE RESPONSIVENESS SUMMARY OF THIS RECORD OF DECISION.
#SR
SEIiECTED INTERIM REMEDY
THE FOLLOWING SECTION DESCRIBES IN DETAIL THE INTERIM REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN WHICH THE NAVAL AIR ENGINEERING
CENTER, IN CONCURRENCE WITH THE USEPA AND NJDEPE, HAS SELECTED TO IMPLEMENT AT AREA E - SITE 28. THIS
SELECTION IS IDENTICAL TO THAT PRESENTED IN THE PROPOSED INTERIM REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN. BECAUSE THIS IS AN
INTERIM ACTION, CHANGES COULD BE IMPLEMENTED DURING THE FINAL DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PROCESSES. SUCH
CHANGES REFLECT MODIFICATIONS RESULTING FROM THE ENGINEERING DESIGN PROCESS AND WILL NOT SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGE
THE INTENT OF THE SELECTED ALTERNATIVE DESCRIBED HEREIN.
THE SELECTED INTERIM REMEDIAL ACTION IS ALTERNATIVE 2 - GROUNDWATER PUMPING, REMOVAL OF FREE PRODUCT,
TREATMENT, RECHARGE AND IN SITU SOIL FLUSHING. THIS ALTERNATIVE WILL ADDRESS GROUNDWATER TREATMENT AND
PRODUCT EXTRACTION SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE ALTERNATIVE IS COST EFFECTIVE AND IMPLEMENTS PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES.
GROUNDWATER AND RESIDUAL AMOUNTS OF FREE PRODUCT WILL BE EXTRACTED VIA TWO WELLS AT A RATE OF 100 GPM. THE
EXTRACTED WATER WILL BE HELD IN A FLOW EQUALIZATION TANK AND THEN PRETREATED TO REMOVE METALS, FREE PRODUCT
AND SOLIDS. THE PRETREATMENT SYSTEM WILL CONSIST OF USING A CAUSTIC SOLUTION AND A FLOCCULENT TO PRECIPITATE
AND SETTLE SOLIDS AND METALS FROM THE CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER. THE EXTRACTED FREE PRODUCT WILL BE SENT TO
A PERMITTED OFF-SITE DISPOSAL FACILITY. NAEC WILL COMPLY WITH NJ HAZARDOUS WASTE REGULATIONS. THE
PRETREATED WATER WILL BE AIR STRIPPED TO REMOVE 99.0 PERCENT OF VOCS. DUE TO THE TRANSFER OF CONTAMINANTS
FROM THE AQUEOUS PHASE TO THE AIRSTREAM, EMISSIONS CONTROL UNITS WILL BE REQUIRED ON THE AIR STRIPPERS. THE
TREATMENT SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE EMISSION CONTROL UNIT WILL BE DESIGNED TO MEET THE SUBSTANTIVE REQUIREMENTS
OF THE NEW JERSEY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL REGULATIONS (NJAC 7:27-16). THE AIR AND LIQUID EFFLUENT STREAMS FROM
THE AIR STRIPPER WILL BE TREATED BY GRANULATED ACTIVATED CARBON FILTERS PRIOR TO DISCHARGE. RESIDUAL
SLUDGE FROM THE PRETREATMENT PROCESS WILL BE TESTED TO DETERMINE IF THE WASTE IS HAZARDOUS AND IF RCRA LAND
DISPOSAL RESTRICTIONS ARE APPLICABLE. THE WASTE WILL BE HANDLED ACCORDINGLY. SPENT GRANULAR ACTIVATED
CARBON WILL BE SENT TO THE VENDOR FOR REGENERATION.
ONCE TREATED, THE GROUNDWATER WILL MEET FEDERAL AND STATE DRINKING WATER STANDARDS (NJAC 7:14A-1.1 ET SEQ.)
INCLUDING MCLS AND SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT CRITERIA WHICH ARE THE DISCHARGE EFFLUENT CRITERIA FOR THIS
LIMITED ACTION. RECHARGE TO THE AQUIFER WILL OCCUR THROUGH AN IRRIGATION AND INFILTRATION SYSTEM. THE

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TREATED WATER WILL BE SPRAY IRRIGATED OVER AREAS OF SUBSURFACE SOIL CONTAMINATION. THIS ACTION WILL
INCREASE BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY PROMOTING CONTAMINANT DECOMPOSITION.
THE GROUNDWATER CLASSIFICATION FOR THE IMMEDIATE NAEC AREA IS CENTRAL PINE BARRENS GW1. THE GROUNDWATER IS
SUITABLE FOR POTABLE WATER SUPPLY, AGRICULTURAL WATER SUPPLY, CONTINUAL REPLENISHMENT OF SURFACE WATERS TO
MAINTAIN THE EXISTING QUANTITY OF THE SURFACE WATERS IN THE CENTRAL PINE BARRENS, AND OTHER REASONABLE USES
QUALITY CRITERIA FOR THESE WATERS MAY BE FOUND IN NJAC 7:9-5.6.
THE REMEDIAL ACTION IN THE SHORT-TERM WILL HALT THE SPREAD OF CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER AND RESIDUAL AMOUNTS
OF FLOATING PRODUCT FROM ENTERING ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREAS.
THIS INTERIM REMEDIAL ACTION WILL BE IMPLEMENTED UNTIL THE FINAL REMEDY IS SELECTED, DESIGNED AND
IMPLEMENTED. IF THE INTERIM REMEDY PROVES TO BE EFFECTIVE, IT WILL BE INCORPORATED AND/OR MODIFIED TO
THE FINAL REMEDIAL ACTION. THE FINAL REMEDY FOR THE SITE WILL ADDRESS THE LOCATION SPECIFIC ARARS FOR
PINELANDS AS SET FORTH IN NJAC 7:9-5.6. TO THE EXTENT THAT THESE ARARS ARE RECOGNIZED BY THE USEPA AND
NJDEPE.
STATUTORY DETERMINATIONS
UNDER SECTION 121 OF CERCLA AND SECTION 300.430(F5) OF THE NCP, SELECTED REMEDIES MUST MEET CERTAIN STATUTORY
AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS. THESE REQUIREMENTS AND A DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE SELECTED REMEDY SATISFIES EACH
REQUIREMENT ARE PRESENTED BELOW.
PROTECTION OF HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT
THE SELECTED ALTERNATIVE WILL PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH TREATMENT OF THE CONTAMINATED
GROUNDWATER AND IN SITU SOIL FLUSHING. THE TREATED GROUNDWATER WILL MEET NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ENERGY DISCHARGE EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS. RESIDUAL AMOUNTS OF FLOATING FREE PRODUCT
WILL BE EXTRACTED AND REMOVED TO A PERMITTED OFF-SITE DISPOSAL FACILITY.
THE INTERIM REMEDIAL ACTION WILL STOP THE MIGRATION OF THE CONTAMINANT PLUME AND RESIDUAL AMOUNTS OF FLOATING
PRODUCT FROM ENTERING THE PAINT BRANCH A TRIBUTARY OF THE MANAPAQUA BROOK WHICH FEEDS PINE LAKE, A MAJOR
RECREATIONAL BODY OF WATER IN THE COUNTY. THIS INTERIM ACTION WILL IN THE SHORT-TERM PREVENT DEGRADATION OF
THE AQUIFER AND LIMIT CONTAMINANT EXPOSURE RISKS TO THE POPULATION USING PINE LAKE.
COMPLIANCE WITH ARARS
THE SELECTED REMEDY WILL COMPLY WITH ACTION SPECIFIC ARARS SUCH AS OSHA, RCRA, ENDANGERED SPECIES, CLEAN AIR
AND WATER ACTS. STATE AND FEDERAL ACTION SPECIFIC ARARS PERTAINING TO THE DISCHARGE OF TREATED WATER TO
GROUND SURFACES AND GROUNDWATER IS ALSO ADDRESSED AND WILL BE COMPLIED WITH DURING THE INTERIM ACTION. ALSO,
TREATED WATER WILL MEET SAFE DRINKING WATER STANDARDS PRIOR TO SPRAY IRRIGATION AND INFILTRATION. A LIST OF
ARARS SPECIFIC TO THIS ACTION IS PRESENTED IN TABLE 4.
COST EFFECTIVENESS
THE SELECTED REMEDY PROVIDES GROUNDWATER TREATMENT AND REMOVAL OF RESIDUAL AMOUNTS OF FLOATING PRODUCT
THROUGH TREATMENT METHODS THAT HAVE BEEN PROVEN EFFECTIVE, COST EFFICIENT AND EXPECTED TO ATTAIN ARARS.
PREFERENCE FOR TREATMENT AS A PRINCIPAL ELEMENT
THE PRINCIPAL THREATS AT AREA E - SITE 28 INCLUDE GROUND WATER AND SOIL CONTAMINATION AND THE PRESENCE OF
RESIDUAL AMOUNTS OF FLOATING FREE PRODUCT ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRESENCE OF THE PLUME AT AREA E. THE SELECTED
REMEDY SATISFIES THE STATUTORY PREFERENCE FOR TREATMENT AS A PRINCIPAL ELEMENT IN ADDRESSING THE HUMAN HEALTH
AND ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS POSED BY THE SITE. GROUNDWATER WILL BE TREATED BY AIR STRIPPING TO REMOVE VOCS
AND POLISHED BY GRANULAR ACTIVATED CARBON TO REMOVE SVOCS AND FURTHER REDUCE VOC LEVELS. IN SITU SOIL
FLUSHING WILL AERATE AND ENHANCE BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY AND CONTAMINANT DECOMPOSITION. RESIDUAL AMOUNTS OF
FLOATING PRODUCT WILL BE COLLECTED AND DISPOSED AT AN OFF-SITE PERMITTED HAZARDOUS WASTE FACILITY. THE
INTERIM REMEDY IS NOT A FINAL ACTION FOR GROUNDWATER OR SOIL. THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE FINAL REMEDIATION OF
BECOME
THE
THE

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THIS AREA SHOULD INCLUDE DECONTAMINATION TO ACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF ANY CONTAMINATED MEDIUM, NOT JUST
GROUNDWATER. THE SELECTED INTERIM REMEDY, HOWEVER, SHOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THOSE OBJECTIVES.
DOCUMENTATION OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
THE PROPOSED INTERIM REMEDIAL ACTION PLAN FOR AREA E - SITE 28 WAS RELEASED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON JUNE 17,
1991. THE PIRAP IDENTIFIED ALTERNATIVE 2 AS THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE. NAEC RECEIVED ONE WRITTEN COMMENT;
ALL VERBAL COMMENTS WERE RESPONDED TO AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON JUNE 26, 1991. UPON REVIEW OF THE COMMENTS,
IT WAS DETERMINED THAT NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE INTERIM REMEDY, AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY IDENTIFIED IN THE
PIRAP, WERE NECESSARY.

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#TA
TABLE 1
HISTORICAL SUMMARY OF
ANALYTICAL DATA - SITE 28
PRE-1985
NO DATA
COLLECTED
PHASE I REMEDIAL
INVESTIGATION
GROUNDWATER
VOLATILE ORGANIC
COMPOUNDS (UG/L)
PHASE II REMEDIAL
INVESTIGATION
GROUNDWATER
VOLATILE ORGANIC
COMPOUNDS (UG/L)
TOLUENE: ND - 10.2 TOLUENE:	590 - 5,100
BENZENE:	100- 330
ETHYLBENZENE:	130 - 1,100
XYLENES:	990 - 12,000
SEMI-VOLATILE ORGANIC
COMPOUND (UG/L)
NAPHTHALENE: 67 - 120
2-METHYL-NAPHTHALENE: 29 - 1,300
MISCELLANEOUS (MG/L)
PETROLEUM-HYDROCARBONES: ND - 3.54
SOIL	SOIL
NO DATA COLLECTED	SEMI-VOLATILE ORGANIC
COMPOUND (UG/L)
PHENANTHRENE: ND - 90
FLUORANTHENE: 40 - 110
PYRENE:	ND - 80
BENZO(A)ANTHRACENE: ND - 0.40
CHRYSENE:	ND - 50
METALS (MG/KG)
BERYLLIUM: 40
CADMIUM: 10
MISCELLANEOUS (UG/L)
PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS: ND - 22 6.73
SEDIMENT	SEDIMENT
NO DATA COLLECTED	METALS (MG/KG)
CADMIUM: 50.9

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1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
TABIiE 2
CONTAMINANT CONCENTRATIONS IN SOIL GAS
SITE 28 (WESTSFIELD HANGAR)
CONCENTRATION (UG/L)
SAMPLE	TOTAL
DEPTH	PETROLEUM
(FEET) BENZENE TOLUENE ETHYLBENZENE XYLENES	HYDROCARBONS
5
LT 0.02
500
LT
0.3
4
6, 100
6
LT 0.06
LT 0.07
LT
0.08
LT 0.09
LT 0.3
6.5
LT 0.02
LT0.03
LT
0.03
LT 0.04
LT 0.01
6
LT 0.2
14
LT
0.3
LT 0.4
240
6.5
LT0.02
LT0.03
LT
0.03
LT 0.04
LT0.1
6
LT 0.02
LT 0.03
LT
0.03
LT 0.04
LT 0.1
6
LT 0.01
LT 0.01
LT
0.02
LT 0.02
LT 0.06
6.5
LT 0.01
LT 0.01
LT
0.02
LT 0.02
0.1
6.5
LT 0.01
LT 0.01
LT
0.02
LT 0.02
LT 0. 6
6.5
LT 0.02
LT 0.03
LT
0.03
LT 0.04
LT 0.1
6
LT 0.06
0.6
LT
0.08
LT 0.09
12
6
LT 0.01
LT 0.01
LT
0.02
LT 0.02
LT 0.06
6.5
16,000
9, 100
LT
3
1,500
140,000
10
LT 0.01
LT 0.01
LT
0.02
LT 0.02
0.09
6.5
LT 0.01
LT 0.01
LT
0.02
LT 0.01
0.08
6
LT 0.02
LT 0.02
LT
0.02
LT 0.02
0.4
6.5
LT 0.02
LT 0.02
LT
0.02
LT 0.02
0.2
6
LT 0.02
LT 0.02
LT
0.02
LT 0.02
0.1
6.5
LT 0.01
LT 0.01
LT
0.02
LT 0.01
0.1
6.5
LT 0.01
LT 0.01
LT
0.02
LT 0.01
LT 0.05
6
LT 0.01
LT 0.01
LT
0.02
LT 0.01
LT 0.05
6
LT 0.01
LT 0.01
LT
0.02
LT 0.01
LT 0.05
6
LT 0.01
LT 0.01
LT
0.02
LT 0.01
LT 0.05
6.5
3,700
1,700
LT
3
80
28,000
6.5
8, 000
2,700
LT
3
230
110,000
6
LT 0.01
LT 0.01
LT
0.02
LT 0.01
LT 0.05
6
400
180
LT
3
8
5, 600
6
LT 2
24
LT
3
LT 3
1, 000
6
LT 0.01
LT 0.01
LT
0.02
LT 0.01
LT 0.05
6.5
230
100
LT
3
LT 3
3,300
6
LT 2
56
LT
3
LT 3
3,100
6.5
LT 0.02
LT 0.02
LT
0.03
LT 0.03
LT 0.1
6.5
LT 0.01
LT 0.01
LT
0.02
LT 0.01
LT 0.05
6
LT 0.01
LT 0.01
LT
0.02
LT 0.01
LT 0.05
6
310
220
3

5
6, 100
6.5
LT 0.01
LT 0.01
LT
0.02
LT 0.01
LT 0.05
6.5
LT 0.01
LT 0.01
LT
0.02
LT 0.01
LT 0.05
6
LT 0.01
LT 0.01
LT
0.02
LT 0.01
LT 0.05
6.5
LT 0.01
LT 0.01
LT
0.02
LT 0.01
LT 0.05

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TABLE 3
CONTAMINANT CONCENTRATIONS IN GROUNDWATER
SITE 28 (WESTFIELD HANGAR)
CONCENTRATION (UG/L)

SAMPLE





TOTAL
SAMPLE
DEPTH





PETROLEUM
LOCATION
(FEET)
BENZENE
TOLUENE
ETHYLBENZENE
XYLENES
hydrocarbon:
1
8
570
180
LT
1
57
5, 400
2
7
8, 100
9,500
LT
25
3,300
76,000
10
10
LT 0.1
LT 0.1
LT
0.1
LT 0.2
LT 0.5
10
8
LT 0.1
0.6
LT
0.2
0.8
10
11
7
8, 800
5, 600
LT
25
4, 600
27,000
13
6.5
76,000
37,000
LT
25
17,000
1,000,000
24
7
47,000
35,000
LT
25
17,000
410,000
25
8
14,000
10,000
LT
25
7,300
78,000
26
10
LT 0.1
LT 0.1
LT
0.2
LT 0.2
LT 0.5
26
8
0.3
1
LT
0.2
0.6
2
28
7
37
60
LT
0.2
4
1,500
31
7
30
42
LT
0.3
2
770
32
9
LT 0.3
2
LT
0.3
3
4
35
7.5
350
260
25

61
7,200
36
6.5
0.3
0.6
LT
0.2
0.6
2
40*
6.5
38,000
29,000
LT
25
20,000
540,000
41*
7
0.3
2
LT
0.2
6
8
42*
9
LT 0.2
0.6
LT
0.2
0.7
2
(*) LOCATIONS AT WHICH ONLY GROUNDWATER SAMPLES WERE COLLECTED

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TABLE 4
LIST OF ARARS
ONLY ACTION-SPECIFIC ARARS WHICH INCLUDE SURFACE WATER, GROUND WATER, AND AIR DISCHARGE LIMITATIONS AS WELL
AS HAZARDOUS WASTE HANDLING REQUIREMENTS, WETLAND AND FLOODPLAIN REQUIREMENTS WILL BE COMPLIED WITH DURING
THE INTERIM REMEDIAL DESIGN. CONTAMINANT SPECIFIC CLEAN UP LEVELS WILL BE ADDRESSED IN THE FINAL REMEDY.
THE INTERIM REMEDIATION ACTIVITIES AT AREA E (SITE 28) WILL PRIMARILY ADDRESS GROUND WATER AND RESIDUAL
FLOATING PRODUCT. IDENTIFICATION OF FEDERAL ACTION-SPECIFIC ARARS APPLICABLE TO THE INTERIM REMEDIAL
ALTERNATIVES CHOSEN ARE:
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT (OSHA) (29 CFR 1910, 1926, 1904) : ARARS FOR WORKERS AND WORKPLACE
THROUGHOUT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HAZARDOUS ACTIVITIES.
RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND RECOVERY ACT (RCRA) (40 CFR 264.10-.77): POTENTIAL ARARS FOR ALTERNATIVES UTILIZING
TREATMENT, STORAGE OR DISPOSAL ACTIONS (NOTE: PERMITS NOT REQUIRED FOR ON SITE ACTIONS)
RCRA (40 CFR 264.90-.101): GROUNDWATER PROTECTION. GROUNDWATER MONITORING/CORRECTIVE ACTION REQUIREMENTS;
DICTATE ADHERENCE TO MCLS AND ESTABLISHES POINTS OF COMPLIANCE.
RCRA - PART 263 (40 CFR 263.10-.31) AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION ACT (49 CFR 170, 171): TRANSPORTER
REQUIREMENTS. ARARS FOR ALTERNATIVES INVOLVING SHIPMENT OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS OR WASTES.
RCRA - PART 268 (40 CFR 268): LAND DISPOSAL RESTRICTIONS. POTENTIALLY PERTAINS TO SPENT CARBON FILTERS AND
SLUDGE FROM PRETREATMENT PROCESS. WASTES WILL BE TESTED TO DETERMINE IF THEY ARE HAZARDOUS WASTE UNDER RCRA.
CLEAN AIR ACT (40 CFR 50): ARARS FOR ALTERNATIVE WHICH INVOLVE TREATMENTS WHICH IMPACT AMBIENT AIR.
CLEAN WATER ACT (40 CFR 401): NPDES PERMIT REQUIREMENTS. REQUIREMENTS FOR POINT SOURCE DISCHARGE TO SURFACE
WATERS. POTENTIAL ARARS WHICH WILL AFFECT THE IMPLEMENTABILITY OF REMEDIAL ACTION INVOLVING EFFLUENT
DISCHARGE TO THE MANAPAQUA BROOK.
CLEAN WATER ACT (40 CFR 404): PROHIBITS ACTIONS THAT IMPACT A WETLAND UNLESS NO OTHER ALTERNATIVES ARE
AVAILABLE.
IDENTIFICATION OF STATE ACTION-SPECIFIC ARARS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
NJ HAZARDOUS WASTE REGULATIONS (NJAC 7:26): PERMITTING, CONTINGENCY PLANS, SPECIFICATION FOR TREATMENT/
DISPOSAL UNITS. POTENTIAL ARARS FOR ALTERNATIVES WHICH INVOLVE THE TREATMENT, STORAGE OR DISPOSAL OF
HAZARDOUS WASTES.
NJ CLEAN WATER ACT (NJAC 7:14A-1.1 ET SEQ.): NJPDES WATER QUALITY TOXIC EFFLUENT LIMITATIONS. ARAR FOR
ALTERNATIVE INVOLVING TREATMENTS WHICH DISCHARGE EFFLUENTS TO SURFACE WATER.
NJ POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (NJAC 7:14A-1 ET SEQ.): PERMIT REQUIREMENTS. ARAR FOR ALTERNATIVES
INVOLVING TREATMENTS WHICH DISCHARGE EFFLUENT TO GROUND SURFACES.
NJ SURFACE WATER REGULATIONS (NJAC 7:9-5.1): ARARS FOR ALTERNATIVES INVOLVING TREATMENT WHICH DISCHARGE TOXIC
POLLUTANTS TO AREA WATER BODIES.
NJ AIR POLLUTION CONTROL REGULATIONS (NJAC 7:27-16): PERMITS AND EMISSION LIMITATION FOR VOCS. ARARS FOR
ALTERNATIVES FOR TREATMENTS WHICH IMPACT AMBIENT AIR.

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ENDANGERED SPECIES ACTION (16 USC 1531): CONSULTATION WILL BE UNDERTAKEN WITH THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
TO DETERMINE IF THE REMEDIAL ACTION WILL ADVERSELY AFFECT ENDANGERED SPECIES IN THE AREA.
THE PINELANDS PROTECTION ACT (NJSA 18A-1 ET AL) AND THE PINELANDS COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN (NJAC
7:50-1.1 ET AL).

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