Chromium Groundwater Investigation Continues in Garfield, New Jersey Community Update JUNE 2011 EPA TO CONDUCT ASSESSMENT AT THE EC ELECTROPLATING PROPERTY EPA BASEMENT INSPECTION- SAMPLING AND CLEANUP CONTINUES EPA IN THE PROCESS OF INSTALLING MONITORING WELL NETWORK TO TEST AND MONITOR GROUNDWATER CONDITIONS QUESTIONS? Please Contact Community Involvement Coordinator Pat Seppi 646-369-0068 seppi. pat@epa. gov On-Scene-Coordinator Neil Norrell 908-420-4512 norrell.neil@epa.gov Remedial Project Manager Rich Puvogel (212) 637-4410 Puvogel. ri ch@ epa. gov This community update is provided to inform you of progress on EPA's investigation of chromium in groundwater beneath the south west section of Garfield. EPA started its investigation in the fall of 2008 by inspecting and testing basements in the southwest section of Garfield to determine if groundwater containing chromium infiltrated into basements. As base- ment inspections progressed, EPA expanded the investigation by sam- pling shallow groundwater in the area. EPA began to expand the ground- water investigation in February 2011 by initiating installation of 21 monitoring wells designed to test groundwater at deeper depths ranging from 20 to 400 feet. EPA will conduct an assessment of the EC Electro- plating facility within the next month to determine if response actions are necessary on that property. EPA to Conduct an Assessment of EC Electroplating Property Initial groundwater investigations indicate that the EC Electroplating property appears to have been, and may continue to be, a significant source of chromium in the groundwater. EPA will perform an assessment of the EC Electroplating property within the next month to determine if response measures are needed at the property. EPA Basement Inspection, Sampling and Cleanup Status Since the fall of in 2008, EPA has been inspecting basements of homes and businesses in southwest Garfield to determine if infiltrating ground- water contains chromium at levels that would present a risk to human health. To date, 490 properties within EPA's study area (see map) have been inspected. If your property is within the study area and your base- ment has not yet been inspected, please contact Neil Norrell, EPA's On- Scene-Coordinator, at (908) 420-4512 to arrange a time for an inspection. Of the 489 basements inspected, thirteen properties were found to be in need of cleanup. If your property is inspected and determined to be in need of cleanup, EPA will perform the cleanup for you at EPA's cost. http://www.epa.gov/region2/superfund/removal/garfield/ ------- Chromium Groundwater Investigation Continues in Garfield, New Jersey Community Update (Continued) JUNE 2011 EPA Continues Installation of Garfield Groundwater Monitoring Well Network In February 2011. EPA began to install monitoring wells in the southwest section of Garfield. To date, 21 deep wells have been installed as a monitoring well network. Groundwater samples obtained from monitoring wells will help determine how far and how deep chro- mium has spread. In addition to determining the extent of chromium in groundwater, EPA will also use information from monitoring wells to determine sources of chromium in groundwater. It is expected that this network of 21 wells will be sampled this summer to provide information on the extent of chromium in groundwater. Based on the sampling results, it is anticipated that EPA may need to install additional wells next fall through winter to provide a thorough understanding of groundwater condi- tions. There are a number of pre-existing monitor- ing wells in the area that have been installed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protec- tion (NJDEP) during the investigation of other sites. EPA will work with NJDEP and assess these exist- ing monitoring wells to determine if they may be included in the monitoring well network. Once EPA gains a better understanding of the groundwa- ter conditions it will consider technologies that may be capable of treating chromium and other possible contaminants in the groundwater. Deep monitoring well installation adjoining the EC Electroplating Property. EPA Contacts This Community Update provides you with information about the general progression of the investi- gation into groundwater and EPA's inspection, sampling, and cleanup of basements in the area. For more information on EPA's community involvement, please contact Pat Seppi 646-369-0068. For scheduling inspection of your basement, please call Neil Norrell at 908-420-4512. Any questions about the groundwater investigation and monitoring well installation, please call Rich Puvogel at 212-637-4410. ------- ------- |