Name of Site:
EPA ID No.
HRS DOCUMENTATION RECORD COVER SHEET
Lower Hackensack River
NJN000201845
Contact Persons
Site Investigation: US Army Corps of Engineers
Documentation Record: Ildefonso Acosta
Section Chief
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
James Desir
Site Assessment Manager and Regional NPL Coordinator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Pathways. Components, or Threats Not Scored
Ground Water Migration Pathway
The ground water pathway was not scored. The surface water pathway is sufficient to qualify the
site for the National Priorities List (NPL).
Surface Water Migration Pathway Drinking Water Threat
The surface water migration pathway drinking water threat was not scored. No drinking water
targets have been identified within the target distance limit. The surface water pathway human food
chain and environmental threats are sufficient to qualify the site for the NPL.
Soil Exposure and Subsurface Intrusion Pathway
The soil exposure and subsurface intrusion pathway was not scored. The surface water pathway is
sufficient to qualify the site for the NPL.
Air Migration Pathway
The air migration pathway was not scored. The surface water pathway is sufficient to qualify the site
for the NPL.
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HRS DOCUMENTATION RECORD
Name of Site: Lower Hackensack River
Date Prepared: March 2022
EPA Region: 2
Street Address of Site*: 1 Meadowlands Parkway
(near Route 3 West Bridge Crossing the Lower Hackensack River) (Figure 1)
County, State, Zip Code: Bergen County and Hudson County, NJ 07094
General Location in the State: Northeast
Topographic Map: See Reference 3
Latitude: 40.800794
Longitude: -74.067175
Site Reference Point: Route 3 West Bridge Crossing Lower Hackensack River (Figure 1)
*The street address, coordinates, and contaminant locations presented in this HRS documentation
record identify the general area the site is located. They represent one or more locations EPA
considers to be part of the site based on the screening information EPA used to evaluate the site for
NPL listing. EPA lists national priorities among the known "releases or threatened releases" of
hazardous substances; thus, the focus is on the release, not precisely delineated boundaries. A site is
defined as where a hazardous substance has been "deposited, stored, disposed, or placed, or has
otherwise come to be located." Generally, HRS scoring and the subsequent listing of a release
merely represent the initial determination that a certain area may need to be addressed under
CERCLA. Accordingly, EPA contemplates that the preliminary description of facility boundaries at
the time of scoring will be refined as more information is developed as to where the contamination
has come to be located.
1 "Ground water" and "groundwater" are synonymous; the spelling is different due to "ground water" being codified
as part of the HRS, while "groundwater" is the modern spelling.
Scores
Air Pathway
Ground Water1 Pathway
Soil Exposure and Subsurface Intrusion Pathway
Surface Water Pathway
Not Scored
Not Scored
Not Scored
100.00
HRS SITE SCORE
50.00
1
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WORKSHEET FOR COMPUTING HRS SITE SCORE
1. Ground Water Migration Pathway Score (Sgw) NS NS
(from Table 3-1, line 13)
2a. Surface Water Overland/Flood Migration Component 100 10.000
(from Table 4-1, line 30)
2b. Ground Water to Surface Water Migration Component NS NS
(from Table 4-25, line 28)
2c. Surface Water Migration Pathway Score (Ssw)
Enter the larger of lines 2a and 2b as the pathway score.
3a. Soil Exposure Component NS NS
(from Table 5-1, line 22)
3b. Subsurface Intrusion Component NS NS
(from Table 5-11, line 12)
3c. Soil Exposure and Subsurface Intrusion Pathway Score (Ssessi) NS NS
(from Table 5-11, line 13)
4. Air Migration Pathway Score (Sa) NS NS
(from Table 6-1, line 12)
5. Total Of Sgw2 + Ssw2 + Ssessi2 + Sa2 100 10,000
6. HRS Site Score
Divide the value on line 5 by 4 and take the square root 50^)0
2
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HRS TABLE 4-1 -Surface Water Overland/Flood Migration Component Scoresheet
Factor Categories and Factors
Maximum
Value
Value
Assigned
Drinking Water Threat
Likelihood of Release:
1. Observed Release
550
550
2. Potential to Release by Overland Flow:
2a. Containment
10
Not Scored
2b. Runoff
25
Not Scored
2c. Distance to Surface Water
25
Not Scored
2d. Potential to Release by Overland Flow (lines 2a x [2b + 2c])
500
Not Scored
3. Potential to Release by Flood:
Not Scored
3 a. Containment (Flood)
10
Not Scored
3b.Flood Frequency
50
Not Scored
3c. Potential to Release by Flood (lines 3a x 3b)
500
Not Scored
4. Potential to Release (lines 2d + 3c, subject to a maximum of 500)
500
Not Scored
5. Likelihood of Release (higher of lines 1 and 4)
550
550
Waste Characteristics:
6. Toxicity/Persistence
(a)
Not Scored
7. Hazardous Waste Quantity
(a)
Not Scored
8. Waste Characteristics
100
Not Scored
Targets:
9. Nearest Intake
50
Not Scored
10. Population:
Not Scored
10a. Level I Concentrations
(b)
Not Scored
10b.Level II Concentrations
(b)
Not Scored
10c. Potential Contamination
(b)
Not Scored
lOd. Population (lines 10a + 10b + 10c)
(b)
Not Scored
11. Resources
5
Not Scored
12. Targets (lines 9 + lOd +11)
(b)
Not Scored
Drinking Water Threat Score:
13. Drinking Water Threat Score ([lines 5 x 8 x
12]/82,500, subject to a maximum of 100)
100
Not Scored
3
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HRS TABLE 4-1 -Surface Water Overland/Flood Migration Component Scoresheet
Factor Categories and Factors
Maximum
Value
Value
Assigned
Human Food Chain Threat
Likelihood of Release:
14. Likelihood of Release (same value as line 5)
550
550
Waste Characteristics:
15. Toxicity /Persistence/Bioaccumulation
(a)
500.000.000
16. Hazardous Waste Quantity
(a)
100
17. Waste Characteristics
1,000
320
Targets:
18. Food Chain Individual
50
45
19. Population:
19a. Level I Concentrations
(b)
0
19b.Level II Concentrations
(b)
0.03
19c. Potential Human Food Chain Contamination
(b)
3E-7
19d. Population (lines 19a + 19b + 19c)
(b)
0.0300003
20. Targets (lines 18 + 19d)
(b)
45.0300003
Human Food Chain Threat Score:
21.Human Food Chain Threat Score ([lines 14 x 17 x 20]/82,500, subject to a
maximum of 100)
100
96.06
Environmental Threat
Likelihood of Release:
22. Likelihood of Release (same value as line 5)
550
550
23. Ecosystem Toxicity/Persistence/Bioaccumulation
(a)
500.000.000
24. Hazardous Waste Quantity
(a)
100
25. Waste Characteristics
1,000
320
Targets:
26. Sensitive Environments:
26a. Level I Concentrations
(b)
0
26b. Level II Concentrations
(b)
1675
26c. Potential Contamination
(b)
0
26d. Sensitive Environments (lines 26a + 26b + 26c)
(b)
1675
27. Targets (value from 26d)
(b)
1675
Environmental Threat Score:
28. Environmental Threat Score ([lines 22 x 25 x 27]/82,500, subject to a maximum
of 60)
60
60.00
Surface Water Overland/Flood Score for a Watershed
29. Watershed Score0 (lines 13+21+28, subject to a maximum of 100)
100
100.00
Surface Water Overland/Flood Migration Component Score
30. Component Score (S0f)°, (highest score from line 29 for all watersheds
evaluated, subject to a maximum of 100)
100
100.00
aMaximum value applies to waste characteristics category.
bMaximum value not applicable.
°Do not round to nearest integer.
4
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Figures
Figure 1 - Site Location Map
Figure 2 - Hackensack Meadowlands Ecosystem
Figure 3a - 2016 Sample Locations
Figure 3b - 2021 Sample Locations
Figure 4 - Source 1 Surface and Subsurface Locations Meeting Observed Release Criteria
(Arsenic)
Figure 5 - Source 2 Surface and Subsurface Locations Meeting Observed Release Criteria
(Chromium)
Figure 6 - Source 3 Surface and Subsurface Locations Meeting Observed Release Criteria
(Lead)
Figure 7 - Source 4 Surface and Subsurface Locations Meeting Observed Release Criteria
(Mercury)
Figure 8 - Source 5 Surface and Subsurface Locations Meeting Observed Release Criteria
(PAH)
Figure 9a - 2016 Surface Sediment Samples Meeting Observed Release Criteria
Figure 9b - 2021 Surface Sediment Samples Meeting Observed Release Criteria
Figure 10a - 2016 Subsurface Sediment Samples Meeting Observed Release Criteria
Figure 10b - 2021 Subsurface Sediment Samples Meeting Observed Release Criteria
Figure 11 - Target Distance Limits
Figure 12 - Sensitive Environments
Figure 13 - Wetlands and Zone of Contamination
Note that citations to references supporting figure information are provided on the figures as
superscripts in figure keys.
Tables
Table 1: 2016 Surface Sediment Background Sample Summary - Organic Hazardous Substances
Table 2: 2016 Surface Sediment Background Sample Summary - Inorganic Hazardous
Substances
Table 3: 2016 Subsurface Sediment Background Sample Summary - Organic Hazardous
Substances
Table 4: 2016 Subsurface Sediment Background Sample Summary - Inorganic Hazardous
Substances
Table 5: 2021 Surface Sediment Background Sample Summary - Inorganic Hazardous
Substances
Table 6: 2021 Subsurface Sediment Background Sample Summary - Organic Hazardous
Substances
Table 7: 2021 Subsurface Sediment Background Sample Summary - Inorganic Hazardous
Substances
Table
8:
2016
Source
Table
9:
2016
Source
Table
10:
2021
Source
Table
11:
2021
Source
5
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Table 12:
Source 1 Containment
Table 13: 2016 Source 2 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
Table 14: 2021 Source 2 Surface Sediment Observed Release Samples
Table 15: 2021 Source 2 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
Table 16: Source 2 Containment
Table 17: 2016 Source 3 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
Table 18: 2021 Source 3 Surface Sediment Observed Release Samples
Table 19: 2021 Source 3 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
Table 20: Source 3 Containment
Table 21: 2016 Source 4 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
Table 22: 2021 Source 4 Surface Sediment Observed Release Samples
Table 23: 2021 Source 4 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
Table 24: Source 4 Containment
Table 25: 2016 Source 5 Surface Sediment Observed Release Samples
Table 26: 2016 Source 5 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
Table 27: 2021 Source 5 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
Table 28: Source 5 Containment
Table 29: Summary of Source Descriptions
Table 30: Toxicity/Persistence/Bioaccumulation Factor Values
Table 31: Source 1 Through 5 Hazardous Waste Quantity
Table 32: Human Food Chain Potential Population Targets
Table 33: Ecosystem Toxicity/Persistence/Bioaccumulation Factor Values
Table 34: Source 1 through 5 Hazardous Waste Quantity
Table 35: Summary of Sensitive Environments
Table 36: Level II Sensitive Environments
6
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REFERENCES
Please note that the number of pages listed for each reference indicates the number of pages
included in the reference package for this Hazard Ranking System (HRS) document. Number of
pages listed may or may not reflect the total number of pages contained in a complete copy of an
original reference document.
Reference
Number Description of Reference
1. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Hazard Ranking System (HRS), Title 40
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 300, Appendix A (55 Federal Register [FR]
51583, December 14, 1990, as amended at 82 FR 2779, Jan. 9, 2017; 83 FR 38037, Aug.
3, 2018), as published in the CFR on July 1, 2019, with two attachments—Attachment A:
FR Vol. 55, No. 241. December 14, 1990. HRS Preamble. Attachment B: FR Vol. 82,
No. 5, January 9, 2017. Addition of a Subsurface Intrusion Component to the Hazard
Ranking System Preamble. 197 Pages. https://semspub.epa.gov/work/HQ/174028.pdf
and https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=EPA-HQ-SFUND-2010-l086-0104.
2. EPA. Superfund Chemical Data Matrix. Accessed on January 28, 2021. A complete
copy of SCDM and other related documentation is available at:
https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-chemical-data-matrix-scdm. 127 pages.
3. United States Geologic Survey (USGS) Topographic Maps. USDANRCS, Geospatial
Data Gateway, Digital Raster Graph Mosaic of Bergen and Hudson Counties, New Jersey
Projection: NAD 83 State Plane New Jersey FIPS 4501 Feet. Including Elizabeth
Quadrangle, New Jersey/New York, 7.5 Minute Series, 1998. 1 sheet; Jersey City
Quadrangle, New Jersey/New York, 7.5 Minute Series, 1981. 1 sheet; Orange
Quadrangle, New Jersey, 7.5 Minute Series, 2000. 1 sheet; Weehawken Quadrangle, New
Jersey/New York, 7.5 Minute Series, 1998. 1 sheet Central Park Quadrangle, New
Jersey/New York, 7.5 Minute Series, 1999. 1 sheet; Paterson Quadrangle, New Jersey,
7.5 Minute Series, 1999. 1 sheet; Hackensack Quadrangle, New Jersey, 7.5 Minute
Series, 1998. 1 sheet; and Yonkers Quadrangle, New Jersey/New York, 7.5 Minute
Series, 2000. 1 sheet. 2 pages.
4. US Fish and Wildlife Service. The Hackensack Meadowlands Initiative. Preliminary
Conservation Planning. March 2007. 474 Pages.
5. Ecology and Environment, Inc. Lower Hackensack River, Bergen and Hudson Counties,
New Jersey, Preliminary Assessment, Technical Direction Document Number: 15-03-
0008. USEPA, Region 2, New York, NY. September 2015. 122 pages. And Appendix A,
EDR Record Search, 29,978 pages (electronic only). Appendix B 17 pages. Appendix C
307 pages (electronic only).
7
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6. CTI and Associates, Inc. Quality Assurance Project Plan for the Lower Hackensack
River Site Inspection Bergen and Hudson Counties, New Jersey. Contract No. W912dq-
13-D-3014, Task Order No.: 009. June 1, 2016. 93 pages. And figures 5 pages.
7. CTI and Associates, Inc. Final Site Inspection Field Sampling Plan. Lower Hackensack
River Site Bergen and Hudson Counties, New Jersey. Site ID No: NJN00201845. June
1,2016. Revision 002. 37 pages. And Attachments 86 pages and Figures 5 pages.
8. Tiner, R.W. and H.C. Bergquist. The Hackensack River Watershed, New Jersey/New
York Wetland Characterization, Preliminary Assessment of Wetland Functions, and
Remotely Sensed Assessment of Natural Habitat Integrity. U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, National Wetlands Inventory, Ecological Services, Region 5, Hadley, MA.
September 2007. 141 pages.
9. CTI. Photographic Log. 2016. 6 pages.
10. Najarian Associates, L.P. Impact Analysis of Sewage Treatment Plant Discharges on the
Water Quality on the Lower Hackensack River. Report for the Bergen County Utilities
Authority. Appendix A - Part II. Najarian Associates, Eatontown, New Jersey.
September 1990. Excerpt. 94 pages. (Figures excluded).
11. DiLorenzo, J.L., R.J. Filadelfo, C.R. Surak, H.S. Litwack, V.K. Gunawardana, and T.O.
Najarian. Tidal Variability in the Water Quality of an Urbanized Estuary. Estuaries Vol
27, No. 5, p. 851-860. October 2004. 10 pages.
12. Tierra Solutions, Inc. Newark Bay Study Area Problem Formulation, Baseline Human
Health and Ecological Risk Assessment. June 2013. 232 pages.
13. Murphy III, W. Ward, et al. 2011. Sediment, Sedimentation, and Environments of the
Lower Hackensack River and Newark Bay Estuary Complex, Proceedings of the Western
Dredging Association (WEDA XXXI) Technical Conference and Texas A&M University
(TAMU 42) Dredging Seminar, Nashville, Tennessee, June 5-8, 2011. Excerpt. 13 pages.
14. Marshall, Stephen. The Meadowlands Before the Commission: Three Centuries of
Human Use and Alteration of the Newark and Hackensack Meadows. December 2004.
Available at http://www.urbanhabitats.org/v02n01/3centuries full.html. 24 pages.
15. EEE. Undated. Facilities with NPDES Permitted Discharges Along the LHR. 1 page.
16. Shrestha, Parmeshwar L. et al. "Conceptual Site Model for Newark Bay -
Hydrodynamics Sediment Transport." Journal Marine Science and Engineering, February
2014, 2, 123-139; doi:10.3390/jmse2010123. Downloaded from
www.mdpi.com/i ournal/imse. 17 pages.
17. USEPA CLP COC (Lab Copy). Numerous dates. Chain-of-Custody Record. Case
Number 46255. Lab: Chemtech Consulting Group. 178 pages.
8
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18. Earthworks LLC. Geophysical Investigation as a part of the Design of the Hackensack
River Enhancement Project. Final Report US ACE NY. July 15, 2008. 181 pages. And
Appendices 126 pages. Excerpt.
19. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Dredging Task Force.
The Management and Regulation of Dredging Activities and Dredged Material in New
Jersey's Tidal Waters. October 1997. Excerpt. 73 pages.
20. New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. New Jersey's Endangered and Threatened
Wildlife. Accessed on November 10, 2021. http://www.ni.gov/dep/fgw/tandespp.htm.
4 pages.
21. NJDEP, Division of Parks and Forestry, State Forestry Office. Letter Regarding Lower
Hackensack River and Associated Wetlands Evaluation, Bergen, Essex, Hudson
Counties. From Robert J. Cartica, Administrator, Natural Heritage Database, and the
Landscape Project. To Daniel Roberts, EEE Consulting, Inc. September 8, 2016. 15
pages.
22. Windham, Lisamarie; Laska, Mark; and Wollenberg, Jennifer. Evaluating Urban
Wetland Restorations: Case Studies for Assessing Connectivity and Function. Urban
Habitats, Volume 2, Number 1. Issn 1541-7115. December 30, 2004. 17 pages.
23. EEE Consulting, Inc. Project Note: Regarding Wetland Length. May 25, 2017. 2 pages.
24. CTI and Associates, Inc. Project Note: Concentrations of USEPA Priority Pollutant
Poly cyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons versus Sample Locations from the 2016 Expanded
Site Inspection. February 13, 2017. 77 pages.
25. US Army Corps of Engineers (US ACE). Draft Implementation Strategy of the Dredged
Material Management Plan for the Port of New York and New Jersey. Technical
Appendix. September 1999. 105 pages. (No final document is available).
26. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). White Paper: Recontamination of Mitigation
Sites in the Meadowlands. August 2015. 25 pages.
27. CTI. Project Note Concentrations of analytes versus sample locations graphs from the
2016 Expanded Site Inspection. October 19, 2016. 13 pages.
28. USGS. USGS 01376800 Hackensack River at West NYACK NY. Provisional Data.
Accessed on November 29, 2021.
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/ni/nwis/uv7site no=01376800. 5 pages.
29. Chemtech Consulting Group. Inorganic and Organic Analysis Data Sheets. Numerous
dates. 3,143 pages.
9
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30. EPA. Final Expanded Site Inspection Report for the Lower Hackensack River, Bergen,
and Hudson Counties New Jersey. April 27, 2017. Excerpt. 609 pages.
31. DS Environmental. Lower Hackensack HRS Grainsize Analytical Results, Observed
Release and Background Surface and Subsurface Samples. May 14, 2017. 4 pages.
32. EPA. Superfund Site Profile PJP Landfill, Jersey City, NJ. Accessed on September 24,
2016. https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0200569&msspp=med.
12 pages.
33. EPA. Superfund Site Profile Ventron/Velsicol, Wood Ridge Borough, NJ. Accessed on
September 24, 2016.
https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0200674. 6 pages.
34. EPA. Superfund Site Profile Scientific Chemical Processing, Carlstadt, NJ. Accessed on
September 24, 2016.
https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0200431. 9 pages.
35. EPA. Superfund Site Profile Universal Oil Products (Chemical Division), East
Rutherford, NJ. Accessed on September 24, 2016.
https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0200101. 3 pages.
36. EPA. Superfund Site Profile Standard Chlorine, Kearny, NJ. Accessed on November 10,
2020. https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/cursites/csitinfo.cfm?id=0200146. 4 pages.
37. NJ Department of Health. Fish Smart, Eat Smart. 2020. 2 pages.
38. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, New Jersey Department of Health.
2021 Fish Smart, Eat Smart. A Guide to Health Advisories for Eating Fish and Crabs
Caught in New Jersey Waters. 2021. 60 pages.
39. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries
Service. Essential Fish Habitat. New Marine Fish Habitat Conservation Mandate for
Federal Agencies. February 1999 (revised 4/00). 23 pages.
40. EPA, CTI, and Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. Final Supplemental Expanded Site
Inspection Report for the Lower Hackensack River, Bergen and Hudson Counties, New
Jersey. Site ID No.: NJN000201845. January 10, 2022. 1,894 pages.
41. Chemistry Department, Fairleigh Dickinson University. Proceedings of the Second
Annual Hackensack River Symposium. 1988. Excerpt. 10 pages. Including a paper by A.
Brett Bragin, Fishes of the Lower Hackensack River.
42. New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary Program: About the Program. Accessed on
October 30, 2016. https://www.hudsonriver.org/about-us. 2 pages.
43. NJDEP, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Bureau of Freshwater Fisheries Locations of
Anadromous American Shad and River Herring During Their Spawning Period in New
10
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44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
Jersey's Freshwaters Including Known Migratory Impediments and Fish Ladders. March
2005. 13 pages.
USFWS. Conservation Planning for the Hackensack Meadows. The Meadowlands and
Its Fish and Wildlife Resources. June 2005. 2 pages.
New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife. Sawmill Creek Wildlife Management Area,
Bergen - Lyndhurst Township, Hudson County - Kearny Township, 727 acres. Undated.
1 map.
Wetland Studies & Solutions, Inc.. Project Note Lower Hackensack River Site, River
Area. February 17, 2022. 2 pages.
NJDEP Site Remediation and Waste Management Program Bureau of Caste
Management. "Superfund Record of Decision: Ventron/Velsicol Site Wood-Ridge and
Carlstandt Bergen County, New Jersey." October 2006. 70 pages, (cited in Ref. 124)
EPA Office of Emergency and Remedial Response. "Superfund Record of Decision:
Universal Oil Products (Chemical Division), NJ." September 1993. 65 pages, (cited in
Ref. 124)
NJDEP Site Remediation Program Bureau of Case Management. "Superfund Record of
Decision Amendment: Universal Oil Products Site East Rutherford, Bergen County, New
Jersey." October 1998. 33 pages, (cited in Ref. 124)
EPA Region 2. "Record of Decision: Standard Chlorine Chemical Company, Inc. Town
of Kearny Hudson County, New Jersey." September 2016. 678 pages, (cited in Ref. 124)
EPA Region 2. April 2003. HRS Documentation Record for Standard Chlorine Chemical
Company, Inc. Kearny, Hudson County, NJ. EPA ID-NJD002175057. April 2003. 57
pages, (cited in Ref. 124)
EPA Region 2. Record of Decision: Scientific Chemical Processing Site Carlstadt,
Bergen County, NJ. September 1990. 84 pages, (cited in Ref. 124)
NJDEP Site Remediation Program. Record of Decision: PJP Landfill Site Jersey City,
Hudson County, NJ. September 1995. 288 pages, (cited in Ref. 124)
Shultz, Alicia, EEE Consulting, Inc. Record of Telephone Conversation with Phil
Cocuzza, EPA Region 2 Hazardous Waste Support Section (HWSS) Regarding CLP
Analytical Data, Lower Hackensack River. November 8, 2016. 1 page.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 22, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG BDJ60, Lower Hackensack River. 9 pages. (Note:
The samples mentioned in the body of the reference narrative (BDJA0 through BDJB9)
appear to be associated with SDG BDJA0 according to Reference 17 pp. 45-48.)
11
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56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. September 16, 2016. Executive Narrative and
Data Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG BDJTO, Lower Hackensack River. 9 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. September 20, 2016. Executive Narrative and
Data Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG BDJW3, Lower Hackensack River. 9 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 24, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG BDJC0, Lower Hackensack River. 9 pages.
EPA Region 2 CLP Case Number 46255. Laboratory Analytical Organic Compounds
Data for Surface Sediment Samples. Data associated with numerous dates. 56 pages.
EPA Region 2 CLP Case Number 46255. Laboratory Analytical Data for Inorganic
Compounds Data for Surface Sediment Samples. Data associated with numerous dates.
16 pages.
EPA Region 2 CLP Case Number 46255. Laboratory Analytical Organic Compounds
Data for Subsurface Sediment Samples. Data associated with numerous dates. 55 pages.
EPA Region 2 CLP Case Number 46255. Laboratory Analytical Inorganic Compounds
Data for Subsurface Sediment Samples. Data associated with numerous dates. 15 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 24, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG MBDJA0, Lower Hackensack River. 8 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 24, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG MBDJC0, Lower Hackensack River. 8 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. September 14, 2016. Executive Narrative and
Data Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG MBDJT0, Lower Hackensack River. 8 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. September 13, 2016. Executive Narrative and
Data Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG MBDJW3, Lower Hackensack River. 7 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. July 26, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG BDHP7, Lower Hackensack River. 9 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. July 28, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG MBDHL3, Lower Hackensack River. 8 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 2, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG MBDHM4, Lower Hackensack River. 8 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 3, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG MBDHQ0, Lower Hackensack River. 8 pages.
12
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71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 4, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG BDHS1, Lower Hackensack River. 9 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 5, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG MBDHS1, Lower Hackensack River. 8 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 8, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG BDHT5, Lower Hackensack River. 9 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 8, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG MBDHX2, Lower Hackensack River. 8 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 9, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG BDHX2, Lower Hackensack River. 9 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 9, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG BDJ00, Lower Hackensack River. 9 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 9, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG MBDHW2, Lower Hackensack River. 8 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 9, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG MBDJ00, Lower Hackensack River. 8 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 11, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG BDHL3, Lower Hackensack River. 9 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 11, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG BDHM4, Lower Hackensack River. 9 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 12, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG MBDJ40, Lower Hackensack River. 8 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 16, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG MBDJ80, Lower Hackensack River. 8 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 17, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG BDJ20, Lower Hackensack River. 9 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 17, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG MDBJ20, Lower Hackensack River. 8 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 17, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG MDBJ60, Lower Hackensack River. 8 pages.
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86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 18, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG BDJ80, Lower Hackensack River. 9 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 18, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG BDJ40, Lower Hackensack River. 8 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 18, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG BDJ60, Lower Hackensack River. 9 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 19, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG MBDJD4, Lower Hackensack River. 9 pages.
EEE. 2017. Memorandum from Alicia Shultz, Senior Environmental Scientist to File.
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Hackensack River. February 13, 2017. 4 pages.
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Atresino. New Jersey Meadowlands Commission, Meadowlands Environmental
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Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG BDJD4, Lower Hackensack River. 8 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 24, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG MBDJA0, Lower Hackensack River. 8 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 24, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG MBDJC0, Lower Hackensack River. 8 pages.
EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. August 29, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG MBDJH5, Lower Hackensack River. 7 pages.
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Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG MBDJE8, Lower Hackensack River. 8 pages.
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Assessment, Case No. 46255, SDG MBDJR4, Lower Hackensack River. 8 pages.
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100. EPA Region 2 DESA/HWSB/HWSS. September 2, 2016. Executive Narrative and Data
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andor-mitigation-site-map/. 2 pages.
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(EFH) Mapper with Attachment (EFH Report). November 10, 2021. 5 pages.
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(Alosa aestivalis). 2019. 203 pages.
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Wildlife. Last updates April 2, 2012. Accessed November 10, 2021.
https://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/tandespp.htm. 4 pages.
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Burger. The Science of the Total Environment 228 (1999) 203-218. Urban Anglers'
Perception of Risk from Contaminated Fish. Received February 1, 1998; accepted
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Analyte List. Case No. 49572. Numerous dates spanning August-September 2021.
Excerpt. 635 pages.
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Sediments. October 1, 2020. 22 pages.
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Analysis Via Modified Pipet Method. October 1, 2020. 14 pages.
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165. CTI. Field and Laboratory Sample Information. Lower Hackensack River Investigation.
1165010004. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. W912DQ-13-D-3014. Excerpt from
Reference 174. 2021. 3 pages.
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10 to August 21, 2021. 49 pages.
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an Urban Estuary of Northern New Jersey. October 23, 2017. 21 pages.
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29,2021. 90 pages.
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Site, Bergen and Hudson Counties, New Jersey. Contract W912DQ-13-D-3014-0009.
November 12, 2021. 365 pages.
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Aromatic Hydrocarbons versus Sample Locations from the 2021 Supplemental Expanded
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Subsurface Samples. Excerpt from Reference 175. 2021. 5 pages.
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with an Attachment. November 2, 2021. 17 pages.
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Graphs from the 2021 Supplemental Expanded Site Inspection. November 23, 2021. 7
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181. New Jersey Department of Environmental Proj ection. Letter Regarding Natural Heritage
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Site Summary
The release being scored at this site is the release of hazardous substances to the Lower
Hackensack River. The Lower Hackensack River (LHR) site (CERCLIS ID No.
NJN000201845) consists of a release of commingled hazardous substances in contaminated
surface water sediments with no currently identified contributors (the origins of contamination in
any particular location in the LHR have not yet been determined). These contaminated
sediments are located in the Hackensack River, spanning approximately 18.75 river miles (RMs)
beginning near the mouth of the river at Newark Bay, and stretching up to approximately 3.5
RMs below the Oradell Dam (Figures 9a, 9b, 10a, and 10b). This section of the river spans
across Bergen and Hudson Counties, New Jersey, and includes the Hackensack Meadowlands
and several tributaries (Figures 1 and 2) (Ref. 7, p. 5 and Figures). Contaminants include metals
(arsenic, chromium, lead, and mercury) and several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds
(PAHs). The distribution of contaminants and the changes in their concentrations over recent
investigations suggest that the contaminants have multiple historical origins. Due to the large
number of current and former industrial or other anthropogenic activities affecting the local area
of the LHR and its tributaries, combined with the tidal nature of contaminant transport in the
river, it is not currently possible to identify the origins of all the contamination in any particular
location of the LHR or the origins of any specific hazardous substance in the LHR (Ref. 169, pp.
8, 17, 18). Targets at the site include a human food chain fishery and several sensitive
environments within the zone of actual contamination and within the target distance limit (TDL).
Sources
The sources associated with the LHR site include five overlapping sources of contaminated
surface water sediments. Per the HRS, the contaminated sediments can be considered sources
for the purpose of the HRS evaluation as defined in Section 1.1 of the HRS documentation
record (Ref. 1). The sources include:
Source 1 - Arsenic contaminated surface water sediments;
Source 2 - Chromium contaminated surface water sediments;
Source 3 - Lead contaminated surface water sediments;
Source 4 - Mercury contaminated surface water sediments; and
Source 5 - PAH contaminated surface water sediments.
As documented in Sections 2.2 and 4.1.2.1.1 of this HRS documentation record, investigations
completed for the LHR site have identified five areas of contaminated surface water sediments
with no currently identified contributors of specific hazardous substances, including: (1) arsenic,
(2) chromium, (3) lead, (4) mercury, and (5) PAHs. As documented in this HRS documentation
record, investigations completed within the LHR have not identified specific releases but have
identified the presence of multiple past and present possible releases. As a result, the origins of
contamination in any particular location in the LHR cannot currently be determined. Also,
although other contaminants may be present, the hazardous substances associated with Sources
1-5 were selected for HRS evaluation as they are representative of the contamination and suffice
to show the site qualifies for NPL listing; however, other hazardous substances released to the
river may be identified in future investigations.
22
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Midland Park
Harrington
Park
North
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Park
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Dumont
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Brooklyn
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River Mile Post14,3
Hackensack River Section1^
ORIGINAL SCALE: 1 " = 2 MILES
FIGURE: 1
Source:
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
New Jersey Bureau of GIS, ESRI Base Maps
*The source of this basemap is Esri, used by EPA with Esri's permission
Coordinate System: NAD 1983 State Plane New Jersey FIPS 2900 Feet
Projection: Transverse Mercator, Datum: North American 1983
Map Date: 2/16/2022
SITE LOCATION MAP
LOWER HACKENSACK RIVER
Bergen, Hudson, & Essex County, New Jersey
N
W E
eta
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Ordell Dam
Latitude: 40.956176
Longitude: -74.029108
Meadowlarids Ecosystem
Meadowlands District1
Mouth of Hackensack River
Latitude: 40.709727
Longitude: -74.116406
Hackensack River Watershed
Hackensack River Section
Hydrology1
NWI Wetland (HRS Eligible)
Estuarine and Marine Deepwater
Estuarine and Marine Wetland
Freshwater Emergent Wetland
Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland
Freshwater Pond
Freshwater Lake
MILES
ORIGINAL SCALE: 1 " = 2 MILES
FIGURE: 2
Source:
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
New Jersey Bureau of GIS, ESRI Base Maps
*The source of this basemap is Esri, used by EPA with Esri's permission
Coordinate System: NAD 1983 State Plane New Jersey FIPS 2900 Feet
Projection. Transverse Mercator, Datum: North American 1983
Map Date: 2/16/2022
HACKENSACK MEADOWLANDS ECOSYSTEM
LOWER HACKENSACK RIVER
Bergen, Hudson, & Essex County, New Jersey
N
W E
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-------
Releases
The distribution and concentrations of arsenic, chromium, lead, mercury, and PAHs detected in
the LHR sediments do not at present allow for identification of a particular release location or
facility that could have resulted in the distribution of contamination as documented in the
sampling results discussed in References 24, 27, 175, and 178. References 24, 27, 175, and 178
include plots of hazardous substance concentrations at sediment sample locations arranged from
downstream to upstream; these plots include separate plots for surface and subsurface results.
The sediment analytical data show a pattern of hazardous substances and concentrations
indicative of multiple recent and historical releases that are intermingled within the LHR. The
variety and distribution of contaminants suggest that the contaminated surface water sediments
are from a variety of release locations (Ref. 24, pp. 1-32, 40-70; Ref. 27, pp. 1-5; Ref. 175, pp. 1-
37; Ref. 178, pp. 1-7). The concentrations of hazardous substances detected in the subsurface
sediment samples are generally higher than the concentrations detected in surface sediment
samples, suggesting that the contamination was likely to have come from historical releases (see
Sections 2.2 and 4.1.2.1.1 of this HRS documentation record). A study performed by the New
Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) compared metal concentration data between 1988
and 2003 for surface sediment samples approximately between RM 3 and RM 12.5; the average
sediment concentrations of cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, and nickel were reduced by
between 22 and 71 percent. This dramatic improvement suggests a natural attenuation process is
burying contaminated sediments with cleaner material (Ref. 120, pp. 4, 5, 18, 20).
Lower Hackensack River Targets and Characteristics
The LHR is a tidal river with a tidal range of 6 feet (Ref. 4, p. 93; Ref. 168, p. 2). Major water
bodies of the Hackensack River watershed include the lower Passaic and Hudson Rivers and
associated four large water storage reservoirs. Oradell Dam divides the Hackensack River into
upper (non-tidal) and lower (tidal) portions (Ref. 4, p. 92). The Hackensack River estuary
receives considerable tidal flows of brackish water from Newark Bay (mean tidal discharge
equal to 1,200 cubic meters per second) (Ref. 4, p. 94; Ref. 11, p. 3; Ref. 169, p. 2). The high
average ratio of tidal to freshwater flows (more than 100:1) contribute to a relatively well-mixed
estuarine system (Ref. 4, p. 94; Ref. 11, pp. 2, 5). The tidal flows distribute dissolved and
suspended materials, including contaminants (Ref. 169, pp. 1, 8).
Wetlands contiguous to rivers are part of the surface water body for HRS purposes, per HRS
Section 4.0.2. The Hackensack Meadowlands are a significant and dominant feature of the LHR,
bordering and including the section of the LHR from the mouth of the river to approximately RM
15 (Ref. 4, p. 38; Figure 2). The Meadowlands are the largest brackish estuarine complex in the
New York - New Jersey Harbor Estuary and among the largest in the northeastern United States.
Approximately 5,800 acres of estuarine wetlands of 21,000 original acres remain in the
Meadowlands' 8,400-acre complex of wetlands and waterways (Ref. 4, p. 12; Figure 2). As
documented in Section 4.1.4.3 of the HRS documentation record, the Meadowlands and the LHR
provide essential fish habitat and habitat to numerous state endangered and threatened species
and include migratory pathways and feeding areas critical for maintenance of fish species, as
well as State Wildlife Management areas and National Estuary Program. Many wetland
restoration initiatives within the LHR have been investigated by numerous agencies, which have
25
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found that wetland restoration is dependent on removing contamination in the LHR to prevent
contamination of the restored wetlands (Ref. 4, pp. 12, 158-60; Ref. 26, p. 1).
Land Use
There are two generally different land use areas—the areas along the northern and southern
stretches of the LHR. The land surrounding the Hackensack River in the northern section of the
study area, north of the Hackensack Meadowlands, generally follows suburban development
patterns characterized by low densities, larger lot sizes, and winding streets with cul-de-sacs.
Residential and commercial land uses in the southern section of the study area are typically
higher in density and more urban in nature, with small lot sizes and streets that follow a strict
grid pattern; industrial land uses are typically clustered together on large lots and in proximity to
highways and rail lines. Reference 5, Figure 2-3 shows the land uses surrounding the LHR.
Land uses in the northern section of the study area are primarily residential, commercial, and
public. Land uses along the LHR in the lower section are primarily industrial, open space
wetlands/forested, and public with some residential and some commercial land surrounding the
Hackensack Meadowlands. Residential is the most common land use in the study area, followed
by public land and industrial land (Ref. 5, pp. 12, Figure 2-3, p. 108 and Table 2-1, p. 36).
Industrial land uses account for a large portion of the Hackensack Meadowlands District (HMD).
Clusters of industrial land adjacent to the LHR are located in South Hackensack, Ridgefield,
Carlstadt, Secaucus, and Kearny, New Jersey (Figure 2; Ref. 5, p. 12, Figure 2-3, p. 108 and
Table 2-1, p. 36).
NPL sites are located adjacent to the LHR and may have contributed to the releases, including
the PJP Landfill Site (Ref. 32; Ref. 124, pp. 6-7); Ventron/Velsicol Site/Berry's Creek Study
Area (Ref. 33; Ref. 124, pp. 1-2); Scientific Chemical Processing Site (Ref. 34; Ref. 124, pp. 5-
6); Universal Oil Products Site (Ref. 35; Ref. 124, pp. 2-4); Standard Chlorine Chemical
Company Inc. Site (Ref. 36; Ref. 124, pp. 4-5); and Diamond Alkali Site/Newark Bay Study Area
(Ref. 183, p. 1; Ref. 184). Though these neighboring sites may have contributed to the
contamination in LHR sediments, the LHR site does not currently include any areas considered
part of these other NPL sites.
Also, historical fill containing arsenic, chromium, lead, mercury, and PAHs was placed directly
into the LHR and Meadowlands, releasing these hazardous substances to the sediments of the
LHR (Ref. 121, pp. 17, 49, 91-159; Ref. 5, Appendix A, pp. 3,063; 3,064; 3,065; 3,066; 10,401;
14,708-14,726; 15,092-15,099; 16,875; 18,780-18,792; 25,751-25,752; 26,262-26,264; 26,267-
26,276; 27,740-27,745; 28,956-28,959; Ref. 169, p. 2). The contaminants detected in the LHR
sediments came from a wide variety of former and/or present industrial and other anthropogenic
activities, as documented in the Attribution section of this HRS documentation record.
The analytical data presented in the HRS documentation record does not identify specific land
uses from which releases occurred to the LHR. The data suggests that due to human activity,
tidal carry of sediments, and dredging, the sediments within the LHR have been mixed and
transported to such an extent that the origins of the sediment contamination at any one location
cannot currently be determined. However, as documented in the sampling results discussed in
References 24, 27, 175, and 178, the concentration of specific hazardous substances significantly
26
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increase in some locations within the LHR where the hazardous substances have accumulated
after sediment transport.
2.2 SOURCE CHARACTERIZATION
In 2016, sediment samples were collected from 189 sampling locations within the LHR during
an EPA Expanded Site Inspection (ESI) field investigation; surface sediment samples were
collected at all 189 locations, and subsurface sediment samples were collected from 185 of the
189 locations (Ref. 30, pp. 7, 12, 26). The sampling locations are shown on Figure 3a. Table 3-
1 of Reference 30 provides a summary of the samples collected during the ESI (Ref. 30, pp. 103-
117). The LHR ESI sediment sampling locations were selected to determine if hazardous
substances were present in LHR sediments at concentrations significantly greater than
background concentrations and to identify possible release locations. The ESI sampling
locations were based on the identification of possible releases of hazardous substances to the
LHR identified in an EPA 2015 Preliminary Assessment (PA), a review of available analytical
results reported from samples collected and maintained by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in a database, and observations recorded during the March
10, 2016 site reconnaissance (Ref. 5, pp. 23, 28; Ref. 6, pp. 19, 20; Ref. 7, p. 6; Ref. 30, p. 12;
Ref. 125, p. 1).
Samples were collected from two different sediment depths. Surface sediment samples were
collected from the surface to a depth of approximately 0.5 feet. The surface sediment locations
were co-located with subsurface sediment cores, which extended up to 7.5 feet below the
sediment surface. From each core, a sample was collected and described noting evidence of
contamination (e.g., odor, oily residue, or sheen) (Ref. 7, pp. 13-14; Ref. 30, pp. 103-117; Ref.
138, pp. 11-25).
All surface and subsurface sediment samples collected during the ESI were submitted to an EPA-
assigned Contract Laboratory Program (CLP) laboratory and analyzed for CLP Target
Compound List (TCL) semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) (SOM02.3 per Ref. 29, p.
1,500), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (SOM02.3 per Ref. 29, p. 1,000), CLP Target Analyte
List (TAL) metals (ISM02.3 per Ref. 29, p. 2), and mercury (ISM02.3 per Ref. 29, p. 489).
Analytical results were reported as dry weight as indicated on the data sheet sheets in Reference
29. All samples collected were also submitted to EPA Region 2's Division of Environmental
Science and Assessment (DESA) laboratory for total organic carbon (TOC) analysis (Ref. 134;
Ref. 139, pp. 1-17).
In 2021, sediment samples were collected from 54 sampling locations within the LHR, including
48 locations with co-located surface and subsurface sediment samples and six locations with
surface sediment samples only during an EPA Supplemental ESI (Ref. 40, p. 10; Ref. 174, p. 1).
The sampling locations are shown on Figure 3b. Attachment C of Reference 174 provides a
summary of the samples (Ref. 174, pp. 121- 123). The LHR Supplemental ESI sediment
sampling locations were selected to determine if hazardous substances were present in LHR
sediments at concentrations significantly greater than background concentrations and to identify
possible release locations. The samples were collected from a subset of locations previously
sampled as part of the ESI completed in 2016 (Ref. 174, pp. 1, 5-14).
27
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Sample Location 2016'
Hackensack River Section
NWI Wetland (HRS Eligible)
Estuarine and Marine Deepwater
Estuarine and Marine Wetland
Freshwater Emergent Wetland
Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland
Freshwater Pond
Freshwater Lake
MILES
ORIGINAL SCALE: 1 " = 2 MILES
FIGURE: 3 A
2016 SAMPLE LOCATIONS
Source:
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
New Jersey Bureau of GIS, ESRI Base Maps
*The source of this basemap is Esri, used by EPA with Esri's permission
Coordinate System: NAD 1983 State Plane New Jersey FIPS 2900 Feet
Projection: Transverse Mercator, Datum: North American 1983
Map Date: 2/16/2022
LOWER HACKENSACK RIVER
Bergen, Hudson, & Essex County, New Jersey
Wetland
'es and Solutions*
company
-------
[SS'llfl RQ^Sal
Sample Location 2021
Hackensack River Section
NWI Wetland (HRS Eligible)
Estuarine and Marine Deepwater
Estuarine and Marine Wetland
Freshwater Emergent Wetland
Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland
Freshwater Pond
Freshwater Lake
MILES
ORIGINAL SCALE: 1 " = 2 MILES
FIGURE: 3B
Source:
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
New Jersey Bureau of GIS, ESRI Base Maps
*The source of this basemap is Esri, used by EPA with Esri's permission
Coordinate System: NAD 1983 State Plane New Jersey FIPS 2900 Feet
Projection: Transverse Mercator, Datum: North American 1983
Map Date: 2/16/2022
2021 SAMPLE LOCATIONS
LOWER HACKENSACK RIVER
Bergen, Hudson, & Essex County, New Jersey
N
W E
and Solutions'
k DAVEY # c
-------
Samples were collected from two different sediment depths. Surface sediment samples were
collected from the surface to a depth of approximately 0.32 feet (Ref. 174, p. 1). The surface
sediment locations were co-located with subsurface sediment cores, which extended up to 10 feet
below the sediment surface (Ref. 174, pp. 1, 2, 5 to 14). From each core a sample was collected
and described noting evidence of contamination (e.g., odor, oily residue, or sheen) (Ref. 174, pp.
1-2, Attachment B).
As shown in the source sections of the HRS documentation record below, analytical results for
sediment samples collected from the LHR during the 2016 ESI and 2021 Supplemental ESI
document the presence of hazardous substances in the LHR sediments at concentrations
significantly above background. The five sources evaluated are identified below:
• Source 1 - Arsenic contaminated surface water sediments
• Source 2 - Chromium contaminated surface water sediments
• Source 3 - Lead contaminated surface water sediments
• Source 4 - Mercury contaminated surface water sediments
• Source 5 - PAHs contaminated surface water sediments
The hazardous substances associated with each source were determined by identifying hazardous
substances at concentrations meeting the observed release criteria. The concentrations meeting
the observed release criteria were determined by using the highest concentration detected in the
background samples for each hazardous substance and multiplying that concentration by three to
determine the highest value (concentration) as background (maximum background
concentrations), with consideration of data qualifiers (Ref. 1, Table 2-3; Ref. 135).
Surface and subsurface background concentrations were compared to surface and subsurface
observed release sample concentrations, respectively, to account for differences in sample depth.
This method accounts for variability in matrix for background and release samples. The
background samples and maximum background concentrations for both surface and subsurface
samples are summarized below in Tables 2-1 to 2-2. Samples documenting hazardous
substances associated with each of the six areas of contaminated sediment are provided in source
description sections.
The background samples were determined to be comparable to the samples used to document
hazardous substances in each contaminated sediment area (Sources 1 to 5) based on the
following:
2016 and 2021 Sampling Methods:
• The 2016 and 2021 background and release samples were collected using the same Field
Sampling Plan (Ref. 30, pp. 7, 35; Ref. 40, pp. 6, 165-166; Ref. 170, pp. 1, 85).
• The background and release sample sets were collected during the same sampling field
investigation—either the ESI conducted from June through August 2016 or Supplemental
ESI field investigation conducted from August 9 through August 20, 2021 (Ref. 30 pp.
34, 103-117; Ref. 174, pp. 1, 121-123; Ref. 40, pp. 50 to 52).
30
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• All samples (background and release) were collected and analyzed using procedures and
handling protocols detailed in the EPA-approved Final Field Sampling Plan (FSP) and
Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) (Ref. 6; Ref. 7; Ref. 30, pp. 7, 35; Ref. 40, pp. 6,
165-166; Ref. 170).
• The background and release surface and subsurface sediment samples were collected
using the same sampling methods (i.e., Ponar/Ekman dredge for surface samples and
vibra-core or piston sampler for subsurface sediment samples) (Ref. 7, p. 13-15; Ref. 174,
pp. 1 to 3).
• The background and release sediments samples were collected and processed using the
same procedures (Ref. 7, pp. 15, 16; Ref. 174, pp. 1 to 3).
• The background and release sediment samples were handled, packaged, and shipped
using the same procedures (Ref. 7, pp. 16, 17 and Table 4-1; Ref. 174, pp. 1 to 3).
• The background and release sediment sampling locations were documented in field notes
during the investigations (Ref. 7, pp. 17, 18; Ref. 40, pp. 10-11; Ref. 137; Ref. 161; Ref.
167).
• Chain-of-custody procedures were used for all samples (Ref. 7, p. 19; Ref. 17; Ref. 40, p.
12; Ref. 166).
• The sediment sample collection equipment was decontaminated using the same
procedures for background and release samples (Ref. 7, p. 20-21; Ref. 170, pp. 1, 85).
• Background surface and release surface sediment samples were collected at similar
depths (Ref. 30, pp. 103-117; Ref. 137; Ref. 174, pp. 1, 2, 121 to 123).
• Background subsurface and release subsurface sediment samples were collected at
similar depths (Ref. 30, pp. 103-117; Ref. 137; Ref. 174, pp. 1, 2, 121 to 123).
• The 2021 background and release samples were collected in accordance with the Final
Quality Assurance Project Plan Addendum for the Lower Hackensack River Site
Inspection which includes analytical standard operating procedures (SOP) and data
validation procedures (Ref. 40, pp. 6, 74-75; Ref. 170, pp. 1, 51, 69).
Analytical Procedures 2016:
• A laboratory assigned through EPA's CLP analyzed all samples during the ESI including
locations used to document background and release concentrations (Ref. 6, p. 60).
• EPA Region 2 validated all CLP laboratory analytical data for both background and
release samples (validation narratives and assessments are in References 55-58, 63-89,
92-106; related data reports are in References 59-62).
• A single laboratory (Chemtech Consulting Group) analyzed the samples for SVOCs and
PCBs according to SOM02.3 and metals and mercury according to ISM02.3 (Ref. 6, pp.
31, 32, and 35; page 1 of each validation narrative in References 55-58, 63-89, 92-106).
The background and release samples were also analyzed for TOC according to DESA
SOP C-88 by the EPA DESA and grain size DESA SOP BIO 8.2 for Grain Size (Ref. 6,
pp. 33, 34; Ref. 139, pp. 3-17; Ref. 162, p. 1).
Analytical Procedures 2021:
• A laboratory assigned through EPA Region 2 Lab Services and Applied Sciences
Divisions (LSASDs) laboratory analyzed all samples during the Supplemental ESI
31
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including locations used to document background and release concentrations (Ref. 158;
Ref. 164; Ref. 170, pp. 19 to 21).
• EPA Region 2 validated all laboratory analytical data for both background and release
samples (validation narratives and assessments are in References 158 and 164).
• The analytical laboratory followed analytical procedures in accordance with the
Superfund CLP Organic and Inorganic analytical methods presented in the Superfund
Analytical Methods (SFAM01.1) Statement of Work (SOW) (Ref. 170, pp. 19 to 21; Ref.
171; Ref. 172). The EPA Analytical Services Branch of the Office of Superfund
Remediation and Technology Innovation provides analytical services through the CLP to
support Superfund Program cleanup activities with data of known and documented
quality. The analytical services are performed by EPA-approved contract laboratories in
accordance with the requirements of the SOW (Ref. 173).
• Both background and release samples were analyzed using the same methods and
procedures (Ref. 170, pp. 19 to 21). Specific methods include mercury analysis using
EPA Method 245.1 SOP C-l 10 Revision 2.7; metals analysis using EPA Method 200.7
SOP C-109 Revision 3.6; total organic carbon analysis using Method SM 5310b SOP C-
88 Revision 2.9; grainsize analysis using method Folk 1974 SOP C-136 Revision 2.1 and
organic analysis using CLP SOW for Multi-Media, Multi-Concentration Organics
Analysis (SOM02.2) (Ref. 158, p. 3; Ref. 160, p. 1; ; Ref. 162, p. 1; Ref. 163, p. 1; Ref.
164, p. 7; Ref. 180, p. 7).
Physical Setting:
• The background and release samples were collected from the same river, Hackensack
River, and same watershed, classified under the HRS as "Coastal tidal waters", in which
flow and depth characteristics are not considered to be applicable for the evaluation (see
Figures 1, 2, 3a and 3b) (Ref. 1, Sections 4.0.2 and Table 4-13; Ref. 4, pp. 92, 93, 94;
Ref. 11, pp. 2, 3, 5; Ref. 174, pp. 5 to 14). Tidal flows distribute dissolved and suspended
materials, including contaminants from Newark Bay throughout the Hackensack River as
far upriver as the Oradell Dam (Ref. 11, p. 1; Ref. 4, p. 94; Ref. 169, pp. 1, 8).
Background samples were collected from locations characterized by different land uses
including urbanized/industrial areas (sampling locations 001, 002 and 004) and less
urbanized/industrial upstream areas near Oradell Dam (sampling locations 187, 188, 189)
(Figure 4; Ref. 5, pp. 12-13, 108).
Sediment Matrix Characteristics:
• The matrix descriptions for both the background and release samples included "sand/silt",
"clay/silt" and "clay" among others (Ref. 31 (created from Reference 139); Ref. 30, pp.
103-117; Ref. 165). References 137 and 161 provide soil logs for each sample collected
and documents the presence of a diverse group of matrices among the samples.
• The TOC reported for 2016 surface sediment background samples ranged from 4,700
mg/kg to 100,000 mg/kg and the surface sediment observed release TOC concentrations
ranged from 9,200 mg/kg to 140,000 mg/kg. The TOC reported for 2016 subsurface
sediment background samples ranged from 9,000 mg/kg to 150,000 mg/kg and the
32
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subsurface sediment observed release TOC concentrations ranged from 7,800 mg/kg to
280,000 mg/kg (Ref. 134) (see Tables 1 to 4, 8, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, and 26 of the HRS
documentation record).
• The TOC reported for 2021 surface sediment background samples ranged from 8,880
mg/kg to 25,700 mg/kg and the surface sediment observed release TOC concentrations
ranged from 27,400 mg/kg to 552,200 mg/kg. The TOC reported for 2021 subsurface
sediment background samples ranged from 17,800 mg/kg to 20,900 mg/kg and the
subsurface sediment observed release TOC concentrations ranged from 26,500 mg/kg to
115,000 mg/kg (see Tables 5 to 7, 10, 11, 14, 15, 18, 19, 22, 23, and 27 of the HRS
documentation record).
• The 2016 surface sediment (identified by prefix SS) background and release surface
samples were all collected from the 0-0.5-foot interval below top of sediment. The
background subsurface sediment samples (identified by prefix of VC) were collected
from depths of 0.5 to 5.0 feet below the top of sediment and the release samples were
collected from 0.4 to 7.5 feet below the top of sediment. The surface and subsurface
samples were evaluated separately (Ref. 30, pp. 103-117).
• The 2021 surface sediment background and release surface samples (identified by prefix
of SSL) were all collected from the 0-0.3-foot interval below top of sediment. The
background subsurface sediment samples (identified by prefix of VC) were collected
from depths of 1.0 to 5.0 feet below the top of sediment and the release samples were
collected from 0.5 to 7.5 feet below the top of sediment (Ref. 165, pp. 1 to 3; see Tables
5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15, 18, 19, 22, 23, and 27 of the HRS documentation record).
• All sediment samples were collected from the fine-grained sediment depositional sections
of the river. Surface and subsurface samples are representative of recent and historical
sediment contamination with similar grain size and total organic carbon (Ref. 31; Ref.
134; Ref. 176). References 31 and 176 summarize the grain size of the samples collected
in 2016 and 2021, respectively. Sampling locations were chosen to establish similarity
between release samples and background sampling locations including physical setting,
salinity associated with the estuarine river environment, and sediment depositional
environment. The objective was to collect background samples as similar as possible to
the release samples sediment grain size distribution and TOC. In consideration of the
dredging history, sediment sample locations were located outside the dredged shipping
channel (A shipping channel has been dredged from the mouth of the Hackensack River
to the turning basin at river mile 3.75, river maintenance dredging has been historically
performed along various river sections over time, up to approximately river mile 14.5,
and historical NOAA navigation charts indicated a maintained river channel up to
approximately river mile 17.1; samples were therefore located outside the areas expected
to have been disturbed by historical dredging to minimize those effects on contaminant
concentrations) (Ref. 7, p. 7; Ref. 31; Ref. 139; Ref. 170, pp. 1, 2, 85).
Due to the similarities summarized above (i.e., same time frame, same sampling and analytical
methods, same laboratory, similar depths, and similar sediment matrices) the background and
33
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release analytical results are considered to be comparable for the purpose of showing that the
identified increase in hazardous substances is not due to differences in sample characteristics.
Additionally, using the highest concentration detected in all the background samples within each
depth range (surface or subsurface) further minimizes effects of any matrix differences on
hazardous substance concentrations between background and release samples. Also, as shown in
Tables 5-2 through 5-13 of Reference 30 and in References 24, 27, 175 and 178 and Tables 1
through 11, 13 to 15, 17 to 19, 21 to 23, and 25 to 27 of this HRS documentation record, the
concentrations of the hazardous substances in the release samples are significantly higher in the
release samples than the concentrations detected in sediment samples upstream and downstream
of the release samples (see also Figures 3a and 3b of this HRS documentation record).
Criteria to Determine Significance Above Background
The following HRS criteria were used to evaluate significance above background (i.e., observed
release):
• If the background concentration is not detected (or is less than the detection limit), an
observed release is established when the sample measurement in a release sample equals
or exceeds the sample quantitation limit (SQL) (identified as the reporting detection limit
for the ESI and Supplemental ESI data [Ref. 54]) (Ref. 1, Table 2-3).
• If the background concentration equals or exceeds the detection limit, an observed release
is established when the sample measurement in a release sample is three times or more
above the background concentration (Ref. 1, Table 2-3).
Although not required by the HRS, to ensure that samples significantly above all background
situations were identified as release samples, the highest concentration detected in the
background samples for each hazardous substance within each depth range (surface or
subsurface) is used as the background concentration. This approach minimizes effects of
variations in grain sizes and TOC on hazardous substance concentrations in both background and
release samples. Also, concentrations with unknown bias associated with sample analysis were
adjusted in accordance with Reference 135 to ensure the increase in contaminant concentrations
between background levels and release samples meet the HRS criteria both before and after
accounting for the possible bias.
2016 Sampling Data
In 2016 sediment samples were collected from 189 sampling locations within the LHR during an
EPA ESI field investigation. The sampling locations are shown on Figure 3a and summarized in
Table 3-1 of Reference 30, pages 103-117. Many of the sampling locations between the
background samples and observed release samples have concentrations of hazardous substances
similar to the concentrations detected in the background samples and many have concentrations
below the reporting detection limit (RDL). The concentrations above the RDL are summarized
in Reference 138 pages 28 to 83. If no concentration is reported for a sample, then the analyte
was not detected. All the samples were analyzed for all the same analytes.
34
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• 189 sediment samples were analyzed for PAHs; PAHs were detected in approximately 38
of the surface and subsurface sediment or approximately 20 percent of the samples
collected (Ref. 30, p. 16; Ref. 138, pp. 28-32).
• Arsenic was detected in surface sediments collected from all 189 locations where surface
samples were collected during the ESI (Ref. 30, p. 18) and was detected in subsurface
sediments collected from 175 of the 185 locations (Ref. 30, p. 21).
• Chromium was detected in surface sediments collected from all 189 locations where
surface samples were collected during the ESI (Ref. 30, p. 18) and was detected in
subsurface sediments collected from 175 of the 185 locations (Ref. 30, p. 21).
• Lead was detected in surface sediments collected from 181 of the 189 locations sampled
during the ESI (Ref. 30, p. 18) and in subsurface sediments collected from 181 of the
185 locations (Ref. 30, p. 21).
• Mercury was detected in surface sediments collected from 183 of the 189 locations where
surface sediment samples were collected during the ESI (Ref. 30, p. 18) and in
subsurface sediments collected from 181 of the 185 locations (Ref. 30, p. 20).
As shown in References 24 and 27 the concentrations detected in many sample locations
upstream and downstream of the observed release sample locations are significantly lower than
the concentrations detected in the observed release samples. Therefore, there are many other
sample locations and levels that support the background samples levels presented in this HRS
documentation record (Ref. 24, pp. 40-70; Ref. 27, pp. 2-5).
Tables 1 through 4 summarize the background sampling locations and levels (see also Figure 3a
of this HRS documentation record). In addition to the background levels presented in Tables 1
through 4, Tables 5-2 through 5-13 in Reference 30 (the Final ESI report for the sampling
investigation) summarize concentrations of all samples collected during the sampling event. The
ESI data summary tables as well as References 24 and 27 plots show the concentrations in
sediments upstream and downstream of the observed release sediment sample locations are
significantly lower than the concentrations detected in the observed release samples.
35
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TABLE 1
2016 Surface Sediment Background Sample Summary - Organic Hazardous Substances
CLP Sample Number:
BDJB4
BDJB6
BDJD1
BDJW9
BDJW6
BDJW7
BDJX3
CLP SDG:
BDJAO
BDJAO
BDJC0
BDJT0
BDJT0
BDJT0
BDJW3
Sample Identification:
SSLHR001
SSLHR002
SSLHR004
SSLHR187
SSLHR188
SSLHR18801
SSLHR189
Sample Date:
7/12/2016
7/12/2016
7/13/2016
8/5/2016
8/5/2016
8/5/2016
8/5/2016
Total Organic Carbon:
(mg/kg)
4,700
22,000
21,000
60,000
100,000
79,000
8,500
Sample Depth (feet)
0-0.2
0-0.3
0-0.2
0-0.2
0-0.5
0-0.5
0-0.5
Units:
ug/kg
ug/kg
ug/kg
ug/kg
ug/kg
ug/kg
ug/kg
References
134, p. 2; 55, pp. 1, 2;
59, pp. 1,2; 17, p. 47;
29, pp. 2081, 2082;
137, pp. 1, 2
134, p. 2; 55, pp. 1, 2; 59,
p, 2; 17, p. 47; 29, p.
2086 to 2088; 137, pp. 3,
4
134, p. 2; 58, pp. 1, 2; 59,
p. 3; 17, p. 50; 29, p. 2173
to 2175; 137, pp. 7, 8
134, p. 2; 56, pp. 1, 2; 59, p.
55; 17, p. 79; 29, p. 3038 to
3040; 137, pp. 375, 376
134, p. 2; 56, pp. 1, 2; 59, p. 55;
17, p. 79; 29, p. 3029 to 3031;
137, pp. 377, 378
134, p. 2; 56, pp. 1, 2; 59, pp. 55,
56; 17, p. 79; 29, pp. 3032 to
3033; 137, pp. 377, 378
134, p. 2; 57, pp. 1, 2; 59, p. 56; 17,
p. 80; 29, p. 3111 to 3113; 137, pp.
379, 380
Observed
Release
Criteria*
Substance
Result
Q
RDL
Result
Q
RDL
Result
Q
RDL
Result
Q
RDL
Result
Q
RDL
Result
Q
RDL
Result
Q
RDL
ug/kg
Anthracene
U
220
U
270
U
250
u
260
UJ
590
UJ
650
u
210
270
Benzo(a)anthracene
U
220
U
270
U
250
65
J
260
UJ
590
UJ
650
58
J
210
270
Benzo(a)pyrene
u
220
u
270
u
250
52
J
260
UJ
590
UJ
650
62
J
210
270
Benzo(b)fluoranthene
u
220
u
270
u
250
80
J
260
UJ
590
UJ
650
83
J
210
270
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene
u
220
u
270
u
250
u
260
UJ
590
UJ
650
u
210
270
Benzo(k)fluoranthene
u
220
u
270
u
250
u
260
UJ
590
UJ
650
u
210
270
Chrysene
u
220
u
270
u
250
75
J
260
UJ
590
UJ
650
70
J
210
270
Fluoranthene
u
420
u
530
u
490
150
J
260
UJ
590
UJ
650
150
J
210
530
Indeno(l,2,3-cd)pyrene
u
220
u
270
u
250
u
260
UJ
590
UJ
650
u
210
270
Phenanthrene
u
220
u
270
u
250
66
J
260
UJ
590
UJ
650
77
J
210
270
Pyrene
u
220
u
270
u
250
110
J
260
UJ
590
UJ
650
J
210
360
Notes:
Empty results cell indicates substance not detected,
ug/kg = micrograms per kilogram
CLP = Contract Laboratory Program
Q = Data qualifier
RDL = Reporting detection limit; the RDL is the adjusted contract required quantitation limit (Ref. 54).
SDG = Sample Delivery Group
SSLHR188 and SSLHR18801 are duplicate samples.
Data Qualifier Definitions (see reference citations in table):
J = The analyte was positively identified, and the associated numerical value is the approximate concentration of the analyte in the sample due either to the quality of the data generated because certain quality control criteria were not met, or the concentration of
the analyte was below the CRQL. The substances in this data set were qualified with "J" because the concentration detected was below the RDL and therefore the concentration reported is estimated with no associated bias (Ref. 54; see also cited validation
reports showing no quality control failure is associated with the results).
U = The analyte was analyzed for but was not detected at a level greater than or equal to the level of the adjusted Contract Required Quantitation Limit (CRQL) for sample and method.
UJ = The analyte was not detected at a level greater than or equal to the adjusted CRQL. However, the reported adjusted CRQL is approximate and may be inaccurate or imprecise.
UJ data are not used in background level evaluation per Reference 135 (Ref. 135, p. 5).
* Shaded cells indicate maximum detected concentration reported for the substance; observed release criteria are set to three times the highest background level or the greatest RDL for non-detected background results, whichever is greater (Ref. 1, Table 2-3).
UJ data not used for background level evaluation.
36
-------
TABLE 2
2016 Surface Sediment Background Sample Summary - Inorganic Hazardous Substances
CLP Sample Number:
MBDJB4
MBDJB6
MBDJD1
MBDJW9
MBDJW6
MBDJW7
MBDJX3
CLP SDG
MBDJAO
MBDJAO
MBDJC0
MBDJT0
MBDJT0
MBDJT0
MBDJW3
Sample Identification:
SSLHR001
SSLHR002
SSLHR004
SSLHR187
SSLHR188
SSLHR18801
SSLHR189
Sample Date
7/12/2016
7/12/2016
7/13/2016
8/5/2016
8/5/2016
8/5/2016
8/5/2016
Units:
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic
Carbon
4,700
22,000
21,000
60,000
100,000
79,000
8,500
Sample Depth (feet)
0-0.2
0-0.3
0-0.2
0-0.2
0-0.5
0-0.5
0-0.5
Observed
Release
Criteria*
References
134, p. 2; 63; 60, p. 1;
17, pp. 48, 135; 29, pp.
449, 469; 137, pp. 1, 2
134, p. 2; 63; 60, p. 1;
17, p. 136; 29, pp.
451, 471 ;137, pp. 3,4
134, p. 2; 64; 60, p. 2;
17, p. 140; 29, pp. 486,
500; 63; 137, pp. 7, 8
134, p. 2; 65; 60, p. 16; 17, p. 176; 29,
pp. 792, 812; 137, pp. 375, 376
134, p. 2; 65; 60, p. 16; 17, p. 175; 29,
pp. 789, 809; 137, pp. 377, 378
134, p. 2; 65; 60, p. 16; 135; 29, pp. 790, 810;
17, p. 175; 137, pp. 377, 378
134, p. 2; 66; 60, p.
16; 29, pp. 817,
822; 17, p. 177;
137, pp. 379, 380
Substance
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Results
Q
AF
AV
UDI
Ini-miMx
<.>
\\
w
l\l) L
Results
Q
RDL
mg/kg
Arsenic
3.6
0.92
5.3
1.1
4.3
1.1
1.5
1.2
6.0
(
fi ?
J
1 "4
11 31
1
2.8
0.89
33.93
Chromium
11.1
0.92
49
1.1
30.6
1.1
14.8
1.2
55.7
J
1.29
71.853
(
:
J
i :*i
.If.S
0.77
10.8
0.89
229.104
Lead
19.5
0.92
1.1
35.8
1.1
19.4
1.2
78
G.,,
78.4
J
1 44
11: s»if.
0.77
26.9
0.89
338.688
Mercury
0.19
0.12
0.89
0.15
0.46
0.14
0.073
J
1.83
0.13359
0.15
0.81
0.092
ii
J
1 S3
1 f.4"
0.089
0.074
J
0.11
4.941
Notes:
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
CLP = Contract Laboratory Program
Q = Data qualifier
RDL = Reporting detection limit; the RDL is the adjusted contract required quantitation limit (Ref. 54).
SDG= Sample Delivery Group
SSLHR188 and SSLHR18801 are duplicate samples.
Data Qualifier Definitions (see reference citations in table):
J = The result is an estimated quantity. The associated numerical value is the approximate concentration of the analyte in the sample. The concentrations were qualified with "J" because the samples have
percent solids less than 50% and the detected results were greater than or equal to the method detection limit; therefore, the concentrations reported are estimated (see sample data validation reports
referenced). The direction of bias is unknown; therefore, the J qualified concentrations have been adjusted in accordance with Ref. 135 (Ref. 54).
AF = Adjustment factor provided in Reference 135, p. 18.
AV = Adjusted value
* Shaded cells indicate maximum detected concentrations reported for the substance, the corresponding adjustment factor and resulting adjusted value; observed release criteria are set at three times the
greatest detected concentration (or greatest adjusted concentration) (Ref. 1, Table 2-3).
37
-------
TABLE 3
2016 Subsurface Sediment Background Sample Summary - Organic Hazardous Substances
CLP Sample Number:
BDJB5
BDJB7
BDJD2
BDJX0
BDJX2
BDJX4
SDG:
BDJAO
BDJAO
BDJC0
BDJT0
BDJW3
BDJW3
Sample Identification:
VCLHR001
VCLHR002
VCLHR004
VCLHR187
VCLHR188
VCLHR189
Sample Date:
7/12/2016
7/12/2016
7/13/2016
8/5/2016
8/5/2016
8/5/2016
Units:
ug/kg
ug/kg
ug/kg
ug/kg
ug/kg
ug/kg
Sample Depth (feet)
0.6-1.6
3.0-4.0
4.0-5.0
1.1-2.1
2.8-3.8
0.5-1.1
T otal Organic Carbon (mg/kg)
22,000
24,000
35,000
9,000
150,000
9,800
References
134, p. 2; 55, pp. 1, 2;
61, p. 1
29, p. 2083 to 2085; 17,
p. 47
137, pp. 1,2
134, p. 2; 55, pp. 1, 2;
61, p. 1
29, p. 2089 to 2091; 17,
p. 47
137, pp. 3,4
134, p. 2; 58, pp. 1, 2; 61, pp. 1,
2
29, p. 2176 to 2178; 17, p. 50
137, pp. 7,8
134, p. 3; 56, pp. 1, 2; 61,
pp. 54, 55
29, p. 3041 to 3043; 17, pp.
79, 81, 175
137, pp. 375, 376
134, p. 3; 57, pp. 1, 2; 61,
p. 55
29, p. 3108 to 3110; 17, p.
81
137, pp. 377, 378
134, p. 3; 57, pp. 1, 2; 61,
p. 55
29, p. 3114 to 3116; 17,
pp. 80, 177
137, pp. 379, 380
Observed Release
Criteria*
Substance
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
o
RDL
Results
0
RDL
ug/kg
Anthracene
u
330
u
280
u
300
u
240
U
320
u
230
330
Benzo(a)anthracene
u
330
u
280
u
300
u
240
u
320
78
J
230
330
Benzo(a)pyrene
u
330
u
280
u
300
u
240
u
320
82
J
230
330
Benzo(b)fluoranthene
u
330
u
280
u
300
u
240
u
320
110
J
230
330
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene
u
330
u
280
u
300
u
240
u
320
49
J
230
330
Benzo(k)fluoranthene
u
330
u
280
u
300
u
240
u
320
230
330
Chrysene
u
330
u
280
u
300
u
240
u
320
92
J
230
330
Fluoranthene
u
640
u
550
u
580
u
240
75
J
320
200
J
230
640
Indeno( 1,2,3 -cd)pyrene
u
330
u
280
u
300
u
240
u
320
47
J
230
330
Naphthalene
u
330
u
280
u
300
u
240
u
320
230
330
Phenanthrene
u
330
u
280
u
300
u
240
u
320
100
J
230
330
Pyrene
u
330
u
280
u
300
u
240
80
J
320
160
J
230
480
Notes:
Empty results cell indicates substance not detected.
ug/kg = micrograms per kilogram
CLP = Contract Laboratory Program
Q = Data qualifier
RDL= Reporting detection limit; the RDL is the adjusted contract required quantitation limit (Ref. 54).
SDG = Sample Delivery Group
Data Qualifier Definitions (see reference citations in table):
J = The analyte was positively identified, and the associated numerical value is the approximate concentration of the analyte in the sample due either to the quality of the data generated because certain
quality control criteria were not met, or the concentration of the analyte was below the CRQL. The substances in this data set were qualified with "J" because the concentration detected was below the
RDL and therefore the concentration reported is estimated with no associated bias (Ref. 54; see also cited validation reports showing no quality control failure is associated with the results).
U = The analyte was analyzed for but was not detected at a level greater than or equal to the level of the adjusted Contract Required Quantitation Limit (CRQL) for sample and method.
* The observed release criteria are set at three times the greatest detected background result or the greatest RDL for non-detected background results, whichever is greater (Ref. 1, Table 2-3).
38
-------
TABLE 4
2016 Subsurface Sediment Background Sample Summary - Inorganic Hazardous Substances
CLP Sample Number:
MBDJB5
MBDJB7
MBDJD2
MBDJX0
MBDJX2
MBDJX4
CLP SDG:
MBDJAO
MBDJAO
MBDJC0
MBDJT0
MBDJW3
MBDJW3
Sample Identification:
VCLHR001
VCLHR002
VCLHR004
VCLHR187
VCLHR188
VCLHR189
Sample Date:
7/12/2016
7/12/2016
7/13/2016
8/5/2016
8/5/2016
8/5/2016
Units:
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
22,000
24,000
35,000
9,000
150,0000
9,800
Sample Depth (feet)
0.6-1.6
3.0-4.0
4.0-5.0
1.1-2.1
2.8-3.8
0.5-1.1
Observed
Release
Criteria *
References
134, p. 2; 63; 62, p. 1
29, p. 450, 470; 17, pp.
48, 135
137, pp. 1, 2
134, p. 2; 63; 62, p. 1
29, p. 452, 472; 17, p.
136
137, pp. 3, 4
134, p. 2; 64; 62, p. 1
29, p. 487, 501; 17, pp.
140
137, pp. 7, 8
134, p. 3; 65;
29, p. 793, 813; 17, pp. 176, 178
137, pp. 375, 376
134, p. 3; 66; 62, p. 15
29, p. 816, 821; 17, p.
178
137, pp. 377, 378
134, p. 3; 66; 62, p. 15
29, p. 818, 823; 17, p.
177
137, pp. 379, 380
Substances
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
mg/kg
Arsenic
6.6
1.4
13.5
1.2
12.4
1.3
6.4
1.0
13
1.3
2.5
0.97
40.5
Chromium
18.3
1.4
X3.~
1.2
20.8
1.3
8.5
1.0
44.5
1.3
10.2
0.97
251.1
Lead
11.9
1.4
~'K2
1.2
72.8
1.3
3.9
1.0
74.2
1.3
23.2
0.97
237.6
Mercury
0.041
J
0.19
1.1
0.15
0.58
0.17
0.02
J
0.12
0.36
0.18
0.085
J
0.12
3.3
Notes:
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
CLP = Contract Laboratory Program Q = Data qualifier
RDL = Reporting detection limit; the RDL is the adjusted contract required quantitation limit (Ref. 5 4).
SDG = Sample Delivery Group
Data Qualifier Definitions (see reference citations in table):
J = The result is an estimated quantity. The associated numerical value is approximate concentration of analyte in the sample. The substances in this data set were qualified with "J" because
the concentration detected was below the RDL and therefore the concentration reported is estimated with no associated bias (Ref. 54; see also cited validation reports showing no quality
control failure is associated with the results).
* Shaded cells represent maximum background concentration reported for that substance. Observed release criteria are set at three times the greatest detected concentration (Ref. 1, Table 2-
3).
39
-------
2021 Sampling Data
In 2021 a total of 54 locations in the LHR were sampled including 48 locations with co-located surface and
subsurface sediment samples and 6 locations with surface sediment samples only (Ref. 174, p. 1). The
background and release sampling locations are shown on Figure 3b and summarized in Reference 165. All the
samples were analyzed for all the same analytes.
• 102 sediment samples were analyzed for PAHs; PAHs were detected in approximately 76 of the surface
and subsurface sediment or approximately 75 percent of the samples collected (Ref. 165; Ref. 177).
• Arsenic was detected in all surface sediments collected from the 54 locations where surface samples
were collected during the Supplemental ESI and was detected in all subsurface sediments collected
from the 48 locations (Ref. 178, pp. 6 to 7).
• Chromium was detected in all surface sediments collected from all 54 locations where surface samples
were collected during the Supplemental ESI and was detected in all subsurface sediments collected
from the 48 locations (Ref. 178, pp. 6 to 7).
• Lead was detected in all surface sediments collected from 54 locations sampled during the Supplemental
ESI and in all subsurface sediments collected from the 48 locations (Ref. 178, pp. 12 to 15).
• Mercury was detected in all surface sediments collected from 54 locations where surface sediment
samples were collected during the Supplemental ESI and in all subsurface sediments collected from the
48 locations (Ref. 178, pp. 6 to 7).
As shown in References 175 and 178 the concentrations detected in many sample locations upstream and
downstream of the observed release sample locations are significantly lower than the concentrations detected in
the observed release samples. Therefore, there are many other sample locations and levels that support the
background samples levels presented in this HRS documentation record (Ref. 175, pp. 2- 37; Ref. 178, pp. 2-7;
see also Figure 3b of this HRS documentation record).
Tables 5 through 7 summarize the background sampling locations and levels. In addition, Tables B-2 through
B-13 in Reference 40 (the Final Supplemental ESI report for the sampling investigation) summarize
concentrations of all samples collected during the sampling event. The Supplemental ESI data summary tables
as well as References 175 and 175 plots show the concentrations in sediments upstream and downstream of the
observed release sediment sample locations are significantly lower than the concentrations detected in the
observed release samples.
40
-------
TABLE 5
2021 Surface Sediment Background Sample Summary - Inorganic Hazardous Substances
Sample Number:
BGKC1
BGKC3
BGKG6
BGKG7
Sample Identification:
SSLHROOla
SSLHR004a
SSLHR188a
SSLHR189a
Sample Date:
8/16/2021
8/16/2021
8/20/2021
8/20/2021
Units:
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic
Carbon:
14,700
8,910
8,880
25,700
Sample Depth (feet):
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.2
References:
161, pp. 1,2; 164, pp.
134, 135; 165, p. 1;
166, p. 15; 167, pp.
17
161, pp. 3,4; 164, pp.
136, 137; 165, p. 1;
166, p. 16; 167, pp. 17
161, p.103; 164, pp.
182, 183; 165, p. 3;
166, p. 24; 167, pp. 24,
25,29
161, p. 104; 164, pp.
183, 184; 165, p. 3;
166, p. 24; 167, pp. 24,
25,29
Observed
Release
Criteria*
Substance
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
mg/kg
Arsenic
2.36
1.08
3 43
0.801
1.71
0.913
2.52
1.1
10.29
Chromium
9.94
0.674
5<) 3
0.501
8.12
0.571
10.9
0.684
150.9
Lead
9.54
1.08
3o
0.801
23.5
0.913
19.7
1.1
92.7
Mercury
0.0876
0.0185
0 442
0.0494
0.0438
0.0194
0.0671
0.0196
1.326
Notes:
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
CLP = Contract Laboratory Program
Q = Data qualifier
RDL = Reporting detection limit; the RDL is the adjusted contract required quantitation limit (Ref. 54).
SDG = Sample Delivery Group
* Shaded cells represent maximum background concentration reported for that substance. Observed release criteria are set at three times the greatest detected concentration (Ref.
1, Table 2-3).
41
-------
TABLE 6
2021 Subsurface Sediment Background Sample Summary - Organic Hazardous Substances
Sample Number:
BGKC2
BGKC5
SDG:
BGKB1
BGKB1
Sample Identification:
VCLHROOla
VCLHR004a
Sample Date:
8/16/2021
8/16/2021
Total Organic Carbon (mg/kg)
17,800
20,900
Units:
Ug/kg
Ug/kg
Reference
158, pp. 402, 403; 159, p. 3;
161, pp. 1,2; 164, pp. 135, 136;
165, p.l; 166, p. 15; 167,p.l7
158, pp. 411,412; 159, p. 3;
161, pp. 3,4; 164, p. 139; 165,
p. 1; 166, p 17; 167, p. 17
Observed
Release
Criteria*
Substance
Result
Q
RDL
Result
Q
RDL
^g/kg
Anthracene
250
u
250
300
u
300
300
Benzo(a)anthracene
250
u
250
300
u
300
300
Benzo(a)pyrene
250
u
250
300
u
300
300
Benzo(b)fluoranthene
250
u
250
300
u
300
300
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene
250
u
250
300
u
300
300
Benzo(k)fluoranthene
250
u
250
300
u
300
300
Chrysene
250
u
250
300
u
300
300
Fluoranthene
250
u
250
300
u
300
300
Indeno( 1,2,3 -cd)pyrene
250
u
250
300
u
300
300
Notes:
ug/kg = micrograms per kilogram
Q = Data qualifier
RDL = Reporting detection limit; the RDL is the adjusted contract required quantitation limit (Ref. 54).
SDG = Sample Delivery Group
Data Qualifier Definitions:
U = The analyte was analyzed for but was not detected at a level greater than or equal to the level of the adjusted Contract Required Quantitation Limit (CRQL) for
sample and method (Ref. 158, p. 2).
* The observed release criteria are set at the greatest RDL for non-detected background results (Ref. 1, Table 2-3).
42
-------
TABLE 7
2021 Subsurface Sediment Background Sample Summary - Inorganic Hazardous Substances
Sample Number:
BGKC2
BGKC5
Sample Identification:
VCLHROOla
VCLHR004a
Sample Date
8/16/2021
8/16/2021
Units:
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
17,800
20,900
Sample Depth (feet)
1.0-2.0
4.0-5.0
References:
161, pp. 1, 2; 164, p.
136; 165, p. 1; 166, pp.
15, 16; 167, p. 17
161, pp
139;165
17;
3,4; 164, p.
,p. 1; 166, p.
167, p. 17
Observed Release
Criteria*
Substance
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
mg/kg
Arsenic
1.36
0.789
i:
0.902
36
Chromium
6.74
0.499
33 5
0.564
100.5
Lead
3.73
0.789
So 5
0.902
241.5
Mercury
NA
|n|
0.0819
3.03
Notes:
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
NA = Not analyzed for mercury
Q = Data qualifier
RDL = Reporting detection limit; the RDL is the adjusted contract required quantitation limit (Ref. 54).
* Shaded cells represent maximum background concentration reported for that substance. Observed release criteria are set at three times the greatest detected
concentration (Ref. 1, Table 2-3).
43
-------
The ESI and Supplemental ESI analytical data document observed releases including five sources of
contaminated surface water sediments which contain specific hazardous substances at concentrations meeting
the observed release criteria (Ref. 1, Table 2-3; Ref. 40, pp. 39 to 43, 45 to 48). These areas are evaluated in the
sections below and identified as the following sources:
• Source 1 - Arsenic contaminated surface water sediments
• Source 2 - Chromium contaminated surface water sediments
• Source 3 - Lead contaminated surface water sediments
• Source 4 - Mercury contaminated surface water sediments
• Source 5 - PAHs contaminated surface water sediments
44
-------
Source 1 Identification
2.2.1 SOURCE 1 IDENTIFICATION
Name of source: Lower Hackensack River arsenic contaminated surface water sediments
Number of source: 1
Source Type: Other (arsenic contaminated surface water sediments with no identified source)
Source 1 consists of arsenic contaminated sediments in the LHR [see Section 2.2.2], Section 4.0
identifies numerous possible releases of arsenic to the river; however, due to the large number of
current and former industrial or other anthropogenic activities affecting the local area of the LHR
and its tributaries, combined with the tidal nature of contaminant transport in the river, it is not
currently possible to identify the origin of the arsenic in the LHR (see Section 4.1.2.1.1,
Attribution).
Description and Location of Source:
The 2016 ESI and 2021 Supplemental ESI sediment sample analytical results document an
observed release of arsenic to the sediments of the LHR between sampling locations
SSLHR007Ra (approximately river mile [RM] 1) and SSLHR156a (approximately RM 16.75) as
shown in Figure 4 of this HRS documentation record.
Containment
Release to surface water via overland migration and/or flood:
Sediment logs completed during the ESI and Supplemental ESI sampling events indicate that
none of the following are present: (1) maintained engineered cover, or (2) functioning and
maintained run-on control system and runoff management system, or (3) flood containment
features (Ref. 137; Ref. 161). Also, the presence of contaminated sediments (as shown in section
2.2.2 below) provides evidence that hazardous substances have migrated to the Lower
Hackensack River. Therefore, a surface water containment factor value of 10 is assigned for this
source (Ref. 1, Table 4-2, Table 4-8).
2.2.2 HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SOURCE 1
Section 2.2 of this HRS documentation record describes the investigation and methods used to
identify arsenic contaminated sediment within the LHR. Tables 8 to 11 provide summaries for
the surface and subsurface samples collected and analyzed during the 2016 and 2021
investigations that document concentrations of arsenic in sediments of the LHR at concentrations
meeting the observed release significant increase criteria (Ref. 1, Table 2-3) and Figure 4, shows
the sampling locations. As discussed in the Attribution section of this HRS documentation
record, the significant increase in arsenic is due in part to the releases being evaluated for the
site.
45
-------
Source 1 Identification
List of Hazardous Substances Associated with Source 1
Arsenic
46
-------
Source 1 Identification
TABLE 8
2016 Source 1 Observed Release Surface Sediment Samples
CLP Sample Number
MBDJ13
MBDJ52
MBDJ11
CLP SDG
MBDJ00
MBDJ40
MBDJ00
Field Sample Identification
SSLHR032
SSLHR050
SSLHR030
Sample Date
6/29/2016
7/8/2016
6/29/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
43,000
33,000
38,000
Sample Depth (feet)
0-0.5
0-0.5
0-0.3
References
134, p. 2; 60, p. 3; 78;
29, p. 249; 17, p. 114;
137, pp. 63, 64
134, p. 2; 60, p. 3;
29, p. 327; 17, p.
137, pp. 101, 102
134, p. 2; 60, p. 3; 78;
29, p. 247; 17, p. 31, 114;
137, pp. 59, 60
Observed Release Criterion*
Results
0
AF
AV
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
AF
AV
0
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Arsenic
33.93
72.9
J
1.74
41.9
1.5
67.4
1.5
83.3
1.74
47.9
J
1.5
Notes:
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
J = The result is an estimated quantity. The associated numerical value is the approximate concentration of the analyte in the sample. The concentrations were
qualified with "J" because the samples have percent solids less than 50% and the detected results were greater than or equal to the method detection limit;
therefore, the results were J qualified (see sample data validation reports referenced). The direction of bias is unknown; therefore, the J qualified concentrations
have been adjusted in accordance with Ref. 135.
AF = Adjustment factor from Reference 135, p. 18
AV = Adjusted value
CLP = Contract Laboratory Program
Q = Data qualifier
RDL = Reporting detection limit: the RDL is the adjusted contract required quantitation limit (Ref. 54).
SDG = Sample Delivery Group
* Represents three times the greatest detected background result or the greatest RDL for non-detected background results, whichever is greater (Ref. 1, Table 2-3).
47
-------
Source 1 Identification
TABLE 9
2016 Source 1 Observed Release Subsurface Sediment Samples
CLP Sample Number
MBDJ96
MBDJ93
MBDJ51
CLP SDG
MBDJ80
MBDJ80
MBDJ40
Sample Identification
VCLHR013
VCLHR017
VCLHR049
Sample Date
7/11/2016
7/10/2016
7/8/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
48,000
49,000
49,000
Sample Depth (feet)
5.0-6.0
3.6-4.6
2.0-3.0
Reference
134, p. 2;
17, pp. 132,
137,i
52, pp. 1, 2; 82
134; 29, p. 411
Dp. 25, 26
134, p. 2; 62, p. 2; 82
17, p. 130; 29, p. 408
137, pp. 33, 34
134, p. 2; 62, p. 5; 81
17, p. 123; 29, p. 326
137, pp. 99, 100
Observed Release
Criterion*
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Arsenic
40.5
97.6
J
1.74
56.1
1.6
101
J
1.74
58.0
1.5
75.2
J
1.74
43.2
1.6
Notes:
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
J = The result is an estimated quantity. The associated numerical value is the approximate concentration of the analyte in the sample. The concentrations were
qualified with "J" because the samples have percent solids less than 50% and the detected results were greater than or equal to the method detection limit;
therefore, the results were J qualified (see sample data validation reports referenced). The direction of bias is unknown; therefore, the J qualified concentrations
have been adjusted in accordance with Ref. 135.
AF = Adjustment factor from Reference 135, p. 18
AV = Adjusted value
CLP = Contract Laboratory Program
Q = Data qualifier
RDL = Reporting detection limit: the RDL is the adjusted contract required quantitation limit (Ref. 54).
SDG = Sample Delivery Group
* Represents three times the greatest detected background result or the greatest RDL for non-detected background results, whichever is greater (Ref. 1, Table 2-3).
48
-------
Source 1 Identification
TABLE 10
2021 Source 1 Observed Release Surface Sediment Samples
CLP Sample Number:
BGKB7
BGKB9
BGKF1
BGKF3
Sample Identification:
SSLHR007Ra
SSLHR009Ra
SSLHR040a
SSLHR046a
Laboratory ID
2108034-01
2108034-03
2108037-01
2108037-03
Sample Date
08/16/21
08/16/21
08/19/21
08/19/21
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
29,900
29,800
51,700
32,200
Sample Depth (feet)
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
References:
161, pp. 5, 6; 164,
pp. 130, 131; 165,
p.l; 166, p. 15; 167,
P 17
161, pp. 7, 8; 164, pp.
132, 133; 165, p.l;
166, p. 15; 167, p. 17
161, pp. 19, 20; 164,
pp. 166, 167; 165,
p.l; 166, p. 22; 167,
p. 26
161, pp. 25, 26; 164,
pp. 168, 169; 165, p.l;
166, p.22; 167, pp. 26,
27
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Arsenic
10.29
10.8
1.32
12.6
1.4
12.7
1.51
12.2
1.42
49
-------
Source 1 Identification
TABLE 10 (Continued)
2021 Source 1 Observed Release Surface Sediment Samples
CLP Sample Number
BGKA6
BGKE0
BGK71
BGK54
Sample Identification
SSLHR052a
SSLHR065a
SSLHR071a
SSLHR073a
Laboratory ID
2108033-03
2108035-11
2108029-07
2108007-06
Sample Date
08/13/21
08/17/21
08/10/21
08/09/21
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
58,600
35,500
38,400
45,700
Sample Depth (feet:)
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
References:
161, pp. 31, 32;
164, pp. 71, 72;
165, p. 1; 166, p.12;
167, p.14
161, pp. 41,42; 164,
pp. 155, 156; 165, p.l;
166, p. 19; 167, p. 20
161, pp. 45,46; 164,
p. 27; 165, p. 2; 166,
pp. 3,4; 167, p. 5
161, pp. 47, 48; 164,
pp. 13, 14; 165, p. 2;
166, p.l; 167, p. 2
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Arsenic
10.29
13.7
3.66
12.4
1.37
11.6
1.42
17.1
1.46
50
-------
Source 1 Identification
TABLE 10 (Continued)
2021 Source 1 Observed Release Surface Sediment Samples
CLP Sample Number
BGK50
BGK48
BGK59
BGK61
Sample Identification
SSLHR075a
SSLHR076a
SSLHR080a
SSLHR081a
Laboratory ID
2108007-02
2108007-07
2108029-01
2108029-10
Sample Date
08/09/2021
08/09/2021
08/10/2021
08/10/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
44,000
51,000
44,200
55,700
Sample Depth (feet)
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
References:
161, pp. 51, 52; 164,
pp. 9 ,10; 165, p. 2;
166, p. 1; 167, p. 2
161, pp. 53, 54; 164,
pp. 14, 15; 165, p. 2;
166, p. 1; 167, p. 2
161, pp. 55, 56; 164,
pp. 20, 21, 165, p. 2;
166, p. 3; 167, p. 4
161, pp.57, 58; 164,
pp. 30, 31; 165, p. 2;
166, p. 5; 167, p. 4
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Arsenic
10.29
10.9
1.45
10.8
1.79
12.3
1.79
14.7
1.71
51
-------
Source 1 Identification
TABLE 10 (Continued)
2021 Source 1 Observed Release Surface Sediment Samples
CLP Sample Number
BGK63
BGK65
BGK67
BGK76
Sample Identification
SSLHR083a
SSLHR088a
SSLHR091a
SSLHRlOOa
Laboratory ID
2108029-03
2108029-05
2108029-12
2108031-03
Sample Date
08/10/2021
08/10/2021
08/10/2021
08/11/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
27,400
44,100
49,900
38,000
Sample Depth (feet)
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
References
161, pp. 59, 60; 164,
pp. 22, 23; 165, p. 2;
166, p. 3; 167, p. 4
161, pp. 61,62; 164,
pp. 24, 25; 165, p. 2;
166, p. 3; 167, pp. 4,5
161, pp. 63, 64; 164,
pp. 32, 33;165, p. 2;
166, p. 5; 167, p. 5
161, pp. 67, 68; 164,
p. 39; 165, p. 2; 166,
p. 6; 167, p. 6
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Arsenic
10.29
11.1
1.17
13
1.50
10.5
1.86
10.7
1.49
52
-------
Source 1 Identification
TABLE 10 (Continued)
2021 Source 1 Observed Release Surface Sediment Samples
CLP Sample Number
BGK82
BGK88
BGK94
BGK90
BGKE2
Sample Identification
SSLHRllOa
SSLHR138a
SSLHR145a
SSLHR148a
SSLHR156a
Laboratory ID
2108031-09
2108032-01
2108032-07
2108032-03
2108036-01
Sample Date
08/11/2021
08/12/2021
08/12/2021
08/12/2021
08/18/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
47,300
43,800
50,800
44,700
47,000
Sample Depth (feet)
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
References:
161, pp. 73, 74;
164, pp. 45,46;
165, p. 2; 166, p.7;
167, p. 7
161, pp. 85, 86; 164,
pp. 51, 52; 165, p. 2;
166, p.8; 167, p. 10
161, pp. 91,92; 164,
pp. 57, 58; 165, p. 3;
166, p. 9; 167, p. 10
161, pp. 95, 96; 164,
pp. 53, 54; 165, p. 3;
166, p. 8; 167, p. 10
161, p. 98; 164, pp.
157, 158; 165, p.3;
166, p. 20; 167, p. 24
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Arsenic
10.29
10.7
2.1
10.9
1.85
90.9
18.4
12.1
1.79
10.6
1.84
Notes:
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
Q = Data qualifier
RDL = Reporting detection limit; the RDL is the adjusted contract required quantitation limit (Ref. 54).
* Represents three times the greatest detected background result or the greatest RDL for non-detected background results, whichever is greater (Ref. 1, Table 2-3).
53
-------
Source 1 Identification
TABLE 11
2021 Source 1 Observed Release Subsurface Sediment Samples
CLP Sample Number
BGKBO
BGKB2
BGK55
BGK49
Sample Identification
VCLHR050a
VCLHR053a
VCLHR073a
VCLHR076a
Laboratory ID
2108033-07
2108033-10
2108007-08
2108007-01
Sample Date
08/13/2021
08/13/2021
08/09/2021
08/09/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
26,500
32,400
68,300
86,700
Sample Depth (feet)
3.0-4.0
2.0-3.0
5.5-7.0
3.0-4.0
References:
161, pp. 27, 28; 164, pp.
75,76; 165, p. 1; 166, p.
13; 167, pp. 14,15
161, pp. 33, 34; 164,
pp. 78, 79; 165, p.l;
166, p. 14; 167, p. 14
161, pp. 1,47, 48; 164, pp.
15, 16; 165, p. 2; 166, p. 2;
167, p. 2
161, pp. 53, 54; 164, pp.
8, 9; 165, p. 2; 166, p. 1;
167, p. 2
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Arsenic
36
58.6
1.32
42.6
1.38
55.1
1.44
82.4
1.45
54
-------
Source 1 Identification
TABLE 11 (Continued)
Source 1 Observed Release Subsurface Sediment Samples
CLP Sample Number:
BGK60
BGK81
Sample Identification:
VCLHR080a
VCLHR109a
Laboratory ID:
2108029-02
2108031-08
Sample Date:
08/10/2021
08/11/2021
Units:
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic
Carbon:
48,400
59,400
Sample Depth (feet):
1.0-2.5
5.0-6.0
161, pp. 55, 56; 164, pp.
161, pp. 71
,72
164,
References:
21,22; 165, p
2; 166, p.
pp. 44, 45;
165, p.2;
3; 167,
p. 4
166, p.7;
167.
p.7
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Arsenic
36
65
1.20
52.2
1.50
Notes:
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
Q = Data qualifier
RDL = Reporting detection limit; the RDL is the adjusted contract required quantitation limit (Ref. 54).
* Represents three times the greatest detected background result or the greatest RDL for non-detected background results, whichever is greater (Ref. 1, Table 2-3).
55
-------
[SSLIHR'1 56 a]
[SSL?HR'l'48ai
LV.C Li H R*10 9 ag]
LVC JHR'Q73a!
[SSLlHR088al
LVCLlHRVl7i-
LvclJhrq;i3B
[S S J H RO 09 Rai
[SSLlHR007Ra1
^GEEEOSir
ggnm-mrte
WJfflMES
Arsenic 2021
Arsenic 2016'
Arsenic 2016 & 2021
Hackensack River Section
NWI Wetland (HRS Eligible)
Estuarine and Marine Deepwater
Estuarine and Marine Wetland
Freshwater Emergent Wetland
Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland
Freshwater Pond
Freshwater Lake
MILES
ORIGINAL SCALE: 1 " = 2 MILES
FIGURE: 4
SOURCE 1 SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE LOCATIONS
MEETING OBSERVED RELEASE CRITERIA (ARSENIC)
Source:
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
New Jersey Bureau of GIS, ESRI Base Maps
*The source of this basemap is Esri, used by EPA with Esri's permission
Coordinate System: NAD 1983 State Plane New Jersey FIPS 2900 Feet
Projection: Transverse Mercator, Datum: North American 1983
Map Date: 2/16/2022
LOWER HACKENSACK RIVER
Bergen, Hudson, & Essex County, New Jersey
ies and Solutions*
company
-------
Source 1 Identification
2.2.3 HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AVAILABLE TO A PATHWAY - SOURCE 1
TABLE 12
SOURCE 1 CONTAINMENT
Containment Description
Containment
Factor Value
References
Gas release to air: Not Scored
Not Scored
Not Scored
Particulate release to air: Not Scored
Not Scored
Not Scored
Release to groundwater: Not Scored
Not Scored
Not Scored
Sediment logs completed during the ESI sampling event
indicate that neither of the following is present: (1)
maintained engineered cover, or (2) functioning and
maintained run-on control system and runoff management
system (Ref. 137). Evidence of hazardous substance
migration from the source area.
10
1, Table 4-2
2.4.2 HAZARDOUS WASTE QUANTITY - SOURCE 1
Insufficient information exists to evaluate hazardous constituent quantity or hazardous
wastestream quantity; and area is not evaluated for source type "other." Therefore, the hazardous
waste quantity value is estimated using Tier C, volume (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1).
2.4.2.1.1 Hazardous Constituent Quantity - Source 1
The hazardous constituent quantity for Source 1 could not be adequately determined according to
the HRS requirements; that is, the total mass of all CERCLA hazardous substances in the source
and releases from the source is not known and cannot be estimated with reasonable confidence
(Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.1). There are insufficient historical and current data (e.g., analytical data)
available to adequately calculate the total or partial mass of all CERCLA hazardous substances
in the source and the associated releases from the source. Therefore, there is insufficient
information to evaluate the associated releases from the source to calculate the hazardous
constituent quantity for Source 1 with reasonable confidence. Scoring proceeds to the evaluation
of Tier B, Hazardous wastestream quantity (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.1).
Hazardous Constituent Quantity (C) Value: Not Evaluated
57
-------
Source 1 Identification
2.4.2.1.2 Hazardous Wastestream Quantity- Source 1
The hazardous wastestream quantity for Source 1 could not be adequately determined according
to the HRS requirements; that is, the mass of the hazardous wastestreams plus the mass of any
additional CERCLA pollutants and contaminants in the source and releases from the source is
not known and cannot be estimated with reasonable confidence (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.2). There
are insufficient historical and current data (e.g., analytical data) available to adequately calculate
the total or partial mass of the wastestream plus the mass of all CERCLA pollutants and
contaminants in the source and the associated releases from the source. Therefore, there is
insufficient information to evaluate the associated releases from the source to calculate the
hazardous wastestream quantity for Source 1 with reasonable confidence. Scoring proceeds to
the evaluation of Tier C, Volume (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.2).
Hazardous Wastestream Quantity Value: Not Evaluated
2.4.2.1.3 Volume - Source 1
Analytical results show that arsenic-contaminated sediments are located in the LHR (as shown
section 2.2.2 for Source 1 above). However, the information available on the depth and extent of
the arsenic contamination is not sufficiently specific to support a volume of the contaminated
surface water sediments with reasonable confidence. Therefore, Source 1 has been assigned a
value of greater than zero (>0) but exact amount unknown for the volume measure (Ref. 1,
Section 2.4.2.1.3).
Dimension of source (yd3): >0 yd3
Volume Assigned Value (>0)/2.5: >0
2.4.2.1.4 Area - Source 1
Tier D is not evaluated for source type "other," and because a volume estimate is assigned the
area measure is assigned a value of zero (Ref. 1, Table 2-5, Sections 2.4.2.1.3 and 2.4.2.1.4).
Area Assigned Value: 0
2.4.2.1.5 Source Hazardous Waste Quantity Value - Source 1
The source hazardous waste quantity value for Source 1 is >0 for Tier C - Volume [Ref. 1,
Section 2.4.2 and Table 2-5],
Highest assigned value assigned from Ref. 1, Table 2-5: >0
58
-------
Source 2 Identification
2.2.1 SOURCE 2 IDENTIFICATION
Name of source: Lower Hackensack River chromium contaminated surface water sediments
Number of source: 2
Source Type: Other (chromium contaminated surface water sediments with no identified source)
Source 2 consists of chromium contaminated sediments in the LHR [see Section 2.2.2], Section
4.0 identifies numerous possible releases of chromium to the river; however, due to the large
number of current and former industrial or other anthropogenic activities affecting the local area
of the LHR and its tributaries, combined with the tidal nature of contaminant transport in the
river, it is not currently possible to identify the origin of the chromium in the LHR (see Section
4.1.2.1.1, Attribution).
Description and Location of Source (with reference to a map of the site):
The 2016 ESI and 2021 Supplemental ESI sediment sample analytical results document an
observed release of chromium to sediments of the LHR between sampling locations VCLHR005
(approximately RM 0.75) to SSLHR180a (approximately RM 19.5) as shown in Figure 5 of this
HRS documentation record.
Containment
Release to surface water via overland migration and/or flood:
Sediment logs completed during the 2016 and 2021 sampling events indicate none of the
following are present: (1) maintained engineered cover, or (2) functioning and maintained run-on
control system and runoff management system, or (3) flood containment features (Ref. 137; Ref.
161). Also, the presence of contaminated sediments (as shown in section 2.2.2 below) provides
evidence that hazardous substances have migrated to the Lower Hackensack River. Therefore, a
surface water containment factor value of 10 is assigned for this source (Ref. 1, Table 4-2, Table
4-8).
2.2.2 HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SOURCE 2
Section 2.2 of this HRS documentation record describes the investigation and methods used to
identify chromium contaminated surface water sediments within the LHR. Tables 13 to 15
provide a summary for surface and subsurface samples collected and analyzed during the 2016
and 2021 investigations that document concentrations of chromium in sediments of the LHR at
concentrations meeting the observed release significant increase criteria (Ref. 1, Table 2-3) and
Figure 5, shows the sampling locations. As discussed in the Attribution section of this HRS
documentation record, the significant increase in chromium is due in part to the releases being
evaluated for the site.
List of Hazardous Substances Associated with Source: Chromium
59
-------
Source 2 Identification
TABLE 13
2016 Source 2 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
MBDJB9
MBDJB2
MBDJ98
MBDJ96
CLP SDG
MBDJAO
MBDJAO
MBDJ80
MBDJ80
Sample Identification
VCLHR005
VCLHR009R
VCLHR011
VCLHR013
Sample Date
07/12/2016
7/12/2016
7/11/2016
7/11/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
50,000
59,000
47,000
48,000
Sample Depth (feet)
o
o
6.0 - 7.3
o
o
5.0 - 6.0
References
134, p. 2; 62, p. 1; 63
134, p. 2; 62, p. 1; 63
134, p. 2; 62, p. 1; 82
134, p. 2; 62, pp. 1, 2; 82
29, p. 454; 17, p. 136
29, p. 447; 17, pp. 48, 135
29, p. 413; 17, pp. 132, 134
29, p.411; 17, pp. 132, 134
137, pp. 9, 10
137, pp. 17, 18
137, pp. 21, 22
137, pp. 25, 26
Observed Release Criterion*
Result
0
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
0
AF
AV
RDL
Result
0
AF
AV
RDL
Substance
Chromium
251.1
551
J
1.29
427
1.9
350
J
1.29
271
1.6
331
J
1.29
257
1.8
327
J
1.29
253
1.6
CLP Sample Number
MBDJA8
MBDJ93
MBDJ22
MBDJ34
CLP SDG
MBDJAO
MBDJ80
MBDJ20
MBDJ20
Sample Identification
VCLHR016
VCLHR017
VCLHR023
VCLHR040
Sample Date
7/11/2016
7/10/2016
7/6/2016
7/7/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
44,000
49,000
280,000
80,000
Sample Depth (feet)
References
4.0 - 5.0
134, p. 2; 62, p. 2; 63
29, p. 443; 17, pp. 46, 133
137, pp. 31, 32
3.6- 4.6
134, p. 2; 62, p. 2; 82
29, p. 408; 17, p. 130
137, pp. 33, 34
4.5 - 5.7
134, p. 2; 62, pp. 2, 3; 84
29, p. 277; 17, pp. 33, 116, 129
137, pp. 45, 46
3.0-4.0
134, p. 2; 62, p. 4; 84
29. p. 289; 17, p. 119, 120
137, pp. 81, 82
Observed Release Criterion*
Result
AF
AV
Q
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Substance
Chromium
251.1
349
1.29
270
J
1.5
338
J
1.29
262
1.5
643
J
1.29
498
1.8
1600
J
1.29
1240
1.9
60
-------
Source 2 Identification
TABLE 13 (Continued)
2016 Source 2 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
MBDJ79
MBDJC8
MBDJD5
CLP SDG
MBDJ60
MBDJC0
MBDJD4
Sample Identification
VCLHR059
VCLHR060
VCLHR063
Sample Date
7/9/2016
7/13/2016
7/14/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
41,000
48,000
39,000
Sample Depth (feet)
1.5 - 2.5
6.3-7.3
2.5-3.5
References
134, p. 2; 62, p. 5; 85
134, p. 2; 62, pp. 5, 6; 64
134, p. 2; 62, p. 6; 89
29, p. 374; 17, p. 125
29, p. 483; 17, pp. 51, 138
29, p. 504; 17, pp. 56, 141
137, pp. 119, 120
137, pp. 121, 122
137, pp. 127, 128
Observed Release Criterion*
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Substance
Chromium
251.1
362
J
1.29
281
1.6
424
J
1.29
329
1.7
463
J
1.29
359
2.0
CLP Sample Number
MBDJ57
MBDHX7
MBDHL6
MB DHL8
MBDHL4
CLP SDG
MBDJ40
MBDHW2
MBDHL3
MBDHL3
MBDHL3
Sample Identification
VCLHR065
VCLHR067
VCLHR072
VCLHR073
VCLHR074
Sample Date
7/8/2016
6/27/2016
6/20/2016
6/20/2016
6/20/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
40,000
39,000
29,000
49,000
45,000
Sample Depth (feet)
1.2-2.2
2.0-3.0
5.0-6.5
4.0-5.0
3.0-4.0
References
134, p. 3; 62, p. 6; 81
134, p. 3; 62, p. 6; 77
134, p. 3; 62, p. 7;
134, p. 3; 62, p. 7; 68
134, p. 3; 62, p. 7; 68
29, p. 332; 17, p. 123
29, p. 174; 17, pp. 105, 108
29, p. 4; 17, p. 83
29, p. 6; 17, pp. 4, 83
29, p. 2; 17, pp. 3, 82
137,
pp. 131, 132
137,
pp. 135, 136
137,
pp. 145, 146
137,
pp. 147, 148
137,
pp. 149, 150
Observed Release Criterion*
Result
0
AF
AV
RDL
Result
0
AF
AV
RDL
Result
0
RDL
Result
0
AF
AV
RDL
Result
0
AF
AV
RDL
Substance
Chromium
251.1
426
J
1.29
330
1.6
579
J
1.29
449
1.6
576
1.4
1260
J
1.29
977
1.6
499
J
1.29
387
1.8
61
-------
Source 2 Identification
TABLE 13 (Continued)
2016 Source 2 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
MBDHQO
MBDHQ8
MBDHS2
MBDHR8
CLP SDG
MBDHQO
MBDHQO
MBDHS1
MBDHQO
Sample Identification
VCLHR076
VCLHR081
VCLHR084
VCLHR087
Sample Date
6/23/2016
6/23/2016
6/24/2016
6/24/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
53,000
160,000
52,000
36,000
Sample Depth (feet)
1.0-2.0
0.5-1.2
1.4-2.4
1.2-2.2
References
134, p. 3; 62, p. 7; 70
134, p. 3; 62, p. 7; 70
134, p. 3; 62, p. 7; 72
134, p. 3; 62, p. 8; 70
29, p. 81; 17, p. 94
29, p. 88; 17, pp. 12, 95
29, p. 122; 17, pp. 14, 98
29, p. 96; 17, pp. 16, 96;
137, pp. 153, 154
137, pp. 163, 164
137, pp. 169, 170
137, pp. 175, 176
Observed Release Criterion*
Result
0
AF
AV
RDL
Result
0
AF
AV
RDL
Result
O
AF
AV
RDL
Result
O
AF
AV
RDL
Substance
Chromium
251.1
481
J
1.29
373
1.8
372
J
1.29
288
0.77
490
J
1.29
380
2.2
367
J
1.29
284
1.9
CLP Sample Number
MBDHW1
MBDHW9
MBDHZ0
MBDHZ2
MBDHY3
CLP SDG
MBDHS1
MBDHW2
MBDHX2
MBDHX2
MBDHX2
Sample Identification
VCLHR100
VCLHR101
VCLHR102
VCLHR104
VCLHR107
Sample Date
6/25/2016
6/25/2016
6/28/2016
6/28/2016
6/27/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
54,000
42,000
66,000
47,000
44,000
Sample Depth (feet)
3.0-4.0
2.3-3.3
2.1-3.1
4.0-5.0
5.0-6.0
References
134, p. 3; 62, p. 9; 72
134, p. 3; 62, p. 9; 77
134, p. 3; 62, p. 9; 74
134, p. 3; 62, p. 9; 74
134, p. 3; 62, p. 9; 74
29, p. 139; 17, p. 17, 102;
29, p. 168; 17, p. 104;
29, p. 208; 17, p. 27, 110;
29, p. 210; 17, p. 27, 110;
29, p. 202; 17, p. 109;
137, pp. 201, 202
137, pp. 203, 204
137, pp. 205, 206
137, pp. 209, 210
137, pp. 215, 216
Observed Release Criterion*
Result
0
AF
AV
RDL
Result
O
AF
AV
RDL
Result
O
AF
AV
RDL
Result
O
AF
AV
RDL
Result
O
AF
AV
RDL
Substance
Chromium
251.1
752
J
1.29
583
1.7
548
J
1.29
425
1.6
1090
J
1.29
845
1.7
338
J
1.29
262
1.7
1490
J
1.29
1155
1.5
62
-------
Source 2 Identification
TABLE 13 (Continued)
2016 Source 2 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
MBDHY7
MBDJ02
MBDJG0
MBDHZ6
MBDJ00
CLP SDG
MBDHX2
MBDJ00
MBDJE8
MBDHX2
MBDJ00
Sample Identification
VCLHR109
VCLHR110
VCLHR125
VCLHR126
VCLHR127
Sample Date
6/27/2016
6/28/2016
7/21/2016
6/28/2016
6/28/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
61,000
38,000
52,000
27,000
180,000
Sample Depth (feet)
5.0-6.0
5.0-6.0
1.5-2.5
1.7-2.7
2.8-4.1
References
134, p. 3; 62, p. 9; 74
134, p. 3; 62, p. 9; 78
134, p. 3; 62, p. 10; 96
134, p. 3; 62, p. 10; 74
134, p. 3; 62, pp. 10, 11; 78
29, p. 206; 17, p. 109
29, p. 239; 17, p. 113
29, p. 549; 17, pp. 60, 147
29, p. 214; 17, p. Ill
29, p. 237; 17, p. 113
137, pp. 219, 220
137, pp. 221, 222
137, pp. 251, 252
137, pp. 253, 254
137, pp. 255, 256
Observed Release Criterion*
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Substance
Chromium
251.1
2540
J
1.29
1969
1.8
725
1.29
562
1.4
746
J
1.29
578
1.7
549
J
1.29
426
1.6
529
J
1.29
410
1.5
CLP Sample Number
MBDJJ0
MBDJJ8
MBDJK0
MBDJK2
CLP SDG
MBDJG5
MBDJH5
MBDJH5
MBDJH5
Sample Identification
VCLHR138
VCLHR143
VCLHR144
VCLHR145
Sample Date
7/22/2016
7/22/2016
7/22/2016
7/22/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
37,000
49,000
52,000
57,000
Sample Depth (feet)
4.5-5.5
3.9-4.9
3.0-4.0
5.0-6.0
References
134, p. 3; 62, p. 11; 97;
29, p. 588; 17, p. 150
137, pp. 277, 278
134, p. 3; 62, p. 12; 95;
29, p. 631; 17, p. 56
137, pp. 287, 288
134, p. 3; 62, p. 12; 95;
29, p. 633;17, p. 156
137, pp. 289, 290
134, p. 3; 62, p. 12; 95;
29, 635; 17, p. 157
137, pp. 291, 292
Observed Release Criterion*
Result
Q
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
AF
AV
Q
RDL
Substance
Chromium
251.1
542
1.4
577
J
1.29
447
1.8
546
J
1.29
423
1.8
468
1.29
363
J
1.8
63
-------
Source 2 Identification
TABLE 13 (Continued)
2016 Source 2 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample
Number
MBDJK4
MBDJK9
MBDJM2
MBDJN1
CLP SDG
MBDJH5
MBDJH5
MBDJG5
MBDJG5
Sample
Identification
VCLHR146
VCLHR148
VCLHR156
VCLHR160
Sample Date
7/22/2016
7/22/2016
7/23/2016
7/24/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total
Organic
Carbon
61,000
52,000
60,000
64,000
Sample
Depth (feet)
6.5-7.5
3.0-4.0
4.0-5.0
2.1-3.1
References
134, p. 3; 62, p. 12; 95
134, p. 3; 62, p. 12; 95
134, p. 3; 62, p. 13; 97
134, p.3; 62, p. 13; 97
29, p. 637; 17, p. 158
29, p. 642; 17, p. 158
29, p. 591; 17, p. 153
29, p. 600; 17, p. 153
137,
pp.293, 294
137, pp. 297, 298
137,
pp.313, 314
137, pp. 321, 322
Observed
Release
Criterion*
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Substance
Chromium
251.1
384
J
1.29
298
1.6
880
J
1.29
682
1.7
493
J 1.29
382
1.9
336
J
1.29
260
1.9
Notes:
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
J = The result is an estimated quantity. The associated numerical value is the approximate concentration of the analyte in the sample. The concentrations were qualified with "J"
because the samples have percent solids less than 50% and the detected results were greater than or equal to the method detection limit; therefore, the results were J qualified (see
sample data validation reports referenced). The direction of bias is unknown; therefore, the J qualified concentrations have been adjusted in accordance with Ref. 135.
AF = Adjustment factor from Reference 135, p. 18
AV = Adjusted value
CLP = Contract Laboratory Program
Q = Data qualifier
RDL = Reporting detection limit; the RDL is the adjusted contract required quantitation limit (Ref. 54).
SDG = Sample Delivery Group
* Represents three times the greatest detected background result or the greatest RDL for non-detected background results, whichever is greater (Ref. 1, Table 2-3).
64
-------
Source 2 Identification
TABLE 14
2021 Source 2 Surface Sediment Observed Release Samples
Sample Number
BGK54
BGK48
BGK59
BGK61
BGK67
Sample Identification
SSLHR073a
SSLHR076a
SSLHR080a
SSLHR081a
SSLHR091a
Sample Date
8/9/2021
8/9/2021
8/10/2021
8/10/2021
8/10/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
45,700
51,000
44,200
55,700
49,900
Sample Depth (feet)
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
References:
161, pp. 47, 48;
164, pp. 13, 14;
165, p. 2; 166, p.l;
167, p. 2
161, pp. 53, 54;
164, pp. 14, 15;
165, p. 2; 166, p.
1; 167, p. 2
161, pp. 55,56;
164, pp. 20,21,
165, p. 2; 166, p.
3; 167, p. 4
161, pp. 57, 58;
164, pp. 30,31;
165, p. 2; 166, p.
5; 167, p. 4
161, pp.63, 64; 164,
pp. 32, 33; 165, p. 2;
166, p. 5; 167, p. 5
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Chromium
150.9
657
0.91
163
1.12
173
1.12
293
1.07
154
1.17
Sample Number
BGK78
BGK80
BGK82
BGK88
BGK99
Sample Identification
SSLHR104a
SSLHR109a
SSLHRllOa
SSLHR138a
SSLHR143a
Sample Date
8/11/2021
8/11/2021
8/11/2021
8/12/2021
8/12/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
46,600
36,300
47,300
43,800
48,500
Sample Depth (feet)
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
References:
161, pp. 69, 70; 164,
pp. 41, 42; 165, p. 2;
166, p. 6; 167, p. 7
161, pp. 71, 72;
164, pp. 43, 44;
165, p. 2; 166, p.7;
167, p .7
161, pp. 73, 74;
164, pp. 45, 46;
165, p. 2; 166, p.7;
167, p. 7
161, pp. 85
164,pp.51
165, p. 2; 16
167, p.
,86;
,52;
6, p.8;
0
161, pp. 87, 88;
164, pp. 63, 64;
165, p. 2; 166, p.
10; 167, p.l 1
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Substance
Chromium
150.9
155
1.17
177
1.13
158
1.31
193
1.15
199
1.31
65
-------
Source 2 Identification
TABLE 14 (Continued)
2021 Source 2 Surface Sediment Observed Release Samples
Sample Number:
BGK96
BGK94
BGK92
BGK90
BGKE4
Sample
Identification:
SSLHR144a
SSLHR145a
SSLHR146a
SSLHR148a
SSLHR149a
Sample Date:
8/12/2021
8/12/2021
8/12/2021
8/12/2021
8/18/2021
Units:
nig/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic
Carbon:
44,800
50,800
55,800
44,700
51,600
Sample Depth
(feet):
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
References:
161, pp. 89, 90;
164, pp. 61, 62;
165, p. 3;166, p.
10; 167 pp. 10,11
161, pp. 91,92;
164, p. 58; 165, p.
3; 166, p. 9; 167,
p. 10
161, pp. 93,94;
164, p. 55, 56;
165, p. 3; 166, p.
8; 167, p. 10
161, pp. 95, 96;
164, pp. 53, 54;
165, p. 3; 166, p.
8; 167, p. 10
161, p. 97; 164, p.
160; 165, p. 3;
166, p. 20; 167, p.
24
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Substance
nig/kg
Chromium
150.9
195
1.32
2000
11.5
179
1.46
214
1.12
157
1.37
66
-------
Source 2 Identification
TABLE 14 (Continued)
2021 Source 2 Surface Sediment Observed Release Samples
Sample Number:
BGKE2
BGKG3
BGKG5
Sample Identification:
SSLHR156a
SSLHR160a
SSLHR180a
Sample Date
8/18/2021
8/20/2021
8/20/2021
Units:
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon:
47,000
552,200
52,600
Sample Depth (feet):
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
References:
161, p. 98. 99; 164, pp.
157, 158; 165, p. 3; 166, p.
20; 167, p. 24
161, p. 100; 164, pp. 179, 180;
165, p. 3; 166, p.24; 167, pp.
24, 25, 29
161, p. 102; 164, pp. 181,
182; 165, p. 3; 166, p. 24;
167, pp. 24, 25, 29
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Chromium
150.9
182
1.15
156
1.05
164
1.14
Notes:
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
Q = Data qualifier
RDL = Reporting detection limit; the RDL is the adjusted contract required quantitation limit (Ref. 54).
* Represents three times the greatest detected background result or the greatest RDL for non-detected background results, whichever
is greater (Ref. 1, Table 2-3).
67
-------
Source 2 Identification
TABLE 15
2021 Source 2 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
Sample
Number:
BGKCO
BGKC9
BGKD7
BGKF2
BGKB0
Sample
Identification:
VCLHR009Ra
VCLHR015a
VCLHR033a
VCLHR040a
VCLHR050a
Laboratory
ID:
2108034-04
2108034-13
2108035-08
2108037-02
2108033-07
Sample Date
8/16/2021
8/16/2021
08/17/2021
08/19/2021
8/13/2021
Units:
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic
Carbon:
46,900
47,400
30,700
57,100
26,500
Sample Depth
(feet):
6.5-7.5
2.5-3.5
2.0-3.0
3.0-4.0
3-4
References
161, pp. 7, 8; 164, pp.
133, 134; 165, p. 1;
166, p. 15; 167, p. 17
161, pp. 11, 12; 164, pp.
143, 144; 165, p. 1; 166, p.
17; 167, p.18
161, pp. 17,18; 164,
pp. 152,153; 165, p.l;
166, p. 19; 167, p. 20
161, pp. 19, 20; 164,
pp. 167,168; 165, p.
1; 166, p. 22; 167, p.
26
161, pp.
pp. 75, 7<
166, p. 1
U
27, 28; 164,
5; 165, p. 1;
3; 167, pp.
K 15
Observed
Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Chromium
100.5
428
0.895
283
0.819
127
0.727
102
1.12
935
0.823
68
-------
Source 2 Identification
TABLE 15 (Continued)
2021 Source 2 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
Sample
Number:
BGKA5
BGKB2
BGKE1
BGK55
BGK53
Sample
Identification:
VCLHR051a
VCLHR053a
VCLHR065a
VCLHR073a
VCLHR074a
Laboratory
ID:
2108033-02
2108033-10
2108035-12
2108007-08
2108007-05
Sample Date:
8/13/2021
8/13/2021
8/17/2021
8/9/2021
8/9/2021
Units:
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic
Carbon:
48,000
32,400
35,900
68,300
48,300
Sample
Depth (feet):
3-4
2-3
1.2-2.2
Ui
L/i
1
o
3-4
References:
161, pp. 29, 30; 164,
pp. 69, 70; 165, p. 1;
166, pp. 12; 167, p. 14
161, pp. 33, 34; 164,
pp 78, 79; 165, p. 1;
166, p. 14; 167, p. 14
161, pp. 41,42; 164,
pp. 156, 157; 165, p. 1;
166, p. 19; 167, p. 20
161, pp. 47, 48; 164,
pp. 15, 16; 165, p. 2;
166, p. 2; 167, p. 2
161, pp. 49, 50; 164,
pp. 12, 13; 165, p. 2;
166, p 1; 167, p. 2
Observed
Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
Chromium
100.5
373
0.862
427
0.865
461
0.932
2,360
0.903
222
0.794
69
-------
Source 2 Identification
TABLE 15 (Continued)
2021 Source 2 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
Sample
Number:
BGK49
BGK60
BGK62
BGK77
BGK79
Sample
Identification:
VCLHR076a
VCLHR080a
VCLHR081a
VCLHRlOOa
VCLHR104a
Laboratory
ID:
2108007-01
2108029-02
2108029-11
2108031-04
2108031-06
Sample Date:
8/9/2021
8/10/2021
08/10/2021
8/11/2021
8/11/2021
Units:
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic
Carbon:
86,700
48,400
115,000
52,800
48,300
Sample
Depth (feet):
3-4
1 -2.5
0
Ly.
1
L/i
2.5-4.5
4.0-5.0
References:
161, pp. 53, 54; 164,
pp. 8, 9; 165, p. 2;
166, p 1; 167, p. 2
161, p. 55, 56; 164, pp.21,
22; 165, p. 2; 166, p. 3;
167, p. 4
161, pp.57, 58; 164, pp.
31,32; 165, p. 2; 166, p.5;
167, p. 4
161, pp. 67, 68; 164,
pp. 40, 41; 165, p. 2;
166, p. 6; 167, p. 6
161, pp. 69,
pp. 42, 43;
2;166, p. 6;
70; 164,
165, p.
67, p. 7
Observed
Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
Chromium
100.5
3,010
0.907
323
0.749
105
1.47
466
0.916
299
0.909
70
-------
Source 2 Identification
TABLE 15 (Continued)
2021 Source 2 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
Sample
Number:
BGK81
BGK84
BGK89
BGKA0
BGK98
BGK95
Sample
Identification
VCLHR109a
VCLHRllOa
VCLHR138a
VCLHR143a
VCLHR144a
VCLHR145a
Laboratory ID
2108031-08
2108031-11
2108032-02
2108032-13
2108032-11
2108032-08
Sample Date
8/11/2021
8/11/2021
8/13/2021
8/12/2021
8/12/2021
8/12/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic
Carbon:
59,400
36,600
49,800
47,000
50,600
50,800
Sample Depth
(feet):
5.0-6.0
4.6-5.6
4.5-5.5
4.0-5.0
3.0-4.0
5.0-6.0
References:
161, pp. 71,72;
164, pp. 44, 45;
165, p. 2; 166, p.7;
167, p. 7
161, pp
164, pp.
p. 2; 16
. 73 to 76;
48, 49; 165,
6, p.7; 167,
p. 7
161, pp. 85
164,pp.52
165, p. 2; 16
167, p.
,86;
,53;
6, p. 8;
10
161, pp. 87, 88;
164, pp. 64, 65;
165, p. 2; 166, p.
10; 167, p.11
161, pp. 89, 90; 164,
pp. 62, 63; 165, p.3;
166, p. 10; 167, pp.
10, 11
161, pp. 91,92;
164, p. 58, 59; 165,
p. 3; 166, p. 9; 167,
p. 10
Observed
Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
Mg/kg
Chromium
100.5
1,900
0.939
560
0.734
884
0.812
778
0.943
523
0.857
467
0.988
71
-------
Source 2 Identification
TABLE 15 (Continued)
2021 Source 2 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number:
BGK93
BGK91
BGKE3
Sample Identification
VCLHR146a
VCLHR148a
VCLHR156a
Laboratory ID
2108032-06
2108032-04
2108036-02
Sample Date
8/12/2021
8/12/2021
8/18/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
91,000
35,200
59,300
Sample Depth (feet)
6.5-7.5
3.0-4.0
4.0-5.0
References:
161, pp. 93, 94; 164,
pp. 56, 57; 165, p. 3;
166, pp. 8, 9; 167, p. 10
161, pp. 95, 96; 164,
pp. 54, 55; 165, p. 3;
166, p. 8; 167, p.10
161, pp. 98, 99; 164, pp.
158, 159; 165, p. 3; 166,
pp. 20; 167, p. 24
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Chromium
100.5
256
1.12
508
0.659
474
1.14
Notes:
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
Q = Data qualifier
RDL = Reporting detection limit; the RDL is the adjusted contract required quantitation limit (Ref. 54).
*Represents three times the greatest detected background result or the greatest RDL for non-detected background results, whichever is greater (Ref. 1,
Table 2-3).
72
-------
[S S L! H R160 a;
[SSJHR156^
Lv,CLTHR'i38a1
;VCL?HR*127j
Lv.c lJh R125]
LVCLIHR126]
LVCllHR11Qa]
LVCLIHR1Q2]
rSSjHRQ8'lai
LV.CllHRQ7.4ai
LVCtlHRQ7,3al
LVCLlHRQ87j
LV,CLlHRQ8;4]
Lvc iIh R072 i
LVCllHR033a1
Lv.clJhrq^itJ
^^RvcjlHRlmg
JVC]iHR01l|
[yC?HR?Q9R^|
LVCLlHRQ15a1
eeogBiEw
'G WaSE®®
Chromium 2021
Chromium 2016'
Chromium 2016 & 2021
Hackensack River Section
NWI Wetland (HRS Eligible)
Estuarine and Marine Deepwater
Estuarine and Marine Wetland
Freshwater Emergent Wetland
Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland
Freshwater Pond
Freshwater Lake
MILES
ORIGINAL SCALE: 1 " = 2 MILES
FIGURE: 5
Source:
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
New Jersey Bureau of GIS, ESRI Base Maps
*The source of this basemap is Esri, used by EPA with Esri's permission
Coordinate System: NAD 1983 State Plane New Jersey FIPS 2900 Feet
Projection. Transverse Mercator, Datum: North American 1983
Map Date: 2/16/2022
SOURCE 2 SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE LOCATIONS
MEETING OBSERVED RELEASE CRITERIA (CHROMIUM)
LOWER HACKENSACK RIVER
Bergen, Hudson, & Essex County, New Jersey
N
W I
?rti«lies and Solutions,^0'
a DAVEY®. company
-------
Source 2 Identification
2.2.3 HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AVAILABLE TO A PATHWAY - SOURCE 2
TABLE 16
SOURCE 2 CONTAINMENT
Containment Description
Containment
Factor Value
References
Gas release to air: Not Scored
Not Scored
Not Scored
Particulate release to air: Not Scored
Not Scored
Not Scored
Release to groundwater: Not Scored
Not Scored
Not Scored
Sediment logs completed during the ESI sampling event
indicate that neither of the following is present: (1)
maintained engineered cover, or (2) functioning and
maintained run-on control system and runoff management
system (Ref. 137). Evidence of hazardous substance
migration from the source area.
10
1, Table 4-2
2.4.2 HAZARDOUS WASTE QUANTITY - SOURCE 2
Insufficient information exists to evaluate hazardous constituent quantity or hazardous
wastestream quantity; and area is not evaluated for source type "other." Therefore, the hazardous
waste quantity value is estimated using Tier C, volume (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1).
2.4.2.1.1 Hazardous Constituent Quantity - Source 2
The hazardous constituent quantity for Source 2 could not be adequately determined according to
the HRS requirements; that is, the total mass of all CERCLA hazardous substances in the source
and releases from the source is not known and cannot be estimated with reasonable confidence
(Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.1). There are insufficient historical and current data (e.g., analytical data)
available to adequately calculate the total or partial mass of all CERCLA hazardous substances
in the source and the associated releases from the source. Therefore, there is insufficient
information to evaluate the associated releases from the source to calculate the hazardous
constituent quantity for Source 2 with reasonable confidence. Scoring proceeds to the evaluation
of Tier B, Hazardous wastestream quantity (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.1).
Hazardous Constituent Quantity (C) Value: Not Evaluated
74
-------
Source 2 Identification
2.4.2.1.2 Hazardous Wastestream Quantity- Source 2
The hazardous wastestream quantity for Source 2 could not be adequately determined according
to the HRS requirements; that is, the mass of the hazardous wastestreams plus the mass of any
additional CERCLA pollutants and contaminants in the source and releases from the source is
not known and cannot be estimated with reasonable confidence (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.2). There
are insufficient historical and current data (e.g., analytical data) available to adequately calculate
the total or partial mass of the wastestream plus the mass of all CERCLA pollutants and
contaminants in the source and the associated releases from the source. Therefore, there is
insufficient information to evaluate the associated releases from the source to calculate the
hazardous wastestream quantity for Source 2 with reasonable confidence. Scoring proceeds to
the evaluation of Tier C, Volume (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.2).
Hazardous Wastestream Quantity Value: Not Evaluated
2.4.2.1.3 Volume - Source 2
Analytical results show that chromium-contaminated sediments are located in the LHR (as
shown section 2.2.2 for Source 2 above). However, the information available on the depth and
extent of the chromium contamination is not sufficiently specific to support a volume of the
contaminated surface water sediments with reasonable confidence. Therefore, Source 2 has been
assigned a value of greater than zero (>0) but exact amount unknown for the volume measure
(Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.3).
Dimension of source (yd3): >0 yd3
Volume Assigned Value (>0)/2.5: >0
2.4.2.1.4 Area - Source 2
Tier D is not evaluated for source type "other," and because a volume estimate is assigned the
area measure is assigned a value of zero (Ref. 1, Table 2-5, Sections 2.4.2.1.3 and 2.4.2.1.4).
Area Assigned Value: 0
2.4.2.1.5 Source Hazardous Waste Quantity Value - Source 2
The source hazardous waste quantity value for Source 2 is >0 for Tier C - Volume [Ref. 1,
Section 2.4.2 and Table 2-5],
Highest assigned value assigned from Ref. 1, Table 2-5: >0
75
-------
Source 3 Identification
2.2.1 SOURCE 3 IDENTIFICATION
Name of source: Lower Hackensack River lead contaminated surface water sediments
Number of source: 3
Source Type: Other (lead contaminated surface water sediments with no identified source)
Source 3 consists of lead contaminated sediments in the LHR [see Section 2.2.2], Section 4.0
identifies numerous possible releases of lead to the river; however, due to the large number of
current and former industrial or other anthropogenic activities affecting the local area of the LHR
and its tributaries, combined with the tidal nature of contaminant transport in the river, it is not
currently possible to identify the origin of the lead in the LHR (see Section 4.1.2.1.1,
Attribution).
Description and Location of Source (with reference to a map of the site):
The 2016 ESI and 2021 Supplemental ESI sediment sample analytical results document an
observed release of lead to the sediments of the LHR between sampling locations VCLHR005
(approximately RM 0.5) and SSLHR180a (approximately RM 19.5) shown in Figure 6 of this
HRS documentation record.
Containment
Release to surface water via overland migration and/or flood:
Sediment logs completed during the ESI and Supplemental ESI sampling events indicate none of
the following are present: (1) maintained engineered cover, or (2) functioning and maintained
run-on control system and runoff management system, or (3) flood containment features (Ref.
137; Ref. 161). Also, the presence of contaminated sediments (as shown in section 2.2.2 below)
provides evidence that hazardous substances have migrated to the Lower Hackensack River.
Therefore, a surface water containment factor value of 10 is assigned for this source (Ref. 1,
Table 4-2, Table 4-8).
2.2.2 HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SOURCE 3
Section 2.2 of this HRS documentation record describes the investigation and methods used to
identify lead contaminated sediment within the LHR. Tables 17 to 19 provide a summary for
surface and subsurface samples collected and analyzed during the 2016 and 2021 investigations
that document concentrations of lead in sediments of the LHR at concentrations meeting the
observed release significant increase criteria (Ref. 1, Table 2-3) and Figure 6 shows the sampling
locations. As discussed in the Attribution section of this HRS documentation record, the
significant increase in lead is due in part to the releases being evaluated for the site.
List of Hazardous Substances Associated with Source
Lead
76
-------
Source 3 Identification
TABLE 17
2016 Source 3 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
MBDJB9
MBDJC4
MBDJB2
MBDJ96
CLP SDG
MBDJAO
MBDJC0
MBDJAO
MBDJ80
Sample Identification
VCLHR005
VCLHR006
VCLHR009R
VCLHR013
Sample Date
07/12/2016
7/13/2016
7/12/2016
7/11/2016
Total Organic Carbon
50,000
33,000
59,000
48,000
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Sample Depth (feet)
3.0-4.0
1.5-2.5
6.0-7.3
5.0-6.0
Reference
134, p. 2; 62, p. 1; 63
29, p. 454; 17, p. 136
137, pp. 9, 10
134, p. 2; 62, p. 1; 64
29, p. 479; 17, p. 138;
137, pp. 11,12
134, p. 2; 62, p. 1; 63
29, p. 447; 17, p. 48, 135
137, pp. 17, 18
134, p. 2; 62, pp. 1, 2; 82
29, p. 411; 17, p. 132, 134
137, pp. 25, 26
Observed Release
Criterion*
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Substance
Lead
237.6
476
J
1.44
331
1.9
257
1.2
327
J
1.44
227
1.6
406
J
1.44
282
1.6
CLP Sample Number
MBDJA8
MBDJ93
MBDJ34
CLP SDG
MBDJAO
MBDJ80
MBDJ20
Sample Identification
VCLHR016
VCLHR017
VCLHR040
Sample Date
7/11/2016
7/10/2016
7/7/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
44,000
49,000
80,000
Sample Depth (feet)
4.0-5.0
3.6-4.6
3.0-4.0
Reference
134, p. 2; 62, p. 2; 63
29, p. 443; 17, p. 46, 133
137, pp. 31, 32
134, p. 2; 62, p. 2; 82
29, p. 408; 17, p. 130
137, pp. 33, 34
134, p. 2; 62, p. 4; 84
29, p. 289; 17, p. 119, 120
137, pp. 81,82
Observed Release
Criterion*
Result
AF
AV
Q
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Substance
Lead
237.6
421
1.44
292
J
1.5
437
J
1.44
303
1.5
425
J
1.44
295
1.9
77
-------
Source 3 Identification
TABLE 17 (Continued)
2016 Source 3 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
MBDHW1
MBDHY7
CLP SDG
MBDHS1
MBDHX2
Sample Identification
VCLHR100
VCLHR109
Sample Date
6/25/2016
6/27/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
54,000
61,000
Sample Depth (feet)
3.0-4.0
5.0-6.0
Reference
134, p. 3; 62, p. 9; 72
29, p. 139; 17, p. 17, 102;
137, pp. 201,202
134, p. 3; 62, p. 9; 74
29, p. 206; 17, p. 109;
137, pp. 219, 220
Observed Release Criterion*
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Substance
Lead
237.6
352
J
1.44
244
1.7
381
J
1.44
265
1.8
CLP Sample Number
MBDJG8
MBDJJ8
MBDJK0
CLP SDG
MBDJG5
MBDJH5
MBDJH5
Sample Identification
VCLHR133
VCLHR143
VCLHR144
Sample Date
7/21/2016
7/22/2016
7/22/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
62,000
49,000
52,000
Sample Depth (feet)
2.8-3.8
3.9-4.9
3.0-4.0
Reference
134, p. 3; 62, p. 11; 97
29, p. 586; 17, p. 149;
137, pp. 267, 268
134, p. 3; 62, p. 12; 95
29, p. 631; 17, p. 156;
137, pp. 287, 288
134, p. 3; 62, p. 12; 95
29, p. 633; 17, p. 156;
137, pp. 289, 290
Observed Release Criterion*
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Substance
Lead
237.6
511
J
1.44
355
2.2
397
J
1.44
276
1.8
436
J
1.44
303
1.8
78
-------
Source 3 Identification
TABLE 17 (Continued)
Source 3 2016 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
MBDJK2
MBDJM2
CLP SDG
MBDJH5
MBDJG5
Sample Identification
VCLHR145
VCLHR156
Sample Date
7/22/2016
7/23/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
57,000
60,000
Sample Depth (feet)
5.0-6.0
4.0-5.0
Reference
134, p. 3; 62, p. 12; 95
29, p. 635; 17, p. 157;
137, pp. 291,292
134, p. 3; 62, p. 13; 97
29, p. 591; 17, p. 153;
137, pp. 313,314
Observed Release Criterion*
Result
AF
AV
Q
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Substance
Lead
237.6
413
1.44
287
J
1.8
443
J
1.44
308
1.9
Notes:
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
J = The result is an estimated quantity. The associated numerical value is the approximate concentration of the analyte in the sample. The
concentrations were qualified with "J" because the samples have percent solids less than 50% and the detected results were greater than or
equal to the method detection limit; therefore, the results were J qualified (see sample data validation reports referenced). The direction of
bias is unknown; therefore, the J qualified concentrations have been adjusted in accordance with Ref. 135.
AF = Adjustment factor from Reference 135, p. 18
AV = Adjusted value
CLP = Contract Laboratory Program
Q = Data qualifier
RDL = Reporting detection limit: the RDL is the adjusted contract required quantitation limit (Ref. 54).
SDG = Sample Delivery Group
* Represents three times the greatest detected background result or the greatest RDL for non-detected background results, whichever is greater
(Ref. 1, Table 2-3).
79
-------
Source 3 Identification
TABLE 18
2021 Source 3 Surface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number:
BGKB7
BGKB9
BGKF1
BGK71
Sample Identification:
SSLHR007Ra
SSLHR009Ra
SSLHR040a
SSLHR071a
Laboratory ID:
2108034-01
2108034-03
2108037-01
2108029-07
Sample Date
8/16/2021
8/16/2021
8/19/2021
8/10/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
29,900
29,800
51,700
38,400
Sample Depth (feet)
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
References:
161, pp. 5, 6; 164, pp.
130, 131; 165,p. 1;
166, p. 15; 167, pp.
17
161, pp. 7, 8; 164,
pp. 132, 133; 165,
p.l; 166, p. 15;
167, p.17
161, pp. 19, 20;
164, pp. 166, 167;
165, p. 1; 166, p.
22; 167, p. 26
161, pp. 45, 46;
164, p. 27; 165, p.
2; 166, pp. 3,4;
167, p. 5
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Lead
92.7
94.6
1.32
108
1.40
96.2
1.51
94.8
1.42
80
-------
Source 3 Identification
TABLE 18 (Continued)
2021 Source 3 Surface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
BGK54
BGK48
BGK59
BGK61
Sample Identification
SSLHR073a
SSLHR076a
SSLHR080a
SSLHR081a
Laboratory ID
2108007-06
2108007-07
2108029-01
2108029-10
Sample Date
8/09/2021
8/09/2021
8/10/2021
8/10/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
45,700
51,000
44,200
55,700
Sample Depth (feet)
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
References:
161, pp. 47, 48; 164,
pp. 13, 14; 165, p. 2;
166, p.l; 167, p. 2
161, pp. 53, 54;
164, pp. 14, 15;
165, p. 2; 166, p.
1; 167, p. 2
161, pp. 55, 56;
164, pp. 20,21,
165, p. 2; 166, p.
3; 167, p. 4
161, pp. 57, 58;
164, pp. 30, 31;
165, p. 2; 166, p.
5; 167, p. 4
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Lead
92.7
220
1.46
100
1.79
95.8
1.79
106
1.71
81
-------
Source 3 Identification
TABLE 18 (Continued)
2021 Source 3 Surface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
BGK67
BGK76
BGK78
BGK80
Sample Identification
SSLHR091a
SSLHRlOOa
SSLHR104a
SSLHR109a
Laboratory ID
2108029-12
2108031-03
2108031-05
2108031-07
Sample Date
8/10/2021
8/11/2021
8/11/2021
8/11/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
49,900
38,000
46,600
36,300
Sample Depth (feet)
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
References:
161, pp. 63, 64; 164,
pp. 32, 33; 165, p.2;
166, p. 5; 167, p. 5
161, pp. 67, 68;
164, pp. 38, 39;
165, p. 2; 166, p.
6; 167, p. 6
161, pp 69, 70;
164, pp. 41,42;
165, p. 2; 166, p.6;
167, p. 7
161, pp. 71, 72;
164, pp. 43, 44;
165, p. 2; 166, p.7;
167, p. 7
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Lead
92.7
98.4
1.86
92.8
1.49
108
1.87
126
1.80
82
-------
Source 3 Identification
TABLE 18 (Continued)
2021 Source 3 Surface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
BGK82
BGK88
BGK99
BGK96
Sample Identification
SSLHRllOa
SSLHR138a
SSLHR143a
SSLHR144a
Laboratory ID
2108031-09
2108032-01
2108032-12
2108032-10
Sample Date
8/11/2021
8/12/2021
8/12/2021
8/12/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
47,300
43,800
48,500
44,800
Sample Depth (feet)
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
References:
161, pp. 73, 74; 164,
pp. 45, 46; 165, p. 2;
166, p. 7; 167, p. 7
161, pp. 85, 86;
164, pp. 51,52;
165, p. 2; 166, p.
8; 167, p. 10
161, pp. 87, 88;
164, pp. 63, 64;
165, p. 2; 166, p.
10; 167, p.11
161, pp. 89, 90;
164, pp. 61, 61;
165, p. 3; 166, p.10;
167, pp. 10, 11
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Lead
92.7
160
2.10
128
1.85
117
2.10
115
2.11
83
-------
Source 3 Identification
TABLE 18 (Continued)
2021 Source 3 Surface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
BGK94
BGK92
BGK90
BGKE4
Sample Identification
SSLHR145a
SSLHR146a
SSLHR148a
SSLHR149a
Laboratory ID
2108032-07
2108032-05
2108032-03
2108036-03
Sample Date
08/12/2021
08/12/2021
08/12/2021
08/18/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon:
50,800
55,800
44,700
51,600
Sample Depth (feet):
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
References:
161, pp. 91, 92; 164,
p. 58; 165, p. 3; 166,
p. 9; 167, p. 10
161, pp. 93, 94;
164, pp. 55, 56;
165, p. 3; 166, p.
8; 167, p.10
161, pp. 95, 96;
164, pp. 53, 54;
165, p. 3; 166, p.
8; 167, p. 10
161, p. 97; 164, p.
160; 165, p .3;
166, p. 20; 167, p.
24
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Lead
92.7
1160
18.4
132
2.34
144
1.79
121
2.19
Notes:
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
Q = Data qualifier
RDL = Reporting detection limit; the RDL is the adjusted contract required quantitation limit (Ref. 54).
* Represents three times the greatest detected background result or the greatest RDL for non-detected background results,
whichever is greater (Ref. 1, Table 2-3).
84
-------
Source 3 Identification
TABLE 19
2021 Source 3 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
BGKCO
BGKC9
BGKB0
BGK55
Sample Identification
VCLHR009Ra
VCLHR015a
VCLHR050a
VCLHR073a
Laboratory ID
2108034-04
2108034-13
2108033-07
2108007-08
Sample Date
8/16/2021
8/16/2021
8/13/2021
8/9/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
46,900
47,400
26,500
68,300
Sample Depth (feet)
6.5-7.5
2.5-3.5
3.0-4.0
Ui
L/i
1
o
References:
161, pp. 7, 8; 164,
pp. 133, 134; 165,
p. 1; 166, p.15;
167, p.17
161,pp. 11, 12;
164, pp. 143, 144;
165, p. 1; 166, p.
17; 167, p.18
161, pp. 27, 28;
164, pp. 75, 76;
165, p. 1; 166, p.
12; 167, pp. 14,15
161, pp. 47, 48;
164, p. 1; 165, p.
2; 166, p. 1,2;
167, p. 2
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Lead
241.5
284
1.31
287
1.31
284
1.32
338
1.44
85
-------
Source 3 Identification
TABLE 19 (Continued)
2021 Source 3 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
BGK51
BGK95
BGK77
BGK81
Sample Identification
VCLHR075a
VCLHR076a
VCLHRlOOa
VCLHR109a
Laboratory ID
2108007-03
2108007-01
2108031-04
2108031-08
Sample Date
8/9/2021
8/9/2021
8/11/2021
8/11/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
27,800
86,700
52,800
59,400
Sample Depth (feet)
6.0-7.0
3.0-4.0
2.5-4.5
5.0-6.0
References:
161, pp. 51,52;
164, pp.10, 11;
165, p. 2; 166, p.
1; 167, p. 2
161, pp. 53, 54;
164, pp. 8, 9; 165,
p. 2; 166, p 1; 167,
p. 2
161, pp. 67, 68;
164, pp. 40,41;
165, p. 2; 166, p.
6; 167, p. 6
161, pp. 71,72;
164, pp. 44, 45;
165, p. 2; 166, p.7;
167, p. 7
Observed Release Criterion*
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Results
0
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Lead
241.5
292
1.08
403
1.45
284
1.47
298
1.50
86
-------
Source 3 Identification
TABLE 19 (Continued)
2021 Source 3 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
BGK89
BGKA0
BGK98
BGK95
Sample Identification
VCLHR138a
VCLHR143a
VCLHR144a
VCLHR145a
Laboratory ID
2108032-02
2108032-13
2108032-11
2108032-08
Sample Date
8/12/2021
8/12/2021
8/12/2021
8/12/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
49,800
47,000
50,600
50,900
Sample Depth (feet)
4.5-5.5
4.0-5.0
1.0-2.0
5.0-6.0
References:
161, pp. 85, 86;
164, pp.52,53;
165, p. 2; 166, p.
8; 167, p. 10
161, pp. 87, 88;
164, pp. 64, 65;
165, p. 2; 166, p.
10; 167, p.11
161, pp. 89, 90;
164, pp. 62, 63;
165, p. 3; 166, p.10;
167, pp. 10, 11
161, pp. 91,92; 164,
pp. 58, 59; 165, p. 3;
166, p. 9; 167, p. 10
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Lead
241.5
363
1.30
340
1.51
430
1.37
367
1.58
87
-------
Source 3 Identification
TABLE 19 (Continued)
2021 Source 3 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
BGK93
BGK91
BGKE3
Sample Identification
VCLHR146a
VCLHR148a
VCLHR156a
Laboratory ID
2108032-06
2108032-04
2108036-02
Sample Date
8/12/2021
8/12/2021
8//18.2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
91,000
35,200
59,300
Sample Depth (feet)
6.5-7.5
3.0-4.0
4.0-5.0
References
161, pp. 93, 94;
164, pp. 56, 57;
165, p. 3; 166, pp.
8, 9; 167, p .10
161, p. 96; 164,
pp. 54, 55; 165, p.
3; 166, p. 8; 167,
p. 10
161, pp. 98, 99;
164, pp. 158, 159;
165, p. 3; 166, pp.
20; 167, p. 24
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Lead
241.5
264
1.80
309
1.05
451
1.83
Notes:
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
Q = Data qualifier
RDL = Reporting detection limit; the RDL is the adjusted contract required quantitation limit (Ref. 54).
* Represents three times the greatest detected background result or the greatest RDL for non-detected background results, whichever is greater
(Ref 1, Table 2-3).
88
-------
SSJHR148aa
BEc?HR1485
[SSL]HRV46a
[vCLlHR 1.46 a
LV,CLlHR1'43ai
lVCLlHR'133]
LVCL!H R'l38a|
[SSL'HRIIQa'
[SSllHR'1'O^a]
LVC tlH R07,3ai
LV,CllHRQ'l7j
LVCIIHRO'1 5a|
VCLJHR009Ra]
^?HRQQ9rS
[SSLTHRQ'Q7Ra1
Hackensack River Section
NWI Wetland (HRS Eligible)
Estuarine and Marine Deepwater
Estuarine and Marine Wetland
Freshwater Emergent Wetland
Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland
Freshwater Pond
Freshwater Lake
MILES
ORIGINAL SCALE: 1 " = 2 MILES
FIGURE: 6
Source:
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
New Jersey Bureau of GIS, ESRI Base Maps
*The source of this basemap is Esri, used by EPA with Esri's permission
Coordinate System: NAD 1983 State Plane New Jersey FIPS 2900 Feet
Projection. Transverse Mercator, Datum: North American 1983
Map Date: 2/16/2022
SOURCE 3 SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE LOCATIONS
MEETING OBSERVED RELEASE CRITERIA (LEAD)
LOWER HACKENSACK RIVER
Bergen, Hudson, & Essex County, New Jersey
N
W I
?rti«lies and Solutions,^0'
a DAVEY®. company
-------
Source 3 Identification
2.2.3 HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AVAILABLE TO A PATHWAY - SOURCE 3
TABLE 20
SOURCE 3 CONTAINMENT
Containment Description
Containment
Factor Value
References
Gas release to air: Not Scored
Not Scored
Not Scored
Particulate release to air: Not Scored
Not Scored
Not Scored
Release to groundwater: Not Scored
Not Scored
Not Scored
Sediment logs completed during the ESI sampling event
indicate that neither of the following is present: (1)
maintained engineered cover, or (2) functioning and
maintained run-on control system and runoff management
system (Ref. 137). Evidence of hazardous substance
migration from the source area.
10
1, Table 4-2
2.4.2 HAZARDOUS WASTE QUANTITY - SOURCE 3
Insufficient information exists to evaluate hazardous constituent quantity or hazardous
wastestream quantity; and area is not evaluated for source type "other." Therefore, the hazardous
waste quantity value is estimated using Tier C, volume (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1).
2.4.2.1.1 Hazardous Constituent Quantity - Source 3
The hazardous constituent quantity for Source 3 could not be adequately determined according to
the HRS requirements; that is, the total mass of all CERCLA hazardous substances in the source
and releases from the source is not known and cannot be estimated with reasonable confidence
(Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.1). There are insufficient historical and current data (e.g., analytical data)
available to adequately calculate the total or partial mass of all CERCLA hazardous substances
in the source and the associated releases from the source. Therefore, there is insufficient
information to evaluate the associated releases from the source to calculate the hazardous
constituent quantity for Source 3 with reasonable confidence. Scoring proceeds to the evaluation
of Tier B, Hazardous wastestream quantity (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.1).
Hazardous Constituent Quantity (C) Value: Not Evaluated
90
-------
Source 3 Identification
2.4.2.1.2 Hazardous Wastestream Quantity- Source 3
The hazardous wastestream quantity for Source 3 could not be adequately determined according
to the HRS requirements; that is, the mass of the hazardous wastestreams plus the mass of any
additional CERCLA pollutants and contaminants in the source and releases from the source is
not known and cannot be estimated with reasonable confidence (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.2). There
are insufficient historical and current data (e.g., analytical data) available to adequately calculate
the total or partial mass of the wastestream plus the mass of all CERCLA pollutants and
contaminants in the source and the associated releases from the source. Therefore, there is
insufficient information to evaluate the associated releases from the source to calculate the
hazardous wastestream quantity for Source 3 with reasonable confidence. Scoring proceeds to
the evaluation of Tier C, Volume (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.2).
Hazardous Wastestream Quantity Value: Not Evaluated
2.4.2.1.3 Volume - Source 3
Analytical results show that lead-contaminated sediments are located in the LHR (as shown
section 2.2.2 for Source 3 above). However, the information available on the depth and extent of
the lead contamination is not sufficiently specific to support a volume of the contaminated
surface water sediments with reasonable confidence. Therefore, Source 3 has been assigned a
value of greater than zero (>0) but exact amount unknown for the volume measure (Ref. 1,
Section 2.4.2.1.3).
Dimension of source (yd3): >0 yd3
Volume Assigned Value (>0)/2.5: >0
2.4.2.1.4 Area - Source 3
Tier D is not evaluated for source type "other," and because a volume estimate is assigned the
area measure is assigned a value of zero (Ref. 1, Table 2-5, Sections 2.4.2.1.3 and 2.4.2.1.4).
Area Assigned Value: 0
2.4.2.1.5 Source Hazardous Waste Quantity Value - Source 3
The source hazardous waste quantity value for Source 3 is >0 for Tier C - Volume [Ref. 1,
Section 2.4.2 and Table 2-5],
Highest assigned value assigned from Ref. 1, Table 2-5: >0
91
-------
Source 4 Identification
2.2.1 SOURCE 4 IDENTIFICATION
Name of source: Lower Hackensack River mercury contaminated surface water sediments
Number of source: 4
Source Type: Other (mercury contaminated sediments with no identified source)
Source 4 consists of mercury contaminated sediments in the LHR [see Section 2.2.2], Section
4.0 identifies numerous possible release(s) of mercury to the river; however, due to the large
number of current and former industrial or other anthropogenic activities affecting the local area
of the LHR and its tributaries, combined with the tidal nature of contaminant transport in the
river, it is not currently possible to identify the origin of the mercury in the LHR (see Section
4.1.2.1.1, Attribution).
Description and Location of Source (with reference to a map of the site):
The 2016 ESI and 2021 Supplemental ESI sediment sample analytical results document an
observed release of mercury to the sediments of the LHR between sampling locations
VCLHR005 (approximately RM 0.75) and SSLHR180a (approximately RM 19.5) as shown in
Figure 7 of this HRS documentation record.
Containment
Release to surface water via overland migration and/or flood:
Sediment logs completed during the ESI and Supplemental ESI sampling events indicate none of
the following are present: (1) maintained engineered cover, or (2) functioning and maintained
run-on control system and runoff management system, or (3) flood containment features (Ref.
137; Ref. 161). Also, the presence of contaminated sediments (as shown in section 2.2.2 below)
provides evidence that hazardous substances have migrated to the Lower Hackensack River.
Therefore, a surface water containment factor value of 10 is assigned for this source (Ref. 1,
Table 4-2, 4-8).
2.2.2 HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SOURCE 4
Section 2.2 of this HRS documentation record describes the investigation and methods used to
identify mercury contaminated sediment within the LHR. Tables 21 to 23 provide a summary
for surface and subsurface samples collected and analyzed during the 2016 and 2021
investigations that document concentrations of mercury in sediments of the LHR at
concentrations meeting the observed release significant increase criteria (Ref. 1, Table 2-3) and
Figure 7 shows the sampling locations. As discussed in the Attribution section of this HRS
documentation record, the significant increase in mercury is due in part to the releases being
evaluated for the site.
List of Hazardous Substances Associated with Source
92
-------
Source 4 Identification
Mercury
93
-------
Source 4 Identification
TABLE 21
2016 Source 4 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
MBDJB9
MBDJC4
MBDJB2
MBDJAO
CLP SDG
MBDJAO
MBDJC0
MBDJAO
MBDJAO
Sample Identification
VCLHR005
VCLHR006
VCLHR009R
VCLHR010
Sample Date
7/12/2016
7/13/2016
7/12/2016
7/11/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
50,000
33,000
59,000
44,000
Sample Depth (feet)
3.0-4.0
1.5-2.5
6.0-7.3
4.5-5.5
134, p.
2; 62, p. 1; 63
134, p.
2; 62, p. 1; 64
134, p
2; 62, p. 1; 63
134, p.
2; 62, p. 1; 63
References
29, p. 474; 17, p. 136
29, p. 493; 17, p. 138;
29, p. 467; 17, p. 48, 135
29, p. 455; 17, p. 132, 134
137, pp. 9, 10
137, pp. 11,12
137, pp. 17, 18
137, pp. 19, 20
Observed Release Criterion*
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
RDL
Result
RDL
Result
Q
RDL
Substance
Mercury
3.3
12.1
J
1.83
7
1.3
4.8
0.83
8.9
J-
1.0
3.7
0.88
CLP Sample Number
MBDJ96
MBDJA8
MBDJ84
CLP SDG
MBDJ80
MBDJAO
MBDJ80
Sample Identification
VCLHR013
VCLHR016
VCLHR021
Sample Date
7/11/2016
7/11/2016
7/10/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
48,000
44,000
24,000
Sample Depth (feet)
5.0-6.0
4.0-5.0
2.0-3.0
References
134, p. 2; 62, pp. 1,2; 82
29, p. 431; 17, p. 132, 134;
137, pp. 25, 26
134, p. 2; 62, p. 2; 63
29; p. 443; 17, p. 46, 133;
137, pp. 31, 32
134, p. 2; 29, p. 419; 62, p. 2; 82
17, pp. 33, 116, 129;
137, pp. 41,42
Observed Release Criterion*
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
AF
AV
Q
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Substance
Mercury
3.3
5.2
J
1.83
3
0.91
9.0
1.83
5
J
0.89
10.1
J
1.83
6
1.2
94
-------
Source 4 Identification
TABLE 21 (Continued)
2016 Source 4 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample
Number
MBDJ34
MBDJ51
MBDJ66
CLP SDG
MBDJ20
MBDJ40
MBDJ60
Sample
Identification
VCLHR040
VCLHR049
VCLHR053
Sample Date
7/7/2016
7/8/2016
7/9/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic
Carbon
80,000
49,000
36,000
Sample Depth
(feet)
3.0-4.0
2.0-3.0
2.1-3.1
References
134, p. 2; 62, p. 4; 84
29, p. 309; 17, p.119, 120
137, pp. 81,82
134, p. 2; 62, p. 5; 81
29, p. 346; 17, p. 123;
137, pp. 99, 100
134, p. 2; 62, p. 5; 85
29, p. 381; 17, p. 126, 127;
137, pp. 107, 108
Observed Release
Criterion*
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
AF
AV
Q
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Substance
Mercury
3.3
23.9
J
1.83
13
2.5
8.5
1.83
5
J
1.1
7.8
J
1.83
4
0.93
95
-------
Source 4 Identification
TABLE 21 (Continued)
2016 Source 4 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
MBDJ79
MBDJC8
MBDJD0
MBDJD5
CLP SDG
MBDJ60
MBDJC0
MBDJC0
MBDJD4
Sample Identification
VCLHR059
VCLHR060
VCLHR062
VCLHR063
Sample Date
7/9/2016
7/13/2016
7/13/2016
7/14/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
41,000
48,000
7,800
39,000
Sample Depth (feet)
1.5-2.5
6.3-7.3
3.6-4.6
2.5-3.5
References
134, p. 2; 62, p. 5; 85
29, p. 394; 17, p. 125
137, pp. 119, 120
134, p. 2; 62, pp. 5, 6; 64
29, p. 497; 17, p. 51, 138
137, pp. 121, 122
134, p. 2; 62, p. 6; 64
29, p. 499; 17, p. 52, 139;
137, pp. 125, 126
134, p. 2; 62, p. 6; 89
29, p. 524; 17, p. 56, 141;
137, pp. 127, 128
Observed Release
Criterion*
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Substance
Mercury
3.3
8.5
J
1.83
5
0.96
9.1
J
1.83
5
1.1
4.2
J
1.0
10.1
J
1.83
6
1.3
96
-------
Source 4 Identification
TABLE 21 (Continued)
2016 Source 4 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
MBDHX5
MBDJ57
MBDHX7
CLP SDG
MBDHW2
MBDJ40
MBDHW2
Sample Identification
VCLHR064
VCLHR065
VCLHR067
Sample Date
6/27/2016
7/8/2016
6/27/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
37,000
40,000
39,000
Sample Depth (feet)
3.0-4.0
1.2-2.2
2.0-3.0
References
134, p. 2; 62, p. 6; 77
29, p. 192; 17, p. 105, 108;
137, pp. 129, 130
134, p. 3; 62, p. 6; 81
29, p. 352; 17, p. 123
137, pp. 131, 132
134, p. 3; 62, p. 6; 77
29, p. 194; 17, p. 105, 108;
137, pp. 135, 136
Observed Release
Criterion*
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Mercury
3.3
7.2
J
1.83
4
1.1
8.5
J
1.83
5
1.1
16.1
J
1.83
9
1.0
97
-------
Source 4 Identification
TABLE 21 (Continued)
2016 Source 4 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
MBDHM8
MBDHL6
MBDHL8
MBDHL4
CLP SDG
MBDHL3
MBDHL3
MBDHL3
MBDHL3
Sample Identification
VCLHR070
VCLHR072
VCLHR073
VCLHR074
Sample Date
6/21/2016
6/20/2016
6/20/2016
6/20/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
37,000
29,000
49,000
45,000
Sample Depth (feet)
1.5-2.5
5.0-6.5
4.0-5.0
3.0-4.0
References
134, p. 3; 62, p. 7; 68
29, p. 35; 17, p. 84, 85, 87;
137, pp. 141, 142
134, p. 3; 62, p. 7; 68
29, p. 24; 17, p. 83, 84;
137, pp. 145, 146
134, p. 3; 62, p. 7; 68
29, p. 26; 17, p. 4, 82, 83, 84;
137, pp. 147, 148
134, p. 3; 62, p. 7; 68
29, p. 2; 17, p. 4, 82;
137, pp. 149, 150
Observed Release
Criterion*
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Mercury
3.3
6.3
J
1.83
3.4
0.99
6.0
0.85
20.7
J
1.83
11
2.2
9.8
J
1.83
5
1.1
98
-------
Source 4 Identification
TABLE 21 (Continued)
2016 Source 4 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample
Number
MBDHQO
MBDHQ8
MBDHS2
MBDHR2
CLP SDG
MBDHQO
MBDHQO
MBDHS1
MBDHM4
Sample
Identification
VCLHR076
VCLHR081
VCLHR084
VCLHR085
Sample Date
6/23/2016
6/23/2016
6/24/2016
6/23/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic
Carbon
53,000
160,000
52,000
67,000
Sample Depth (feet)
1.0-2.0
0.5-1.2
1.4-2.4
2.0-3.2
References
134, p. 3; 62, p. 7; 70
29, p. 101; 17, p. 11, 94;
137, pp. 153, 154
134, p. 3; 62, p. 7; 70
29, p. 108; 17, p. 12, 95;
137, pp. 163, 164
134, p. 3; 62, p. 7; 72
29, p. 142; 17, p. 14, 98;
137, pp. 169, 170
134, p. 3; 62, p. 8; 69
29, p. 80; 17, p. 93;
137, pp. 171, 172
Observed Release
Criterion*
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Resu
It
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Mercury
3.3
9.6
J
1.83
5
1.2
6.5
J
1.83
4
0.45
11.1
J
1.83
6
1.2
10.8
J
1.83
6
1.3
99
-------
Source 4 Identification
TABLE 21 (Continued)
2016 Source 4 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample
Number
MBDHR8
MBDHS0
MBDHT9
MBDHW1
CLP SDG
MBDHQO
MBDHQO
MBDHS1
MBDHS1
Sample
Identification
VCLHR087
VCLHR089
VCLHR096
VCLHR100
Sample Date
6/24/2016
6/24/2016
6/25/2016
6/25/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic
Carbon
36,000
55,000
52,000
54,000
Sample Depth
(feet)
1.2-2.2
1.4-2.4
3.0-4.0
3.0-4.0
References
134, p. 3; 62, p. 8; 70
29, p. 116; 17, p. 16, 96;
137, pp. 175, 176
134, p. 3; 62, p. 8; 70
29, p. 118; 17, p. 97, 101;
137, pp. 179, 180
134, p. 3; 62, p. 8; 72
29, p. 157; 17, p. 20, 100;
137, pp. 193, 194
134, p. 3; 62, p. 9; 72
29, p. 159; 17, p. 17, 102;
137, pp. 201,202
Observed
Release
Criterion*
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Mercury
3.3
8.7
J
1.83
6
1.2
7.1
J
1.83
4
1.2
6.3
J
1.83
3.4
1.2
15.0
J
1.8
3
8
1.1
100
-------
Source 4 Identification
TABLE 21 (Continued)
2016 Source 4 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample
Number
MBDHW9
MBDHZ0
MBDHZ2
MBDHY3
CLP SDG
MBDHW2
MBDHX2
MBDHX2
MBDHX2
Sample
Identification
VCLHR101
VCLHR102
VCLHR104
VCLHR107
Sample Date
6/25/2016
6/28/2016
6/28/2016
6/27/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic
Carbon
42,000
66,000
47,000
44,000
Sample
Depth (feet)
2.3-3.3
2.1-3.1
4.0-5.0
5.0-6.0
134, p. 3; 62, p. 9
134, p
3; 62, p. 9; 74
134, p.
3; 62, p. 9; 74
134, p.
3; 62, p. 9; 74
References
29, p. 188; 17, p. 104;
29, p. 226; 17, p. 27;
29, p. 228; 17, p. 27;
29, p. 220; 17, p. 22, 106, 109;
137, pp. 203, 204
137, pp. 205, 206
137, pp. 209,210
137, pp. 215, 216
Observed
Release
Criterion*
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Mercury
3.3
6.6
J
1.83
4
1.1
9.4
J
1.83
5
1.1
9.9
J
1.83
5
1.1
13.7
J
1.83
7
1.0
101
-------
Source 4 Identification
TABLE 21 (Continued)
2016 Source 4 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample
Number
MBDHY7
MBDJF2
MBDJG0
MBDJ00
CLP SDG
MBDHX2
MBDJD4
MBDJE8
MBDJ00
Sample
Identification
VCLHR109
VCLHR123
VCLHR125
VCLHR127
Sample Date
6/27/2016
7/15/2016
7/21/2016
6/28/2016
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic
Carbon
61,000
50,000
52,000
180,000
Sample
Depth (feet)
5.0-6.0
3.0-4.0
1.5-2.5
2.8-4.1
134, p.
3; 62, p. 9; 74
134, p.
3; 62, p. 10; 89
134, p.
3; 62, p. 10; 96
134, p. 3;
62, pp. 10, 11; 78
References
29, p. 224; 17, p. 106, 109;
29, p. 540; 17, p. 55, 143, 144, 146;
29, p. 569; 17, p. 60, 147;
29, p. 256; 17, p. 27, 111, 113;
137, pp. 219, 220
137, pp. 247,248
137, pp. 251,252
137, pp. 255, 256
Observed
Release
Criterion*
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Result
Q
AF
AV
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Mercury
3.3
23.5
J
1.83
13
2.5
6.4
J
1.83
3.5
1.2
11.3
J
1.83
6
1.1
7.3
J
1.83
4
0.93
102
-------
Source 4 Identification
TABLE 21 - NOTES
2016 Source 4 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
Notes:
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
J = The result is an estimated quantity. The associated numerical value is the approximate concentration of the analyte in the sample. The
concentrations were qualified with "J" because the samples have percent solids less than 50% and the detected results were greater than or equal to
the method detection limit; therefore, the results were J qualified (see sample data validation reports referenced). The direction of bias is
unknown; therefore, the J qualified concentrations have been adjusted in accordance with Ref. 135.
AF = Adjustment factor from Reference 135, p. 18
AV = Adjusted value
CLP = Contract Laboratory Program
Q = Data qualifier
RDL = Reporting detection limit; the RDL is the adjusted contract required quantitation limit (Ref. 54).
SDG = Sample Delivery Group
*Represents three times the greatest detected background result or the greatest RDL for non-detected background results, whichever is greater (Ref. 1, Table 2-
3).
103
-------
Source 4 Identification
TABLE 22
2021 Source 4 Surface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
BGKB7
BGKB9
BGKF1
BGKA4
Sample Identification
SSLHR007Ra
SSLHR009Ra
SSLHR040a
SSLHR051a
Laboratory ID
2108034-01
2108034-03
2108037-01
2108033-01
Sample Date
08/16/2021
08/16/2021
08/19/2021
08/13/21
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
29900
29800
51700
40900
Sample Depth (feet)
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
References:
161, pp. 5, 6; 16
131; 165, p .1; 1
167, p.
4, pp. 130,
66, p. 15;
[7
161, pp. 7, 8; 164, pp.
132, 133; 165, p. 1; 166,
p. 15; 167, p. 17
161, pp. 19, 20; 164, pp.
166, 167; 165, p. 1; 166,
p. 22; 167, p. 26
161, pp. 29, 30;164, pp.
68, 69; 165, p. 1; 166, p.
12; 167, p. 14
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Mercury
1.326
1.49
0.0653
1.66
0.106
1.36
0.159
1.68
0.140
CLP Sample Number
BGKB1
BGKB3
BGKE0
BGK71
Sample Identification
SSLHR053a
SSLHR056a
SSLHR065a
SSLHR071a
Laboratory ID
2108033-09
2108033-11
2108035-11
2108029-07
Sample Date
08/13/21
08/13/21
08/17/21
08/10/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
46300
35200
35500
38,400
Sample Depth (feet)
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
References:
161, pp. 3
77, 78; 16
14;]
3, 34; 164, pp.
5, p. 1; 166, p.
[67, p. 14
161, pp. 35, 3
pp.79, 80; 165,
p. 14; 167,i
5; 164,
3.1; 166,
p.14
161, pp. 41,42; 164, pp.
155, 156; 165, p. 1; 166, p.
19; 167, pp.20
161, pp. 45,46; 164, p.
27; 165, p. 2; 166, pp. 3,
4; 167, p. 5
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Mercury
1.326
1.46
0.0819
2.54
0.183
1.95
0.123
2.52
0.140
104
-------
Source 4 Identification
TABLE 22 (Continued)
2021 Source 4 Surface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
BGK54
BGK52
BGK50
BGK48
Sample Identification
SSLHR073a
SSLHR074a
SSLHR075a
SSLHR076a
Laboratory ID
2108007-06
2108007-04
2108007-02
2108007-07
Sample Date
08/09/2021
08/09/2021
08/09/2021
08/09/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
45,700
45,800
44,000
51,000
Sample Depth (feet)
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
References:
161, pp. 47, 48; 164, pp.
13, 14; 165, p. 2; 166, p.l;
167, p. 2
161, pp. 49 50; 164, pp.
11, 12; 165, p. 2; 166, p.
1; 167, p. 2
161, pp. 51,52; 164, pp.
9, 10; 165, p. 2; 166, p. 1;
167, p. 2
161, pp. 53, 54; 164, pp.
14, 15; 165, p. 2; 166, p.
1; 167, p. 2
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Mercury
1.326
6.92
0.688
2.16
0.152
2.1
0.144
2.6
0.150
CLP Sample Number
BGK59
BGK61
BGK65
BGK67
Sample Identification
SSLHR080a
SSLHR081a
SSLHR088a
SSLHR091a
Laboratory ID
2108029-01
2108029-10
2108029-05
2108029-12
Sample Date
08/10/2021
08/10/2021
08/10/2021
08/10/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
44,200
55,700
44,100
49,900
Sample Depth (feet)
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
References:
161, pp. 55, 56; 164, pp.
20,21, 165, p. 2; 166, p.
3; 167, p. 4
161, pp. 57, 58; 164, pp.
30,31; 165, p. 2; 166, p.
5; 167, p. 4
161, pp. 61,62
24, 25; 165, p. 2,
167, pp.
164, pp.
166, p. 3;
1,5
161, pp. 63, 64; 164, pp.
32,33; 165, p.2; 166, p.
5; 167, p. 5
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Mercury
1.326
2.43
0.149
5.07
0.390
1.55
0.0636
2.47
0.152
105
-------
Source 4 Identification
TABLE 22 (Continued)
2021 Source 4 Surface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
BGK74
BGK76
BGK78
BGK80
Sample Identification
SSLHR098a
SSLHRlOOa
SSLHR104a
SSLHR109a
Laboratory ID
2108031-01
2108031-03
2108031-05
2108031-07
Sample Date
08/11/2021
08/11/2021
08/11/2021
08/11/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
44,400
38,000
46,600
36,300
Sample Depth (feet)
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
References:
161, pp. 65, 66; 164, pp.
36, 37; 165, p. 2; 166 p. 6;
167, p. 6
161, pp. 67, 68; 164, pp.
38,39; 165, p. 2; 166, p.
6; 167, p. 6
161, pp. 69, 70; 164, pp.
41,42; 165, p. 2; 166, p.
6; 167, p. 7
161, pp. 71, 72; 164, pp.
43,44; 165, p. 2; 166, p.
7; 167, p. 7
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Mercury
1.326
2.35
0.152
2.13
0.143
3.07
0.161
2.74
0.278
CLP Sample Number
BGK82
BGK85
BGK88
BGK99
Sample Identification
SSLHRllOa
SSLHRllla
SSLHR138a
SSLHR143a
Laboratory ID
2108031-09
2108031-12
2108032-01
2108032-12
Sample Date
08/11/2021
08/11/2021
08/12/2021
08/12/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
47,300
23,000
43,800
48,500
Sample Depth (feet)
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
References:
161, pp. 73, 74; 164, pp.
45, 46; 165, p. 2; 166, p.
7; 167, p. 7
161, pp.77, 78; 164, pp.
48, 49; 165, p. 2; 166, p. 7;
167, p.7
161, pp. 85, 86; 164, pp.
51,52; 165, p. 2; 166, p.8;
167, p.10
161, pp. 8'
63, 64; 1(
P.10;
7, 88; 164, pp.
35, p. 2; 166,
167, p.11
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Mercury
1.326
2.75
0.185
1.4
0.0913
3.41
0.151
3.18
0.168
106
-------
Source 4 Identification
TABLE 22 (Continued)
2021 Source 4 Surface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
BGK96
BGK94
BGK92
BGK90
Sample Identification
SSLHR144a
SSLHR145a
SSLHR146a
SSLHR148a
Laboratory ID
2108032-10
2108032-07
2108032-05
2108032-03
Sample Date
08/12/2021
08/12/2021
08/12/2021
08/12/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
44,800
50,800
55,800
44,700
Sample Depth (feet)
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
References:
161, pp. 89, 90; 164, pp.
61, 62; 165, p. 3; 166, p.
10; 167 pp. 10, 11
161, pp. 91,92; 164, p.
58; 165, p. 3; 166, p. 9;
167, p.10
161, pp. 93, 94
55,56; 165, p. 3
167, p.
164, pp.
166, p. 8;
[0
161, pp. 95, 96; 164, pp.
53,54; 165, p. 3; 166, p.
8; 167, p. 10
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Mercury
1.326
1.55
0.0771
3.01
0.170
2.2
0.0895
2.74
0.171
CLP Sample Number
BGKE4
BGKE2
BGKG3
BGKG5
Sample Identification
SSLHR149a
SSLHR156a
SSLHR160a
SSLHR180a
Laboratory ID
2108036-03
2108036-01
2108038-01
2108038-03
Sample Date
08/18/2021
08/18/2021
08/20/2021
08/20/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
51,600
47,000
52,200
52,600
Sample Depth (feet)
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
0.0-0.3
References:
161, p. 97; 164, p. 160;
165, p. 3; 166, p. 20;
167, p. 24,
161, p. 98; 164, pp. 157,
158; 165, p. 3; 166, p. 20;
167, p. 24
161, p. 100; 164, pp. 179,
180; 165, p. 3; 166, p .24;
167, pp. 24, 25, 29
161, p. 102; 164, pp. 181,
182; 165, p. 3; 166, p. 24;
167, pp. 24, 25, 29
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Mercury
1.326
2.3
0.254
2.63
0.283
2.37
0.161
2.87
0.193
107
-------
Source 4 Identification
Notes:
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
Q = Data qualifier
RDL = Reporting detection limit; the RDL is the adjusted contract required quantitation limit (Ref. 54).
* Represents three times the greatest detected background result or the greatest RDL for non-detected background results, whichever is
greater (Ref. 1, Table 2-3).
108
-------
Source 4 Identification
TABLE 23
Source 4 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
BGKCO
BGKB0
BGKA5
BGKB2
Sample Identification
VCLHR009Ra
VCLHR050a
VCLHR051a
VCLHR053a
Laboratory ID
2108034-04
2108033-07
2108033-02
2108033-10
Sample Date
08/16/2021
08/13/2021
08/13/2021
08/13/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
46,900
26,500
48,000
32,400
Sample Depth (feet)
6.5-7.5
3.0-4.0
3.0-4.0
2.0-3.0
References:
161, pp. 7, 8; 164, pp.
133, 134; 165, p. 1;
166, p. 15; 167, p. 17
161, pp. 27, 28; 164, pp.
75,76; 165, p. 1; 166, p.
13; 167, pp.14, 15
161, pp. 29, 30;
164, pp. 69, 70;
165, p. 1; 166, pp.
12; 167, p. 14
161, pp. 33, 34; 164,
pp 78, 79; 165, p. 1;
166, p. 14; 167, p. 14
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Mercury
3.03
9.24
0.459
16.8
0.990
56
3.04
5.75
0.363
109
-------
Source 4 Identification
TABLE 23 (Continued)
Source 4 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number:
BGKE1
BGK55
BGK53
BGK49
Sample Identification:
VCLHR065a
VCLHR073a
VCLHR074a
VCLHR076a
Laboratory ID:
2108035-12
2108007-08
2108007-05
2108007-01
Sample Date
08/17/2021
08/09/2021
08/09/2021
08/09/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
35,900
68,300
48,300
86,700
Sample Depth (feet)
1.2-2.2
Ui
L/i
1
o
3.0-4.0
3.0-4.0
References:
161, pp. 41,42; 164,
pp. 156, 157; 165, p. 1;
166, p. 19; 167,p. 20
161, pp. 47, 48; 164, pp.
15, 16; 165, p. 2; 166, p.
2; 167, p. 2
161, pp. 49, 50;
164, pp. 12, 13;
165, p. 2; 166, p. 1;
167, p. 2
161, pp. 53,54; 164,
pp. 8, 9; 165, p. 2;
166, p. 1; 167, p. 2
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Mercury
3.03
6.72
0.446
31.6
1.34
4.97
0.578
25.3
1.46
110
-------
Source 4 Identification
TABLE 23 (Continued)
Source 4 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number:
BGK60
BGK77
BGK79
BGK81
Sample Identification:
VCLHR080a
VCLHRlOOa
VCLHR104a
VCLHR109a
Laboratory ID:
2108029-02
2108031-04
2108031-06
2108031-08
Sample Date
08/10/2021
08/11/2021
08/11/2021
08/11/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
48,400
52,800
48,300
59,400
Sample Depth (feet)
1.0-2.5
2.5-4.5
4.0-5.0
5.0-6.0
References:
161, p. 55, 56; 164, pp.
21,22; 165, p. 2; 166,
p. 3; 167, p. 4
161, pp. 67, 68; 164, pp.
40,41; 165, p. 2; 166, p.
6; 167, p. 6
161, pp. 69, 70;
164, pp. 42, 43;
165, p. 2; 166, p. 6;
167, p. 7
161, pp. 71,72; 164,
pp.44, 45; 165, p. 2;
166, p. 7; 167, p. 7
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Mercury
3.03
4.39
0.278
7.47
0.588
8.9
0.764
24.7
1.52
111
-------
Source 4 Identification
TABLE 23 (Continued)
Source 4 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
BGK84
BGK89
BGKA0
BGK98
Sample Identification
VCLHRllOa
VCLHR138a
VCLHR143a
VCLHR144a
Laboratory ID
2108031-11
2108032-02
2108032-13
2108032-11
Sample Date
08/11/2021
08/12/2021
08/12/2021
08/12/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
36,600
49,800
47,000
50,600
Sample Depth (feet)
4.6-5.6
4.5-5.5
4.0-5.0
3.0-4.0
References:
161, pp. 73 to 76; 164,
pp. 48, 49; 165, p. 2;
166, p.7; 167, p. 7
161, pp. 85, 86; 164, pp.
52,53; 165, p. 2; 166, p.
8; 167, p. 10
161, pp. 87, 88;
164, pp. 64, 65;
165, p. 2; 166, p.
10; 167, p. 11
161, pp. 89, 90; 164,
pp. 62, 63; 165, p.3;
166, p.10; 167, pp.
10, 11
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Mercury
3.03
3.98
0.261
5.92
0.301
8.57
0.662
6.12
0.310
112
-------
Source 4 Identification
TABLE 23 (Continued)
Source 4 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
BGK95
BGK93
BGK91
BGKE3
Sample Identification
VCLHR145a
VCLHR146a
VCLHR148a
VCLHR156a
Laboratory ID
2108032-08
2108032-06
2108032-04
2108036-02
Sample Date
08/12/2021
08/12/2021
08/12/2021
08/18/2021
Units
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
50,900
91,000
35,200
59,300
Sample Depth (feet)
5.0-6.0
6.5-7.5
3.0-4.0
4.0-5.0
References:
161, pp. 91, 92; 164,
pp. 58, 59; 165, p. 3;
166, p. 9; 167, p. 10
161, pp. 93, 94; 164, pp.
56, 57; 165, p. 3; 166,
pp.8, 9; 167, p. 10
161, pp.95, 96; 164,
pp. 54, 55; 165, p.
3; 166, p. 8; 167, p.
10
161, pp. 98, 99; 164,
pp. 158, 159; 165, p.
3; 166, pp.20; 167,
p. 24
Observed Release
Criterion*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Substance
mg/kg
Mercury
3.03
4.06
0.255
4.96
0.288
5.01
0.244
6.62
0.425
Notes:
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
Q = Data qualifier
RDL = Reporting detection limit; the RDL is the adjusted contract required quantitation limit (Ref. 54).
* Represents three times the greatest detected background result or the greatest RDL for non-detected background results, whichever is
greater (Ref. 1, Table 2-3).
113
-------
[SSL?HR18Qa]
^CLlHR156^
[SSL'HR16Qal
!ssJhri45^B
WC?HR145M
MUH^449
Lv.CL!HR138ai
iv,CLTHR'i27j
VCQH Ri 25j
y,CLTHR'l"23j
[SSLIH RH/la]
Lvcl!hriq7J
¦SSLTHRQ98a!
;VC JHRYQ2]
LVCUHRQ7_4ai
[SSlJHR09'1ai
LVCilH RQ96j
LVCL!HR"Q73ai
SvC?HR^8M
^SlJHROSSal
LVCLlHRQ5iai
LV.C LlH R0"13;
SSl?HRQQ9Raj
VC il H R 009 Raj
[SSIIHR007Rb1
\5SQE33333
warareCTO
Mercury 2021
Mercury 2016'
Mercury 2016 & 2021
Hackensack River Section
NWI Wetland (HRS Eligible)
Estuarine and Marine Deepwater
Estuarine and Marine Wetland
Freshwater Emergent Wetland
Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland
Freshwater Pond
Freshwater Lake
MILES
ORIGINAL SCALE: 1 " = 2 MILES
FIGURE: 7
SOURCE 4 SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE LOCATIONS
MEETING OBSERVED RELEASE CRITERIA (MERCURY)
Source:
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
New Jersey Bureau of GIS, ESRI Base Maps
*The source of this base m ap is Esri, use d by EPA with Esri's pe rm ission
Coordinate System: NAD 1983 State Plane New Jersey FIPS 2900 Feet
Projection: Transverse Mercator, Datum: North American 1983
LOWER HACKENSACK RIVER
Bergen, Hudson, & Essex County, New Jersey
ies and Solutions*
Map Date: 2/17/2022
company
-------
Source 4 Identification
2.2.3 HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AVAILABLE TO A PATHWAY - SOURCE 4
TABLE 24
SOURCE 4 CONTAINMENT
Containment Description
Containment
Factor Value
References
Gas release to air: Not Scored
Not Scored
Not Scored
Particulate release to air: Not Scored
Not Scored
Not Scored
Release to groundwater: Not Scored
Not Scored
Not Scored
Sediment logs completed during the ESI sampling event
indicate that neither of the following is present: (1)
maintained engineered cover, or (2) functioning and
maintained run-on control system and runoff management
system (Ref. 137). Evidence of hazardous substance
migration from the source area.
10
1, Table 4-2
2.4.2 HAZARDOUS WASTE QUANTITY - SOURCE 4
Insufficient information exists to evaluate hazardous constituent quantity or hazardous
wastestream quantity; and area is not evaluated for source type "other." Therefore, the hazardous
waste quantity value is estimated using Tier C, volume (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1).
2.4.2.1.1 Hazardous Constituent Quantity - Source 4
The hazardous constituent quantity for Source 4 could not be adequately determined according to
the HRS requirements; that is, the total mass of all CERCLA hazardous substances in the source
and releases from the source is not known and cannot be estimated with reasonable confidence
(Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.1). There are insufficient historical and current data (e.g., analytical data)
available to adequately calculate the total or partial mass of all CERCLA hazardous substances
in the source and the associated releases from the source. Therefore, there is insufficient
information to evaluate the associated releases from the source to calculate the hazardous
constituent quantity for Source 4 with reasonable confidence. Scoring proceeds to the evaluation
of Tier B, Hazardous wastestream quantity (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.1).
Hazardous Constituent Quantity (C) Value: Not Evaluated
115
-------
Source 4 Identification
2.4.2.1.2 Hazardous Wastestream Quantity- Source 4
The hazardous wastestream quantity for Source 4 could not be adequately determined according
to the HRS requirements; that is, the mass of the hazardous wastestreams plus the mass of any
additional CERCLA pollutants and contaminants in the source and releases from the source is
not known and cannot be estimated with reasonable confidence (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.2). There
are insufficient historical and current data (e.g., analytical data) available to adequately calculate
the total or partial mass of the wastestream plus the mass of all CERCLA pollutants and
contaminants in the source and the associated releases from the source. Therefore, there is
insufficient information to evaluate the associated releases from the source to calculate the
hazardous wastestream quantity for Source 4 with reasonable confidence. Scoring proceeds to
the evaluation of Tier C, Volume (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.2).
Hazardous Wastestream Quantity Value: Not Evaluated
2.4.2.1.3 Volume - Source 4
Analytical results show that mercury-contaminated sediments are located in the LHR (as shown
section 2.2.2 for Source 4 above). However, the information available on the depth and extent of
the mercury contamination is not sufficiently specific to support a volume of the contaminated
surface water sediments with reasonable confidence. Therefore, Source 4 has been assigned a
value of greater than zero (>0) but exact amount unknown for the volume measure (Ref. 1,
Section 2.4.2.1.3).
Dimension of source (yd3): >0 yd3
Volume Assigned Value (>0)/2.5: >0
2.4.2.1.4 Area - Source 4
Tier D is not evaluated for source type "other," and because a volume estimate is assigned the
area measure is assigned a value of zero (Ref. 1, Table 2-5, Sections 2.4.2.1.3 and 2.4.2.1.4).
Area Assigned Value: 0
2.4.2.1.5 Source Hazardous Waste Quantity Value - Source 4
The source hazardous waste quantity value for Source 4 is >0 for Tier C - Volume [Ref. 1,
Section 2.4.2 and Table 2-5],
Highest assigned value assigned from Ref. 1, Table 2-5: >0
116
-------
Source 5 Identification
2.2.1 SOURCE 5 IDENTIFICATION
Name of Source: Lower Hackensack River PAH contaminated surface water sediments
Number of source: 5
Source Type: Other (PAH contaminated surface water sediments with no identified source)
Source 5 consists of areas of PAH contaminated sediments in the LHR [see Section 2.2.2],
Section 4.0 identifies numerous possible release(s) of PAH to the river; however, due to the large
number of current and former industrial or other anthropogenic activities affecting the local area
of the LHR and its tributaries, combined with the tidal nature of contaminant transport in the
river, it is not currently possible to identify the origin of the PAHs in the LHR (see Section
4.1.2.1.1, Attribution).
Description and Location of Source (with reference to a map of the site):
The 2016 ESI and 2021 Supplemental ESI sediment sample analytical results document an
observed release of PAHs to the sediments of the LHR between sampling locations
VCLHR009Ra (approximately RM 1) and VCLHR156a (approximately RM 16.75) as shown in
Figure 8 of this HRS documentation record. As shown in References 24 and 175 the presence of
the individual PAHs are often collocated with each other at individual sampling locations and
therefore, may have common origins, consistent with the tendency of PAHs to occur as mixtures
(Ref. 129, p. 1). For these reasons, although each individual PAH documented in section 2.2.2
below is a CERCLA hazardous substance and could be used to establish an individual source,
these PAHs are being scored grouped under one source.
Containment
Release to surface water via overland migration and/or flood:
Sediment logs completed during the ESI and Supplemental ESI sampling events indicate none of
the following are present: (1) maintained engineered cover, or (2) functioning and maintained
run-on control system and runoff management system, or (3) flood containment features (Ref.
137; Ref. 161). Also, the presence of contaminated sediments (as shown in section 2.2.2 below)
provides evidence that hazardous substances have migrated to the Lower Hackensack River.
Therefore, a surface water containment factor value of 10 is assigned for this source (Ref. 1,
Table 4-2, 4-8).
117
-------
Source 5 Identification
2.2.2 HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SOURCE 5
Section 2.2 of this HRS documentation record describes the investigation and methods used to
identify PAH contaminated surface water sediments within the LHR. Tables 25 to 27 provide a
summary for the surface and subsurface samples collected and analyzed during the ESI and
Supplemental ESI that document concentrations of PAH in sediments of the LHR at
concentrations meeting the observed release significant increase criteria (Ref. 1, Table 2-3) and
Figure 8 shows the sampling locations. As discussed in the Attribution section of this HRS
documentation record, the significant increase in PAHs is due in part to the releases being
evaluated for the site. PAHs are a group of chemicals that are formed during the incomplete
burning of substances such as coal, oil, gas, wood, garbage, or other organic substances. There
are more than 100 different PAHs. PAHs generally occur in a mixture not as a single compound.
Therefore, many PAHs characterize Source 5 rather than one PAH. They can occur in air
attached to dust or as solids in soil or sediment (Ref. 129, pp. 1,2). PAHs may occur in surface
water through discharges of industrial plants and wastewater treatment plants. PAHs released to
air can travel long distances before they return to earth in rainfall or particle setting (Ref. 129, p.
2).
118
-------
Source 5 Identification
TABLE 25
2016 Source 5 Surface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample
Number
BDJ21
BDHN1
BDHN9
CLP SDG
BDJ20
BDHL3
BDHM4
Field Sample
Identification
SSLHR023
SSLHR027
SSLHR031
Sample Date
7/6/2016
6/21/2016
6/22/2016
Units
Hg/kg
Hg/kg
Hg/kg
TOC
(mg/kg)
140,000
76,000
9,200
Sample
Depth (feet)
0-0.5
0-0.5
0-0.3
References
134, p. 2; 59, p. 8; 83; 29, p.
1564 to 1566; 17, p. 32; 137,
pp. 45, 46
134, p. 2; 59, p. 9; 79; 29,
p. 872 to 874; 17, p. 2, 3,
82, 83; 137, pp. 53, 54
134, p. 2; 59, p. 10; 80;
29, p. 938 to 941; 17, p.
7; 137, pp. 61,62
Substance
Observed
Release
Criteria*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Anthracene
270
25000
4900
Benzo(a)anthracene
270
45000
4900
820
480
680
220
Benzo(a)pyrene
270
35000
4900
640
220
Benzo(b)fluoranthene
270
45000
4900
800
480
800
220
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene
270
17000
4900
Benzo(k)fluoranthene
270
15000
4900
Chrysene
270
38000
4900
720
480
Fluoranthene
530
110000
19000
Indeno( 1,2,3 -cd)pyrene
270
18000
4900
Phenanthrene
270
26000
4900
1200
480
Pyrene
360
79000
9900
1400
480
890
220
119
-------
Source 5 Identification
TABLE 25 (Continued)
2016 Source 5 Surface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample
Number
BDJ37
BDJ41
CLP SDG
BDJ20
BDJ40
Field Sample
Identification
SSLHR043
SSLHR045
Sample Date
7/7/2016
7/8/2016
Units
Hg/kg
Hg/kg
TOC (mg/kg)
47,000
60,000
Sample Depth
(feet)
0-0.3
0-0.2
References
134, p. 2; 59, p. 13; 83; 29,
p. 1621 to 1623; 17, p. 35,
36; 137, pp. 87, 88
134, p. 2; 59, p. 13-14; 87;
29, p. 1699 to 1701; 17, p.
121; 137, pp. 91, 92
Substance
Observed
Release
Criteria*
Results
Q
RDL
Results
Q
RDL
Anthracene
270
Benzo(a)anthracene
270
1600
320
1900
410
Benzo(a)pyrene
270
1300
320
1700
410
Benzo(b)fluoranthene
270
1700
320
2100
410
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene
270
750
410
Benzo(k)fluoranthene
270
790
410
Chrysene
270
1500
320
1700
410
Fluoranthene
530
2700
630
3200
800
Indeno( 1,2,3 -cd)pyrene
270
680
320
830
410
Phenanthrene
270
830
320
760
410
Pyrene
360
2300
320
2600
410
120
-------
Source 5 Identification
TABLE 26
2016 Source 5 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
BDJA6
BDJA8
BDJ22
CLP SDG
BDJA0
BDJA0
BDJ20
Sample Identification
VCLHR015
VCLHR016
VCLHR023
Sample Date
7/11/2016
7/11/2016
7/6/2016
Units
^g/kg
^g/kg
M-g/kg
TOC (mg/kg)
66,000
44,000
280,000
Sample Depth (feet)
2.5-3.5
4.0-5.0
4.5-5.5
References
134, p. 2; 61, p. 5; 55; 29, p.
2056 to 2058; 17, p. 46,
133; 137, pp. 29, 30
134, p. 2; 61, p. 5; 55; 29,
p. 2062 to 2064; 17, p. 46,
133; 137, pp. 31,32
134, p. 2; 61, pp. 7, 8; 83; 29,
p. 1570 to 1573; 17, p. 32;
137, pp. 45, 46
Unit
Mg/kg
^g/kg
M-g/kg
Substance
Observed Release
Criteria*
Result
Q
RDL
Result
Q
RDL
Result
Q
RDL
Anthracene
330
91000
12000
Benzo(a)anthracene
330
570
350
76000
12000
Benzo(a)pyrene
330
580
350
58000
12000
Benzo(b)fluoranthene
330
630
350
79000
12000
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene
330
29000
12000
B enzo (k)fluoranthene
330
24000
12000
Chrysene
330
620
350
70000
12000
Fluoranthene
640
930
680
310000
230000
Indeno( 1,2,3 -cd)pyrene
330
31000
12000
Naphthalene
330
510
360
4600
350
1E+06
120000
Phenanthrene
330
440
360
890
350
400000
120000
Pyrene
330
710
350
160000
12000
121
-------
Source 5 Identification
TABLE 26 (Continued)
2016 Source 5 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample
Number
BDHN2
BDJ51
BDJ53
CLP SDG
BDHL3
BDJ40
BDJ40
Sample
Identification
VCLHR027
VCLHR049
VCLHR050
Sample Date
6/21/2016
7/8/2016
7/8/2016
TOC (mg/kg)
45,000
49,000
44,000
Sample
Depth (feet)
2.0-3.0
2.0-3.0
3.0-4.0
References
134, p. 2; 61, p. 9; 79;
29, pp. 875 to 877;
17, p. 2, 3, 82, 83;
137, pp. 53, 54
134, p. 2; 61, p. 16; 87;
29, pp. 1732 to 1734;
17, p. 38, 122;
137, pp. 99, 100
134, p. 2; 61, p. 16; 87;
29, p. 1738 to 1800; 17,
p. 38, 122; 137, pp.
101, 102
Unit
Lig/kg
Lig/kg
Lig/kg
Lig/kg
Lig/kg
Lig/kg
Substance
Observed
Release
Criteria*
Result
Q
RDL
Result
Q
RDL
Result
Q
RDL
Anthracene
330
490
340
Benzo(a)anthracene
330
1000
340
560
380
520
370
Benzo(a)pyrene
330
780
340
520
380
460
370
Benzo(b)fluoranthene
330
1000
340
430
380
420
370
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene
330
460
340
Benzo(k)fluoranthene
330
370
340
Chrysene
330
960
340
590
380
550
370
Fluoranthene
640
790
740
Indeno( 1,2,3 -cd)pyrene
330
470
340
Phenanthrene
330
1000
340
870
380
720
370
Pyrene
330
1600
340
930
380
870
370
122
-------
Source 5 Identification
Notes for Tables 25 and 26:
Empty cell indicates substance not detected,
ug/kg = micrograms per kilogram
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
CLP = Contract Laboratory Program
Q = Data qualifier
RDL = Reporting detection limit; the RDL is the adjusted contract required quantitation limit (Ref. 54).
SDG = Sample Delivery Group
*Represents three times the greatest detected background result or the greatest RDL for non-detected background results, whichever is greater (Ref. 1,
Table 2-3).
123
-------
Source 5 Identification
TABLE 27
2021 Source 5 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number:
Sample Identification:
Laboratory ID:
Sample Date:
Units:
Total Organic Carbon
(mg/kg):
Sample Depth (feet):
BGKCO
VCLHR009Ra
WH17005-010
8/16/2021
Hg/kg
46,900
6.5-7.5
BGKC9
VCLHR015a
WH17005-019
8/16/2021
47,400
2.5-3.5
BGKD7
VCLHR033a
WH19015-006
08/17/2021
Mfi/kg
30,700
2.0-3.0
158, pp. 463,464;
159, pp. 13, 14; 160,
p. 477; 161, pp. 17,
18; 164,pp.152, 153;
165, p.l; 166, p. 19;
167, p. 20
Reference:
158, p. 396, 397; 159,
p.12; 160, p. 381; 161,
pp. 6, 7, 8; 165, p. 1;
164, p. 134; 166, p. 15;
167, p.17
158, p. 423, 424; 159,
pp .12, 13; 160, pp.
416,417, 421; 161, pp.
11, 12; 164, pp. 143,
144; 165, p. 1; 166, p.
17; 167, p.18
Observed
Release
Criteria*
Substance
Result
RDL
Result
RDL
Result
RDL
Anthracene
3900
360
290
300
Benzo(a)anthracene
3200
360
590
290
300
Benzo(a)pyrene
800
750
2600
360
660
290
300
Benzo(b)fluoranthene
800
750
2800
360
720
290
300
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene
790
360
310
290
300
Benzo(k)fluoranthene
1000
360
300
Chrysene
2900
360
600
290
300
Fluoranthene
750
750
6500
1800
780
290
300
Indeno( 1,2,3 -cd)pyrene
990
360
310
290
300
124
-------
Source 5 Identification
TABLE 27 (Continued)
2021 Source 5 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
BGKGO
BGKA5
BGKE1
Sample Identification
VCLHR043a
VCLHR051a
VCLHR065a
Laboratory ID
WH21009-006
WH14017-015
WH19015-010
Sample Date
8/19/2021
08/13/2021
08/17/2021
Units
Mg/kg
Mg/kg
Mg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
(mg/kg):
14,200
48,000
35,900
Sample Depth (feet):
2.0-3.0
3.0-4.0
1.2-2.2
Reference:
158, p. 628, 629; 159, pp.
15, 16; 160, p. 600; 161,
pp.2 1, 22; 164, pp. 176,
177; 165, p.l; 166, p. 23;
167, pp. 26, 27
158, p. 333, 334; 159,
pp. 11, 12; 160, p. 241;
161, pp. 29, 30; 164,
p.70; 165, p.l; 166, p.
12; 167,p.14
158, p. 475, 476; 159,
pp. 14, 15; 160, p.
493; 161, pp. 41,42;
164, p. 157; 165, p.l;
166, p. 19; 167, p. 20
Observed
Release
Criteria*
Substance
Result
0
RDL
Result
0
RDL
Result
0
RDL
^g/kg
Anthracene
300
Benzo(a)anthracene
780
270
730
380
300
Benzo(a)pyrene
690
270
800
380
300
Benzo(b)fluoranthene
870
270
860
380
480
410
300
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene
400
380
300
Benzo(k)fluoranthene
300
Chrysene
650
270
700
380
300
Fluoranthene
1300
270
1600
380
640
410
300
Indeno( 1,2,3 -cd)pyrene
300
125
-------
Source 5 Identification
TABLE 27 (Continued)
2021 Source 5 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample Number
Sample Identification
Laboratory ID
Sample Date
Units
Total Organic Carbon
(mg/kg):
Sample Depth (feet):
BGK60
VCLHR080a
WH11016-015
08/10/2021
l-ig/kg
48,400
1.0-2.5
158, p. 51,52; 159, pp. 6, 7;
160, p. 51; 161pp. 55,56;
164, p. 22; 165, p. 2; 166, p.
3; 167, p. 4
BGK84
VCLHRllOa
WH13036-017
8/11/2021
36,600
4.6-5.6
BGK89
VCLHR138a
WH13036-020
08/12/2021
Hg/kg
49,800
4.5-5.5
Reference:
Result
RDL
158, p. 222, 223; 159,
pp.6, 7; 160, p. 164; 161,
pp. 73 to 76; 164, pp. 47,
48; 165, p. 2; 166, p. 7;
167, p. 7
158, p. 234, 235; 159,
pp. 7, 8; 160, p. 180;
161, pp. 85, 86; 164, p.
53; 165, p. 2; 166, p. 8;
167, p. 10
Observed
Release
Criteria*
Substance
Result
RDL
Result
RDL
Anthracene
300
Benzo(a)anthracene
300
Benzo(a)pyrene
2000
1900
400
370
300
Benzo(b)fluoranthene
2500
1900
470
370
300
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene
300
Benzo(k)fluoranthene
300
Chrysene
2000
1900
420
370
300
Fluoranthene
Indeno(l,2,3-
cd)pyrene
2400
1900
720
370
520
390
300
300
126
-------
Source 5 Identification
TABLE 27 (Continued)
2021 Source 5 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample
Number:
BGKAO
BGK98
BGK95
Sample
Identification:
VCLHR143a
VCLHR144a
VCLHR145a
Laboratory ID:
WH14017-011
WH14017-009
WH14017-006
Sample Date:
08/12/2021
08/12/2021
08/12/2021
Units:
ug/kg
ug/kg
ug/kg
Total Organic Carbon
(mg/kg):
47,000
50,600
50,900
Sample Depth (feet):
4.0-5.0
3.0-4.0
5.0-6.0
158, p. 319, 320; 159, pp. 10,
158, p. 313, 314; 159, pp.
10, 11; 160, p. 309; 161,
pp. 89, 90; 164, p. 63;
165, p. 3; 166, p. 10; 167,
pp. 10, 11
158, p. 304, 305; 159, p.
Observed
Release
Criteria*
Reference:
11; 160, p. 225; 161, pp. 87, 88;
164, p. 65; 165, p. 2; 166, p. 10;
167, p. 11
9; 160, p. 293; 161, pp.
91,92; 164, p. 59; 165, p.
3; 166, p. 9; 167, p. 10
Substance
Result
Q
RDL
Result
Q
RDL
Result
Q
RDL
Anthracene
300
Benzo(a)anthracene
760
420
620
410
300
Benzo(a)pyrene
890
420
690
410
300
Benzo(b)fluoranthene
1300
420
990
410
300
Benzo (g,h,i)perylene
510
420
420
410
300
Benzo(k)fluoranthene
300
Chrysene
990
420
710
410
300
Fluoranthene
2500
420
1900
410
2000
2000
300
Indeno( 1,2,3-
cd)pyrene
430
420
300
127
-------
Source 5 Identification
TABLE 27 (Continued)
2021 Source 5 Subsurface Sediment Observed Release Samples
CLP Sample
Number:
BGK93
BGKE3
Sample
Identification
VCLHR146a
VCLHR156a
Laboratory ID
WH14017-004
WH19015-012
Sample Date
08/12/2021
8/18/2021
Units
|LLg/kg
Hg/kg
Total Organic Carbon
(mg/kg):
91,000
59,300
Sample Depth (feet):
6.5-7.5
4.0-5.0
Reference:
158, p. 298, 299; 159, p. 9; 160,
p. 281; 161, pp. 93, 94; 164, p.
57; 165, p. 3; 166, pp. 8, 9; 167,
p. 10
158, p. 481,482; 159, p.15;
160, p. 505; 161, pp. 98, 99;
164, pp. 158, 159; 165, p. 3;
166, pp. 20; 167, p. 24
Observed
Release
Criteria*
Substance
Result
Q
RDL
Result
Q
RDL
Anthracene
300
Benzo(a)anthracene
1200
480
300
Benzo(a)pyrene
1300
480
300
Benzo(b)fluoranthene
1800
480
300
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene
730
480
300
Benzo(k)fluoranthene
910
480
300
Chrysene
1500
480
300
Fluoranthene
3600
480
450
440
300
Indeno(l,2,3-
cd)pyrene
630
480
300
128
-------
Source 5 Identification
Notes for Table 27:
Empty cell indicates substance not detected,
ug/kg = micrograms per kilogram
mg/kg = milligrams per kilogram
CLP = Contract Laboratory Program
Q = Data qualifier
RDL = Reporting detection limit; the RDL is the adjusted contract required quantitation limit (Ref. 54).
SDG = Sample Delivery Group
*Represents three times the greatest detected background result or the greatest RDL for non-detected background results, whichever is greater (Ref. 1,
Table 2-3).
129
-------
Source 5 Identification
List of Hazardous Substances Associated with Source
Anthracene
Benzo(a)anthracene
Benzo(a)pyrene
Benzo(b)fluoranthene
Benzo (g,h,i)pery lene
Benzo (k)fluoranthene
Chrysene
Fluoranthene
Indeno( 1,2,3 -cd)pyrene
Naphthalene
Phenanthrene
Pyrene
130
-------
LV,CllHR156a]
LVCLjHR"l'46al
LV,CLlHR'i'45a]
LV.CllHRTl^al
LV.C LJH R138aj
Lv.c LlH R11 Oai
LV,ClJHR"Q43ai
LVCllHRQ33a]
LVCllHR0*15ai
LVCJH RQQ9 Rai
Hackensack River Section
NWI Wetland (HRS Eligible)
Estuarine and Marine Deepwater
Estuarine and Marine Wetland
Freshwater Emergent Wetland
Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland
Freshwater Pond
Freshwater Lake
MILES
ORIGINAL SCALE: 1 " = 2 MILES
FIGURE: 8
Source:
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
New Jersey Bureau of GIS, ESRI Base Maps
*The source of this basemap is Esri, used by EPA with Esri's permission
Coordinate System: NAD 1983 State Plane New Jersey FIPS 2900 Feet
Projection. Transverse Mercator, Datum: North American 1983
Map Date: 2/16/2022
SOURCE 5 SURFACE AND SUBSURFACE LOCATIONS
MEETING OBSERVED RELEASE CRITERIA (PAH)
LOWER HACKENSACK RIVER
Bergen, Hudson, & Essex County, New Jersey
N
W I
StUtlies and Solutions,^'
a DAVEY^ company
-------
Source 5 Identification
2.2.3 HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AVAILABLE TO A PATHWAY - SOURCE 5
TABLE 28
SOURCE 5 CONTAINMENT
Containment Description
Containment
Factor Value
References
Gas release to air: Not Scored
Not Scored
Not Scored
Particulate release to air: Not Scored
Not Scored
Not Scored
Release to groundwater: Not Scored
Not Scored
Not Scored
Sediment logs completed during the ESI sampling event
indicate that neither of the following is present: (1)
maintained engineered cover, or (2) functioning and
maintained run-on control system and runoff management
system (Ref. 137). Evidence of hazardous substance
migration from the source area.
10
1, Table 4-2
132
-------
Source 5 Identification
2.4.2 HAZARDOUS WASTE QUANTITY - SOURCE 5
Insufficient information exists to evaluate hazardous constituent quantity or hazardous
wastestream quantity; and area is not evaluated for source type "other." Therefore, the hazardous
waste quantity value is estimated using Tier C, volume (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1).
2.4.2.1.1 Hazardous Constituent Quantity - Source 5
The hazardous constituent quantity for Source 5 could not be adequately determined according to
the HRS requirements; that is, the total mass of all CERCLA hazardous substances in the source
and releases from the source is not known and cannot be estimated with reasonable confidence
(Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.1). There are insufficient historical and current data (e.g., analytical data)
available to adequately calculate the total or partial mass of all CERCLA hazardous substances
in the source and the associated releases from the source. Therefore, there is insufficient
information to evaluate the associated releases from the source to calculate the hazardous
constituent quantity for Source 5 with reasonable confidence. Scoring proceeds to the evaluation
of Tier B, Hazardous wastestream quantity (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.1).
Hazardous Constituent Quantity (C) Value: Not Evaluated
2.4.2.1.2 Hazardous Wastestream Quantity- Source 5
The hazardous wastestream quantity for Source 5 could not be adequately determined according
to the HRS requirements; that is, the mass of the hazardous wastestreams plus the mass of any
additional CERCLA pollutants and contaminants in the source and releases from the source is
not known and cannot be estimated with reasonable confidence (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.2). There
are insufficient historical and current data (e.g., analytical data) available to adequately calculate
the total or partial mass of the wastestream plus the mass of all CERCLA pollutants and
contaminants in the source and the associated releases from the source. Therefore, there is
insufficient information to evaluate the associated releases from the source to calculate the
hazardous wastestream quantity for Source 5 with reasonable confidence. Scoring proceeds to
the evaluation of Tier C, Volume (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.1.2).
Hazardous Wastestream Quantity Value: Not Evaluated
2.4.2.1.3 Volume - Source 5
Analytical results show that PAH-contaminated sediments are located in the LHR (as shown
section 2.2.2 for Source 5 above). However, the information available on the depth and extent of
the PAH contamination is not sufficiently specific to support a volume of the contaminated
surface water sediments with reasonable confidence. Therefore, Source 5 has been assigned a
133
-------
Source 5 Identification
value of greater than zero (>0) but exact amount unknown for the volume measure (Ref. 1,
Section 2.4.2.1.3).
Dimension of source (yd3): >0 yd3
Volume Assigned Value (>0)/2.5: >0
2.4.2.1.4 Area - Source 5
Tier D is not evaluated for source type "other," and because a volume estimate is assigned the
area measure is assigned a value of zero (Ref. 1, Table 2-5, Sections 2.4.2.1.3 and 2.4.2.1.4).
Area Assigned Value: 0
2.4.2.1.5 Source Hazardous Waste Quantity Value - Sources 5
The source hazardous waste quantity value for Source 5 is >0 for Tier C - Volume [Ref. 1,
Section 2.4.2 and Table 2-5],
Highest assigned value assigned from Ref. 1, Table 2-5: >0
134
-------
List of Hazardous Substances Associated with Sources 1-5
Anthracene
B enzo(a)anthracene
Benzo(a)pyrene
Benzo(b)fluoranthene
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene
B enzo(k)fluoranthene
Chrysene
Fluoranthene
Indeno(l ,2,3 -cd)pyrene
Naphthalene
Phenanthrene
Pyrene
Arsenic
Chromium
Lead
Mercury
135
-------
TABLE 29
SUMMARY OF SOURCE DESCRIPTIONS
Source
Nos.
Source
Hazardous
Waste
Quantity
Value
Source
Hazardous
Constituent
Quantity
Complete?
(Y/N)
Containment Factor Value by Pathway
Ground
Water
(GW)
(Ref. 1,
Table 3-
2)
Surface Water (SW)
Air
Overland
/flood
(Ref. 1,
Table 4-
2)
GW to
SW
(Ref. 1,
Table 3-
2)
Gas
(Ref. 1,
Table 6-
3)
Particulate
(Ref. 1,
Table 6-9)
1 to 5
>0
N
Not
Scored
10
Not
Scored
Not
Scored
Not Scored
136
-------
4.0 SURFACE WATER MIGRATION PATHWAY
4.1 OVERLAND/FLOOD MIGRATION COMPONENT
The LHR site consists of a release of commingled hazardous substances in contaminated surface
water sediments with no identified source (the origin of contamination in any particular location
in the LHR cannot be determined). These contaminated sediments are located in the Hackensack
River, spanning approximately 18.75 river miles beginning near the mouth of the river at Newark
Bay, and stretching up to approximately 3.5 river miles below the Oradell Dam (Figures 9a, 9b,
10a, and 10b).
The overland flow and flood migration component of the Lower Hackensack River site is
complex due to the size of the watershed, various dams controlling water inflow, former
dredging, and filling of the river. The Hackensack River extends 34 miles from Haverstraw,
New York to its confluence with Newark Bay. The entire Hackensack River watershed covers
202 square miles and includes several major waterbodies such as its four large water-storage
reservoirs, the lower Passaic, and Hudson Rivers. More than half (58%) of the watershed occurs
in Bergen County; approximately one-third (32%) of the watershed occurs in Rockland County,
New York, and the remainder (10%) occurs in Hudson County, New Jersey. The watershed
includes 19 hydrologic sub-basins and is divided by the Oradell Dam into two major portions:
(1) the lower watershed, which is comprised of all tidally influenced areas, primarily the
Meadowlands; and (2) the upper watershed, which is not tidally influenced and is less developed,
especially in New York. Pascack Brook and Overpeck Creek are the major upper and lower
tributaries of the river, respectively (Ref. 4, pp. 91, 92; Ref. 8, pp. 10-12). Wetlands are located
adjacent to the banks of the LHR and expand from the river to form large wetlands areas (Ref. 4,
pp. 12, 100; Figure 13 of this HRS documentation record). (Wetlands contiguous to rivers are
part of the surface water body for HRS purposes, per HRS section 4.0.2.)
When the Europeans first arrived at the Hackensack River the area was made up of
approximately 21,000 acres of waterways and wetlands. Since it was settled, the area has
endured years of resource extraction, habitat loss, alterations, and degradation. In the early
1800s farmers began building dikes and ditches to reclaim areas of the meadowlands for
farming. In the 1830s railroads were built all through the marshes which also required diking
and filling of these areas. Beginning in the 1860s the residents began more extensive diking and
filling to control mosquitos and make the land more suitable for development (Ref. 4, pp. 5, 11,
184).
The Lower Hackensack River spans across Bergen and Hudson counties, New Jersey, and
includes the Hackensack Meadowlands and there are over 17 tributaries below the Oradell Dam
(Ref. 5, p. 10, 11, 107, Figure 2-2). The primary tributaries include:
Hirshfeld Brook and an associated unnamed branch;
• French Brook;
Van Saun Mill Brook and associated tributaries (Herring Brook, Coles Brook, and
Behnke Brook);
137
-------
Overpeck Creek and its associated tributaries (Mill Creek, Teaneck Creek, Flatrock
Brook, Metzler Brook, and an unnamed branch near the north end);
Losen Slofe Creek;
Doctor Creek;
Bellmans Creek;
• Cromakill Creek;
• Mill Creek;
Wolf Creek;
• Moonachie Creek;
Bashes Creek;
Berry's Creek Canal;
Berry's Creek and its tributaries (Fish Creek);
• Mary Ann Creek;
Kingsland Creek; and
Penhorn Creek (Ref. 4, p. 92, Figure 17; Ref. 5, pp. 10, 11, 107, Figure 2-2; Figure 1 of
this HRS documentation record).
The list above includes most of the tributaries; however, there are several other smaller
tributaries that empty directly into the Hackensack River or into one of the tributaries listed
above (Ref. 5, pp. 11)
Hydrologic Setting - Flow
As a result of the Oradell Dam, only the LHR (the portion below the dam) is under tidal
influence. The average tide in the Hackensack River is 4.95 feet. The average spring tide range
is 7.59 feet. Tidal elevations vary as much as 10 feet with spring tides and storm surges (Ref. 18,
pp. 4, 11; Ref. 28, p. 3; Ref. 168).
Including storm-flow conditions, historical water flows over the Oradell Dam in the Hackensack
River averaged 41 million gallons per day (mgd) (approximately 63.4 cubic feet per second
[cfs]) due to increasing withdrawals to provide drinking water. Some recent flows have been
much lower because of below-average precipitation; for example, the daily flow just below
Oradell Dam from July 2000 to July 2003 was only 26.7 mgd. To meet the region's demand for
water, four water-storage reservoirs were created by constructing several dams along the
Hackensack River (Ref. 4, Figure 17, p. 91, 92, 145). The reservoirs hold nearly 14 billion
gallons of water and cover more than 6,000 acres (Ref. 4, p. 91, Table 2, p. 93). To maintain
these water-storage reservoirs, the main flow of the river is managed by local water companies in
accordance with agreements and regulations in New York and New Jersey. The river flow is
managed using a series of interbasin connections through which water is pumped from other
sources into the watershed, largely but not always directly into the Oradell Reservoir. More than
50 million gallons of water are diverted daily from the Passaic River through Pascack Brook into
the upper Hackensack River (Ref. 4, p. 91, 141).
Tidal transport of materials, including some contaminants, from Newark Bay up to the Oradell
Dam has been documented. Three small creeks (Hirshfield Brook, Van Saun Mill Brook, and
French Brook) drain into the tidal freshwater stretch of the Hackensack River. Overpeck Creek,
138
-------
the Hackensack's largest tributary, discharges into the mainstem of the Hackensack River just
above the northern border of the Meadowlands. The flow of Overpeck Creek is restricted by a
dam and a tide gate. The majority of tributaries of the Hackensack River that lie within the
Meadowlands are restricted by tide gates or culverts (Ref. 4, p. 93).
The Hackensack River estuary receives considerable tidal flows of brackish water from Newark
Bay (mean tidal discharge equal to 1,200 cubic meters per second). The high average ratio of
tidal to freshwater flows (more than 100:1) contribute to a relatively well-mixed estuarine
system. The tidal flows distribute dissolved and suspended materials, including contaminants
from Newark Bay throughout the Hackensack River as far upriver as the Oradell Dam (Ref. 4, p.
94).
The Hackensack and Passaic Rivers and Newark Bay have much in common; they share
contaminants carried in diverted river lows and by tidal currents. More than 50 million gallons of
water is diverted daily from the Passaic River through Pascack Brook into the upper Hackensack
River; even larger diversions are being considered to meet public needs. A change in the
hydrology of these waterbodies and land-use activities in upper portions of their watersheds can
change the distribution and availability of contaminants (Ref. 4, p. 141).
4.1.1.1 Definition of Hazardous Substance Migration Path for Overland/flood Component
The Lower Hackensack River site is scored by the following approach:
• The threats being evaluated are the Surface Water Pathway Human Food Chain and
Environmental Threats.
• Observed releases by chemical analysis are documented in LHR, and the hazardous
substances present include metals and PAHs (see Section 2.2).
• The sources are areas of contaminated sediments in surface water. The hazardous
substance migration path consists solely of the in-water segment (Ref. 1 Section 4.1.1.2).
• The known zone of contamination extends from sampling locations VCLHR005
(approximately RM 0.75) to SSLHR180a (approximately RM 19.5) (see Figures 9a, 9b,
10a, and 10b).
Targets subject to actual contamination include the LHR fishery (Section 4.1.3.3), the National
Estuary, feeding areas critical to the maintenance of fish species, habitat known to be used by
State threatened and endangered species, and wetlands (Section 4.1.4.3). The zone of actual
contamination is shown in Figures 9a, 9b, 10a, and 10b. Although the LHR is documented to be
tidally influenced, targets subject to potential contamination that are within the upstream target
distance limit are not evaluated as doing so would not affect the NPL listing decision (but such
upstream targets may be evaluated in future investigations). For contaminated sediment sites,
with no clearly defined direction of flow, the target distance limit is measured from center of
sediment contamination and extends in an arc either for 15 miles along the surface water or to
139
-------
the most distant sample point that meets the criteria for an observed release to that watershed
whichever is greater. For contaminated sediment sites, targets scored may include those targets
within or contiguous to the hazardous substance migration pathway and located, wholly or
partially, within the target distance limit for the site (Ref. 1, Section 4.1.1.2). Figures 9a, 9b,
10a, and 10b show the zone of actual contamination for all the sources as established by surface
and subsurface samples, respectively; and Figure 11 shows the target distance limit established
for each source and collectively for the site considering all surf ace/sub surface sampling points
meeting observed release criteria (because targets subject to potential contamination within the
upstream target distance limit are not evaluated, the upstream target distance limit is not plotted
on Figure 11).
140
-------
[SSlJHRCfcl
[SSL?HR027i
Mid-Point of
Zone of Contamination
Sample Location'
Zone of Contamination'
Hackensack River Section
NWI Wetland (HRS Eligible)
Estuarine and Marine Deepwater
Estuarine and Marine Wetland
Nswark
Liberty Ird
Aiiport
Freshwater Emergent Wetland
Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland
Freshwater Pond
Freshwater Lake
MILES
ORIGINAL
FIGURE: 9 A
2016 SURFACE SEDIMENT SAMPLES MEETING
OBSERVED RELEASE CRITERIA
Source:
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
New Jersey Bureau of GIS, ESRI Base Maps
*The source of this basemap is Esri, used by EPA with Esri's permission
Coordinate System: NAD 1983 State Plane New Jersey FIPS 2900 Feet
Projection: Transverse Mercator, Datum: North American 1983
Map Date: 2/16/2022
LOWER HACKENSACK RIVER
Bergen, Hudson, & Essex County, New Jersey
ies and Solutions*
company
-------
[S'SJHRISOal
[SSL?HR156al
[SSiJHR1/t9ai
[SSL?HR1^45al
[SSL'HRlY4ai
[SSLJHRY43al
[SS JHR*1 38ai
[SSL?HR'ljl'l a]
[SSL'HRIl'Oa;
[SSL'HRI 09ai
[SSL?HR'l04al
[SSLJH RQ83a;
[SSL'HRI "00 a;
¦SSL'HROSi'lal
[SSL?HR073ai
[SSJHR07,1 ai
|SS L HRQ75 a]
7#|SSJHR056al
[SSLJH RO 5,1 as
Mid-Point of
Zone of Contamination
Sample Location 2021
Zone of Contamination'
Hackensack River Section
NWI Wetland (HRS Eligible)
Estuarine and Marine Deepwater
Estuarine and Marine Wetland
Freshwater Emergent Wetland
Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland
Freshwater Pond
Freshwater Lake
MILES
ORIGINAL SCALE: 1 " = 2 MILES
FIGURE: 9B
Source:
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
New Jersey Bureau of GIS, ESRI Base Maps
*The source of this basemap is Esri, used by EPA with Esri's permission
Coordinate System: NAD 1983 State Plane New Jersey FIPS 2900 Feet
Projection. Transverse Mercator, Datum: North American 1983
Map Date: 2/17/2022
2021 SURFACE SEDIMENT SAMPLES MEETING
OBSERVED RELEASE CRITERIA
LOWER HACKENSACK RIVER
Bergen, Hudson, & Essex County, New Jersey
N
St»dies anc) Solutions,^'
a DAVEY^ company
-------
LVC L? H R~160j
LVCL!HR156]
LV,C iJ H R*1 '48 j
=V,C"LTHRY46j
[vCL!HRV45l
LVCl]HRY4T4]
LV,C L? H R1 '43]
LVC L? H R'j 38]
Lyc J H R1 33]
¦^ClJHR^12^
LV,C"LtHRY26]
Lv.ciJHRiii Oj
^CUHRjOg
yVCL'HRO^ \W\ '
^ClJHR073M8i^W^W^W5i
LV,CL'HR102l
,yCL?HR067j
,VC J H R065j
KcJHRbgoM/ '
Lv.c" LTHR 053]
Lv,clthrW9]
LyCL!HR040j
Lv.ciJh R023]
Lyc"LTHR027j
^CIJHR0?5|
MCLJHRO-^
LyC?HR0?3j
Lvc l! h ro/i 1
LyCLTHR009Rl
LyCL'HRQ06j
Mid-Point of Zone
of Contamination
Sample Location'
Zone of Contamination
Hackensack River Section
NWI Wetland (HRS Eligible)
Estuarine and Marine Deepwater
Estuarine and Marine Wetland
Freshwater Emergent Wetland
Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland
Freshwater Pond
Freshwater Lake
MILES
ORIGINAL SCALE: 1 " = 2 MILES
FIGURE: 10A
2016 SUBSURFACE SEDIMENT SAMPLES
MEETING OBSERVED RELEASE CRITERIA
Source:
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
New Jersey Bureau of GIS, ESRI Base Maps
*The source of this basemap is Esri, used by EPA with Esri's permission
Coordinate System: NAD 1983 State Plane New Jersey FIPS 2900 Feet
Projection: Transverse Mercator, Datum: North American 1983
Map Date: 2/16/2022
LOWER HACKENSACK RIVER
Bergen, Hudson, & Essex County, New Jersey
ies and Solutions*
company
-------
LVCL?HR156a]
LV,CLlHR"f48a!
VClJHR*l'45aj
yCliHRjlV^
ycilHR1f43a1
LVClJHR1^6al
LVC L? H R*138 a;
LVCL'HRil'Oa;
LVCLJhr'1 09aj
LVCL'HR'lO^ai
LVCL'HRl'OOai
^CLJHROSIa]
lycJHR 07,6a]
tvCL'HRW^aj
yCllHR0713a]
yCLTHR'd7,3ai
LVCLTHR07,5a1
LyCLTHR0'65ai
LVC LIN R 053al
LyCLTHR050a1
LV,CLTHR05;ial
Rc7hR040^
LyCL'HR03'3al
LVC L? H RCTl5 a]
Lye L! H R 0 0 9Raj
Mid-Point of Zone
of Contamination
Sample Location'
Zone of Contamination'
Hackensack River Section
NWI Wetland (HRS Eligible)
Estuarine and Marine Deepwater
Estuarine and Marine Wetland
Freshwater Emergent Wetland
Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland
Freshwater Pond
Freshwater Lake
MILES
ORIGINAL SCALE: 1 " = 2 MILES
FIGURE: 10B
2021 SUBSURFACE SEDIMENT SAMPLES
MEETING OBSERVED RELEASE CRITERIA
Source:
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
New Jersey Bureau of GIS, ESRI Base Maps
*The source of this basemap is Esri, used by EPA with Esri's permission
Coordinate System: NAD 1983 State Plane New Jersey FIPS 2900 Feet
Projection: Transverse Mercator, Datum: North American 1983
Map Date: 2/16/2022
LOWER HACKENSACK RIVER
Bergen, Hudson, & Essex County, New Jersey
ies and Solutions*
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ORIGINAL SCALE: 1 " = 1 MILES
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Target Distance (TDL)40
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Midpoint (ZOC)40
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River Mile Post143
Hackensack River Section143
FIGURE: 11
'Target Distance Limits are measured 15 miies from the mid-point
of the specified Zone of Contamination. ZOC and TDL data has
been aggregate from 2016 and 2021 data
Source: National Wetlands Inventory (NWI), New Jersey Bureau of GIS, ESRI Base Maps
* The source of this basemap is Esri, used by EPA with Esri's permission
Coordinate System: NAD 1983 State Plane New Jersey FIPS 2900 Feet
Projection: Transverse Mercator, Datum: North American 1983
Map Date: 2/16/2022
TARGET DISTANCE LIMITS
LOWER HACKENSACK RIVER
Bergen, Hudson, & Essex County, New Jersey
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4.1.2.1 Likelihood of Release
4.1.2.1.1 Observed Release
Chemical Analysis
Observed releases by chemical analysis are documented in the LHR between 2016 ESI sediment
sampling locations VCLHR005 (approximately RM 0.75) and VCLHR160 (approximately RM
17.25), and between 2021 Supplemental ESI sampling locations SSLHR007Ra (approximately
RM 1) and SSLHR180a (approximately RM 19.5) (Figures 4 through 8). Reference 30, Table 3-
1, pages 103-117, provides the sample locations, descriptions, sample collection times and dates,
and collection methods for 2016 background and release sediment surface and subsurface
sediment samples collected during the 2016 ESI. Reference 165 provides the sample locations,
descriptions, sample collection times and dates, and collection methods for 2021 background and
release sediment surface and subsurface sediment samples collected during the 2021
Supplemental ESI. Tables 1 through 7 of this HRS documentation record provide the background
concentrations detected in surface and subsurface sediment samples and Tables 8 to 11, 13 to 15,
17 to 19, 21 to 23, and 25 to 27 of this HRS documentation record provide the concentrations
and sampling locations that meet the criteria for identifying a significant increase as part of
establishing an observed release (Ref. 1, Table 2-3). The background and release sample
similarity documentation is provided in Section 2.2; the background and release analytical results
are considered to be comparable for the purpose of showing that the identified increase in
hazardous substances is not due to differences in sample characteristics.
- Hazardous Substances in Release:
Anthracene
B enzo(a)anthracene
Benzo(a)pyrene
Benzo(b)fluoranthene
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene
B enzo(k)fluoranthene
Chrysene
Fluoranthene
Indeno(l ,2,3 -cd)pyrene
Naphthalene
Phenanthrene
Pyrene
Arsenic
Chromium
Lead
Mercury
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- Contaminated Samples in Surface Water:
Contaminated samples in surface water, sample information, and sample concentrations are
documented in Tables 8 to 11, 13 to 15, 17 to 19, 21 to 23, and 25 to 27 of this HRS
documentation record, Reference 30, Table 3-1, pages 103-117, and Reference 40, Table B-l,
pages 50-52. The scored sources are contaminated sediments in the waterway. The hazardous
substance migration path consists solely of the in-water segment specified in Section 4.1.1.2.
Attribution
The distribution and concentrations of arsenic, chromium, lead, mercury, and PAHs detected in
the sediment samples collected from the LHR during the LHR ESI and Supplemental ESI do not
identify a particular release from a single location or facility that could have resulted in the
distribution of contamination in the five sources as discussed below and documented by the
information in the tables and figures attached to this HRS documentation record, as well as
References 24, 27, 175, and 178. As further discussed below, due to the large number of current
and former industrial or other anthropogenic activities affecting the local area of the LHR and its
tributaries, combined with the tidal nature of contaminant transport in the river, it is not currently
possible to identify the origins of all the contamination in any particular location of the LHR or
the origin of any specific hazardous substance in the LHR.
The LHR ESI and Supplemental ESI sediment sampling locations were selected based on a
review of available NOAA environmental data in a repository laboratory analytical data and to
determine where contamination is located and where potential origins and releases may exist
along the LHR (Ref. 7, p. 6; Ref. 125, p. 1; Ref. 170, p. 139). Numerous past investigations with
varying scopes have been conducted within the LHR, generating a considerable volume of data.
NOAA has compiled such results into a repository of laboratory data from numerous
independent sediment sampling investigations that occurred over a 10-year time frame (Ref. 5,
pp. 23, 28).
The results of the LHR ESI and Supplemental ESI document a significant increase in arsenic,
chromium, lead, mercury, and PAHs in surface and subsurface sediments of the LHR. The
origins of the hazardous substances have not yet been identified due to the presence of many past
and present possible releases and the physical processes and anthropogenic activities impacting
the LHR.
As detailed below, the contaminants detected in the LHR sediments most likely came from a
wide variety of former and/or present industrial and other anthropogenic activities. The
distribution and concentrations of arsenic, chromium, lead, mercury, and PAHs detected in
sediment samples collected from LHR during the ESI and Supplemental ESI sampling
investigation indicate multiple historical releases, resulting in the contaminated areas spanning a
total length of approximately 18.75 RMs (see Section 2.2) (Ref. 4, pp. 73, 80, 94, 109, 115-118,
124, 143, 146, 147, 149, 154, 156; Ref. 12, pp. 19-21; Ref. 14, pp. 6, 7; Ref. 16, p. 5; Ref. 22, p.
2; Ref. 26). Concentrations of hazardous substances reported during the ESI and Supplemental
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ESI are greater in subsurface sediment samples than in surface sediment samples, suggesting
historical releases as the possible origins of these substances (see Section 2.2).
Further evidence supporting this conclusion is provided by the previously mentioned study
performed by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) comparing metal
concentration data obtained from samples collected in the LHR between 1988 and 2003 for
surface sediment samples approximately between RM 3 and RM 12.5, which indicated a
reduction in the average sediment concentration of cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, and nickel
by between 22 to 77 percent. This result indicates hazardous substances that were historically
released into the LHR are naturally attenuating and are also being buried under cleaner, more
recently deposited material not impacted by the historical contributors (Ref. 120, pp. 4, 5, 18,
20).
Additionally, highlighting urban contributors, one study found average concentrations of
cadmium, copper, mercury, and nickel above ecological risk-based concentrations throughout the
LHR (Ref. 120, pp. 16, 17, 18). The presence of these metals was attributed to urban releases,
including releases from Newark Bay, the Passaic River, historical industrial discharges,
hazardous waste sites, landfills, power plant emissions, run-off from combined sewer overflows
(CSOs), and migration of transportation-related pollutants. These investigations determined that
LHR sediments are mobile, capable of absorbing and transporting contaminants. This
characteristic makes identifying particular origins of contamination difficult at this time (Ref.
120, pp. 16, 19).
Another study suggested that fine grained sediments, which can be readily suspended and
transported during tidal cycles, may play a significant role in biogeochemical cycling of nutrients
and heavy metals in the Hackensack River. The study indicated that current origins of nutrients
and heavy metals in the water and sediment of the Hackensack River, part of the Newark Bay
Estuary, are mainly domestic effluents from sewage treatment plants (STPs) during non-storm
periods as well as CSOs during storm events (Ref. 169, p. 1). The study found concentrations of
arsenic, chromium, and lead in Hackensack River surface sediments above sediment quality
guidelines, and chromium and lead above trace element concentrations detected in 541
streambed-sediment samples collected from 20 study areas across the contiguous United States
(Ref. 169, pp. 14, 15).
Possible Origins of the Releases
The Hackensack River Estuary is close to the heavily industrialized commercial extension of
Newark Bay. The river has many possible origins of contamination, including six Superfund
(NPL) sites, two power plants, three public STPs, and roughly 2,500 acres of landfills in or
within 4 kilometers from the river (Ref. 179, p. 2,780). However, studies have not been able to
identify specific origins of contamination in the river (Ref. 179, pp. 2,777, 2,778, 2,792).
Possible origins of the releases are discussed below.
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Early Land Use and Fill
When the Europeans first arrived at the Hackensack River, the area was made up of
approximately 21,000 acres of waterways and wetlands. Since it was settled, the area has
endured years of resource extraction, habitat loss, alterations, and degradation. In the early
1800s, farmers began building dikes and ditches to "reclaim" areas of the Hackensack
Meadowlands for farming. In the 1830s, railroads were built throughout the marshes, which also
required diking and filling of these areas. Beginning in the 1860s, the residents began more
extensive diking and filling to control mosquitos and make the land more suitable for
development (Ref. 10, pp. 9, 10; Ref. 4. pp. 11, 184; Ref. 14, p. 1; Ref. 122; Ref. 123).
The LHR has been dramatically affected by urbanization during the last 200 years. The
hydrology has been so altered that this once freshwater brackish system is now brackish to
saline. The roughly 7,000-hectares (17,300-acre) marsh complex is traversed by railroads and
highways and has been subject to human intervention ranging from heavy industry and landfills
to sports complexes and residential developments (Ref. 22, p. 2). The Hackensack Meadowlands
District has two power plants, three public STPs, and roughly 2,500 acres of landfills. For
decades, manufacturing plants, refineries, energy facilities, and landfills discharged or otherwise
disposed of their wastes and hazardous materials directly into the river or adjacent wetlands,
releasing pollutants, including arsenic, chromium, lead, mercury, and PAHs (Figure 2; Ref. 4, p.
154, (Table 16), (Figure 40), p. 122; Ref. 18, p. 54; Ref. 129, pp. 1, 2, 3; Ref. 131, pp. 37, 380,
396, 398, 409, 416; Ref. 132, pp. 1, 2, 3; Ref. 133, pp. 2, 4). PAHs from these activities
generally occur in a mixture, not as a single compound (Ref. 129, p. 1).
The release of hazardous substances from historical fill, hazardous waste sites, storm water
runoff, storm water discharge, CSOs, spillage during product shipping and handling, direct
disposal and discharge, and air deposition have contaminated the LHR sediments with metals
and PAHs. Numerous pollutants, including mercury, and other heavy metals have come to be
located in the LHR sediments from these releases (Ref. 4, pp. 122, 153, 154, (Table 16), 155,
(Figure 40), 156; Ref. 18, p. 14; Ref. 120, p. 2). Contributors of air deposition of such
contaminants may include power plants, industrial sites, waste incinerators, smelters, and
burning coal, oil, and wastes, as well as many other anthropogenic activities (Ref. 4, pp. 73, 163;
Ref. 133, pp. 1, 2, 3; Ref. 132, p. 2; Ref. 129, p. 3). Contaminants in air are released to the
ground through rain (Ref. 132, p. 2). PAHs from these activities generally occur in a mixture,
not as a single compound (Ref. 129, p. 1). The particular origins of the LHR sediment
contamination have not yet been identified due to the presence of multiple possible origins for
each substance (as documented in the arsenic, chromium, lead, mercury, and PAHs section
below), as well as removal of contaminant patterns by dredging and sediment mixing. As a
result, it is not currently possible to identify the origins of all the contamination in any particular
location of the LHR or the origin of any specific hazardous substance in the LHR.
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Historical Fill
Historical fill containing arsenic, chromium, lead, mercury, and PAHs was placed directly into
the LHR and Meadowlands, releasing these hazardous substances to the sediments of the LHR.
As shown in References 122 and 123, much of the floodplains of the LHR have been filled.
Samples of historical fill document the presence of arsenic, chromium, lead, mercury, and PAHs
(Ref. 121, pp. 17, 49, 91-159; Ref. 5, Appendix A, pp. 3,063; 3,064; 3,065; 3,066; 10,401;
14,708-14,726; 15,092-15,099; 16,875; 18,780-18,792; 25,751-25,752; 26,262-26,264; 26,267-
26,276; 27,740-27,745; 28,956-28,959). The fill was placed directly in surface water, as shown
in References 122 and 123. As documented in the above pages cited, the PAHs occur in the fill
as mixture, not as a single compound.
Sewage Effluent
Sewage effluent from STPs comprises more than 75 percent of the "freshwater" input into the
Hackensack River watershed under normal (i.e., non-storm) conditions. Records indicate that
the Bergen County Utilities Authority STP discharged an average of approximately 75 million
gallons per day (mgd) into the Hackensack River from July 2000 to July 2003 (Ref. 4, p. 146).
The outfalls are known to contain mercury and other hazardous substances, releasing mercury
directly into the LHR (Ref. 126). PAHs as mixtures are commonly associated with sewage (Ref.
129, pp. 1, 2). CSOs have also discharged various contaminants into the LHR, including PAHs
and metals (Ref. 169, p. 2).
Waste Disposal
In the early 20th century, dumping began in the Meadowlands area with the intention of turning
"unproductive swampland" into tracts of developable land. Land bought or leased from local
governments was excavated. Garbage was then dumped into the low areas, sometimes burned at
the end of each day to save space, and periodically covered with soil. Dumping in Meadowlands
landfills rapidly developed into several commercial enterprises (e.g., trucking, landfill disposal)
in the 1940s, and even included disposal of building rubble from London, England that was used
as ship ballast during World War II (Ref. 4, p. 71; Ref. 169, p. 2).
Dumping continued virtually uncontrolled throughout the 1950s and most of the 1960s and
turned the Meadowlands into the world's largest landfill at the time. The amount of garbage that
was dumped in the Meadowlands each day, about 10,000 tons, would fill an average-sized
football stadium. As they filled with household garbage, most dumps were molded slowly into
large hills. Many garbage hills were burned regularly to save space or control wind-strewn
debris; others burned accidentally. Based on samples of fill material along the LHR, these
wastes contained arsenic, chromium, lead, mercury, and a mixture of PAHs and would have been
placed directly into the LHR, releasing these hazardous substances to the LHR (Ref. 121, pp. 17,
49, 91-159; Ref. 5, Appendix A, pp. 3,063; 3,064; 3,065; 3,066; 10,401; 14,708-14,726; 15,092-
15,099; 16,875; 18,780-18,792; 25,751-25,752; 26,262-26,264; 26,267-26,276; 27,740-27,745;
28,956-28,959).
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Methane gas from the decaying refuse and other flammable debris fueled the fires, some of
which burned uncontrollably for years (e.g., the Giant stadium site fire); as previously discussed,
PAHs may be generated during incomplete combustion of organic materials. During the height
of the dumping in the 1960s, the Meadowlands received 40 percent of New Jersey's solid waste
stream and another 10,000 tons per day from New York City. More than 200 dumps occupied
approximately 2,500 acres within the Meadowlands. Landfill leachates and other toxic materials
poured into the Hackensack River and its tributaries, combined with heated effluents from power
plants and industrial discharges, and made extensive anoxic zones and widespread fish kills a
recurring event. At the same time, the landfills' growing hills increasingly dominated the
landscape (Ref. 4, p. 73; Ref. 129, p. 1). The Meadowlands Stadium, home initially to the New
York Giants, opened in 1976 on the site of one of the largest Meadowlands landfills, where a fire
had burned uncontrollably for years (Ref. 4, p. 76). Fires are among the known causes of PAH
mixtures, since PAHs are highly likely to be present in landfills due to the abundance of PAHs in
waste material, and may have led to the release of PAH mixtures into the LHR (Ref. 129, pp. 1,
2).
Direct Discharges and Urban Development-Associated Contamination
Extensive urbanization and suburban/commercial development in the eastern, Rockland County
half of the Hackensack River Drainage Basin have impacted water quality. Approximately 85
mgd of secondary-treated effluent is discharged primarily into the Hackensack River and Mill
and Chromakill Creeks along the northern border of the Meadowlands (Ref. 4, p. 94).
Urban/storm water runoff is a dominant origin of nutrient and other pollutant impacts.
Municipal discharges from STPs are a secondary contributor. In areas not served by municipal
wastewater facilities, failing and/or inadequate on-site septic systems are also a concern (Ref. 4,
pp. 94, 109; Ref. 14, p. 6). These nonpoint origins of pollution contain metals and PAHs (Ref.
130). The discrete location of nonpoint origins cannot be identified. Nonpoint origin pollution
is difficult to control because it comes from multiple locations, and it varies over time in terms of
the flow and the types of pollutants it contains (Ref. 127, pp. 14, 15). These land uses are
associated with a mixture of PAHs (Ref. 129, pp. 1, 2). Eight landfills and other contaminated
sites are located adjacent to tributaries to the LHR (Ref. 18, pp. 39, 42).
In the 19th and 20th centuries, the LHR experienced industrialization and pollution, with humans
and factories discharging untreated waste and sewage into the river. By 1960, the LHR was very
low in oxygen, and the fish population was reduced to a few species (Ref. 18, p. 14).
The State of New Jersey formed the NJMC in 1968. After the passage of the Clean Water Act of
1972, federal and state regulations required that sewage be treated, and that the discharge of
contaminants be eliminated. The region's economic base in recent years has moved to non-
polluting service and information technology businesses. In the Hackensack River, biologists
have lately identified an increasing number of species (Ref. 18, p. 14).
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Facilities within the Hackensack Watershed that Have Used, Stored, or Released
Hazardous Materials or Petroleum Products
Environmental record searches for the LHR and Meadowlands were obtained by Environmental
Data Resources, Inc. (EDR) for the PA prepared for the site in 2015. EDR provides a service for
searching publicly available databases and also provides data from its own proprietary databases.
The database searches included record reviews of several federal, state, tribal, and EDR
proprietary environmental databases for two study areas (LHR and Meadowlands) with regard to
the documented use, storage, or release of hazardous materials or petroleum products (Ref. 5, p.
15; complete results of the record searches are contained in Ref. 5, Appendix A). The EDR
report documents the presence of numerous hazardous waste facilities that are known to have
used, stored, or released arsenic, chromium, lead, mercury, and/or a mixture of PAHs, as
documented in Reference 90.
The record search areas were based on 1-mile radius search centered on the LHR and a 1-mile
radius search around the Meadowlands. Record dates varied based on the particular database
from which the record was obtained. EDR began collecting a majority of the records in 1991
from the standard databases (e.g., State Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act Site Lists; Landfills;
Leaking Underground Storage Tanks; Underground Storage Tanks; Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act; NPL; CERCLIS). However, some databases (e.g., SPILLS) may have records
dating back to the 1980s. As summarized in Reference 5, Table 2-5 and shown in Reference 5,
Figure 2-4, the report identified numerous hazardous waste sites and other potential contributors
of contamination along the banks of the Hackensack River, its tributaries, and the Meadowlands
(Ref. 5, pp. 15, 109). A total of 2,205 EDR records and 540 New Jersey Department of
Environmental Conservation (NJDEP) Site Restoration Program (SRP) sites are within 1 mile of
the main stem of the river. Of these sites, 653 EDR records (Ref. 5, pp. 16, 39-93) and 268 SRP
sites (Ref. 5, pp. 94-100 (Table 2-6)) were identified as points of interest (POIs) based on the
location and nature of the site (i.e., potential handling of hazardous materials or disposal of
hazardous wastes) (Ref. 5, p. 109 (Figure 2-4)). The EDR POIs do not include the NPL sites and
petroleum-related sites, and the SRP POIs do not include NPL sites but may include petroleum-
related sites (Ref. 5, p. 16). Reference 15 summarizes facilities with National Pollution
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits to discharge into the LHR.
Hazardous Waste Facilities
The EDR report identified numerous hazardous waste facilities that are possible origins of
arsenic, chromium, lead, mercury, and PAHs (Ref. 90, pp. 1-4).
Documentation and Evidence of Historical Releases
The hazardous substances in the five sources have multiple possible historical origins in the
LHR.
Historical data documents that enrichment of mercury and other metals occurs in the Hackensack
River north of the mouth of Berry's Creek, a major tributary known for its legacy of industrial
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contamination (Ref. 120, p. 2). The presence of mercury in the LHR is generally attributed to
releases from:
atmospheric mercury emissions (Ref. 131, pp. 24, 412-14);
municipal solid waste (Ref. 131, p. 417);
burning of fossil fuels (Ref. 131, p. 24);
municipal solid waste incineration (Ref. 9, p. 24);
industrial wastewater discharges (Ref. 131, pp. 24, 415); and
emissions of coal-fired power plants (Ref. 131, pp. 25, 416).
These activities are known to have occurred along the Hackensack River.
Historical releases of hazardous substances, both localized and widespread, have been
documented in the LHR and the Meadowlands ecosystem. Releases from various unidentified
contributors have contaminated virtually the entire Meadowlands ecosystem with mercury (Ref.
4, p. 254). Other documentation supporting the historical release of hazardous substances to the
LHR sediments includes the analytical results summarized in the NOAA database (Ref. 23; Ref.
125).
According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), activities associated with
industrialization and urbanization have released environmental pollutants to the LHR, which are
ubiquitously elevated in the water, sediments, soils, and biota of the Meadowlands. Activities
associated with industrialization and urbanization have released identified mercury, which is the
contaminant of greatest concern due to its persistence in the environment, ability to
bioaccumulate in living organisms, and toxicity at low concentrations (Ref. 26, p. 1).
A 2008 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) investigation determined that the area between
RM 8 and RM 9 (identified in the investigation as Harmon Cove) may have up to 40 feet of
"industrial period" sediments deposited between 1940 and 2006. The investigation further
determined that areas identified in the investigation as Garretts (RM 9-RM 10.5), Bellman's (RM
11-RM 12), and Overpeck (RM 12-RM 13) may contain up to 30 feet of "industrial period"
sediments deposited from 1917 to 2006. Analytical results reported from the ESI document
surface and subsurface sediment samples containing hazardous substances significantly above
background concentrations located in the areas identified in the 2008 USACE investigation as
containing significant amounts of "industrial period" deposits, suggesting that hazardous
substances came to be located in these areas due to historical releases (Ref. 18, pp. 3, 5, 36, 39;
Figures 1 through 12).
NOAA maintains a database which summarizes analytical data obtained from 1978 to 2009 of
samples collected from RM 0 to RM 13 of the LHR (Ref. 5, Appendix C). The data indicates
surface and subsurface sediment contamination of numerous hazardous substances, including
arsenic, lead, mercury, and PAHs. No specific origins of these releases to the LHR have yet
been identified.
A portion of the NOAA data is depicted in Reference 125. The concentrations of arsenic, lead,
mercury, and PAHs documented in the NOAA data are greater than the concentrations reported
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from samples collected from the LHR in the same areas during the ESI, which provides further
evidence that historical contributors caused contamination of sediments within the river and
these sediments are mobilized and influenced by various activities and physical processes
discussed below, such as tidal flux and dredging, making it difficult to identify the origin of any
particular release (Ref. 125; Ref. 5, pp. Ill, 112, 114-16; see Section 2.2).
Processes Impacting Sediment Movement
In 2008, US ACE prepared a geophysical baseline investigation of the LHR. The investigation
included the area from the junction of Overpeck Creek to the head of Newark Bay (Ref. 18, p. 3).
The objective of the geophysical investigation was to produce a baseline for the morphology,
sediments, and properties of the lower 14 miles of the Hackensack River. The investigation
determined that throughout the LHR study area, the sediments, sedimentation rate, and
sedimentary structures vary strongly and locally. Two major factors have changed the river
since 1917: (1) the completion of the Oradell Dam, which changed the LHR from a
unidirectional (downstream) river into a bi-directional, semi-diurnal, estuary, and (2) dredging in
the channel to maintain commercial navigation (Ref. 18, p. 4). Tidal currents control the
sedimentary morphology in the estuary and sediment continually moves in the river (Ref. 18, p.
3). The dominant process influencing sedimentation in the LHR is tidal flux (Ref. 18, pp. 34,
36). Hot spots of contaminants in the Passaic River and Newark Bay are potential contributors
of releases in the LHR and associated Meadowlands because of tidal currents (Ref. 4, p. 141).
In addition to tidal flux, other physical processes impacting the river are runoff and stream
outflow, storm surges, wind-wave driven currents, hurricanes, nor'easters (wind, storm surge,
and waves), and dredging (Ref. 18, p. 34). Storm surges, flooding, and even modest sea level
rise have the potential to increase scouring of contaminated sediments in the LHR and associated
tributaries and redistribute contamination (Ref. 4, p. 141; Ref. 11, p. 1). Significant mixing of
sediments within the LHR occurred during Hurricane Sandy (Ref. 128).
Throughout the LHR, the sediments, sedimentation rate, and sedimentary structures vary widely
and locally. Diurnal tidal currents ebb and flood and control the sedimentary morphology in the
estuary. The sedimentation in the river is controlled by geometry. The engineered shoreline
confines the system laterally (Ref. 13, p. 3).
Another physical process which has impacted LHR sediment is dredging. The Rivers and
Harbors Act of 1912, modified in 1922-27, 1954, and 1966, provided for a navigation channel
through the lower Hackensack River for 16.3 miles. Dredging to -34 feet and 2,000 feet wide
produced the consistently deeper channel below the turning basin in the area around RM 4.
Above the turning basin, dredging produced a channel to -25 feet through RM 8 to RM 9. The
hydrographic surveys of 1940 indicate that this area had been dredged to -40 feet sometime after
1928, probably in 1930. Above RM 9, dredging produced a channel 15 feet deep and 200 feet
wide (Ref. 18, pp. 39, 43). Historical records show the USACE performed localized
maintenance dredging in these channels in 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1941, 1942,
1946, 1949, 1953, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1976, and 1986 (Ref. 18, p. 43). Areas which have
been dredged include all portions of the LHR where samples were collected during the ESI (Ref.
18, pp. 73-89).
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The NJDEP created a Dredging Task Force that published dredging methods and regulations in
October 1997. Since then, due to contamination levels, dredging operations on the Hackensack
River and its tidal tributaries have utilized the NJDEP Best Management Practices (BMP) of No-
Barge-Overflow dredging. This BMP's purpose is to limit dispersal of contaminated sediments
from the dredging site. Exceptions are made for specific projects that can demonstrate State
Water Quality Criteria can be met during dredging operations (Ref. 19, pp. 1, 28). According to
a 1999 USACE NY District report, since 1992, sediment analysis of both private and federal
navigation projects revealed hazardous substances in the then-proposed dredged materials to be
removed from the Hackensack River (Ref. 25, p. 21).
The removal and mobilization of large quantities of sediment from the river due to dredging also
impacted the ability to identify individual contributors of releases of contaminants detected in the
LHR. The expected effects of dredging on the LHR sediments are supported by the results of the
ESI and Supplemental ESI, which do not indicate hazardous substance concentrations and
distribution that support identification of any specific origin of the LHR sediment contamination
(see figures of this HRS documentation record) (Ref. 27; Figures 5 through 12).
NPL Sites
NPL and other possibly uncontained sites that use or handle hazardous substances are located
adjacent to the LHR and contribute to contamination in the LHR sediment (Ref. 169, pp. 1, 2).
Current NPL sites are summarized below:
PJP Landfill Site - contaminants in soil and groundwater include chemical and industrial
wastes, such as benzene, chlorobenzene, chromium, lead, phenol, and pesticides (Ref. 32,
pp. 1,4-11).
Ventron/Velsicol Site/Berry's Creek Study Area - soils, sediments, surface water, and
groundwater are contaminated with mercury (Ref. 33, p. 1).
Scientific Chemical Processing Site - soil and groundwater contaminants include PCBs,
heavy metals, PAHs, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (Ref. 34, pp. 4-7).
Universal Oil Products Site - soil, groundwater, sediment, and surface water
contaminants include solvents and waste (Ref. 35).
Standard Chlorine Chemical Company Inc. Site - soil, groundwater, and surface water
contaminants include chlorinated benzenes, dioxins/furans, PAHs, metals, VOCs, and
PCBs (Refs. 36, p. 2; 151, p. 1).
Diamond Alkali Site/Newark Bay Study Area (NBSA) - sediment in the NBSA is
contaminated with dioxin, PCBs, metals, PAHs, and pesticides (Ref. 183, p. 1; Ref. 184).
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Though these neighboring sites may have contributed to the contamination in LHR sediments,
the LHR site does not include any areas currently considered part of these other NPL sites (Ref.
124).
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Hazardous Substances Released
Anthracene
B enzo(a)anthracene
Benzo(a)pyrene
Benzo(b)fluoranthene
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene
B enzo(k)fluoranthene
Chrysene
Fluoranthene
Indeno(l ,2,3 -cd)pyrene
Naphthalene
Phenanthrene
Pyrene
Arsenic
Chromium
Lead
Mercury
Surface Water Ob served Rel ease F actor Value: 550
157
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4.1.2.2 Drinking Water Threat Waste Characteristics
The drinking water threat was not scored because it is not expected to significantly contribute to
the overall site score.
4.1.3.2 Human Food Chain Threat Waste Characteristics
4.1.3.2.1 Toxicity/Persistence/Bioaccumulation
The toxicity/persistence/bioaccumulation factor values for the hazardous substances associated
with the sources are summarized below.
TABLE 30
TOXICITY/PERSISTENCE/BIOACCUMULATION FACTOR VALUES
Hazardous
Substance
Source
No.
Toxicity
Factor
Value*
Persistence
Factor
Value**
Bio-
accumulation
Value***
Toxicity/
Persistence/
Bioaccumulation
Factor Value
(Ref. 1, Table 4-
16)
Ref. 2
Arsenic
1
10,000
1
500
5,000,000
p. 10
Anthracene
5
10
0.4
50,000
200,000
p. 2
B enzo(a)anthracene
5
100
1
50,000
5,000,000
p. 18
Benzo(a)pyrene
5
10,000
1
50,000
500,000,000
p. 26
Benzo(b)fluoranthene
5
NC
NC
NC
NC
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene
5
0
1
50,000
0
p. 34
B enzo(k)fluoranthene
5
10
1
50,000
500,000
p. 50
Chromium
2
10,000
1
500
5,000,000
p. 58
Chrysene
5
10
1
5
50
p. 66
Fluoranthene
5
100
1
50,000
5,000,000
p. 42
Indeno( 1,2,3 -
cd)pyrene
5
100
1
50,000
5,000,000
p. 74
Lead
3
10,000
1
5,000
50,000,000
p. 82
Mercury
4
10,000
1
50,000
500,000,000
p. 117
Naphthalene
5
1,000
0.07
50,000
3,500,000
p. 90
Phenanthrene
5
1
0.4
5,000
2,000
p. 98
Pyrene
5
100
1
50,000
5,000,000
p. 106
* Human toxicity factor value (Ref. 1, Section 2.4.1.1)
** Persistence value for (Lakes or Rivers): River, oceans, coastal tidal waters, and Great Lakes
* * * Bioaccumulation factor value for (Salt or Freshwater): For brackish waters, the higher of the salt and freshwater
bioaccumulation factor values are assigned (Ref. 1, Section 4.1.3.2.1.3).
NC Not calculated
Toxicity/Persistence/Bioaccumulation Factor Value: 5E+8 (benzo(a)pyrene, mercury)
158
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4.1.3.2.2 Hazardous Waste Quantity
The extent of contamination for Sources 1-5 based on HRS observed release criteria is estimated
to be from sample locations VCLHR005 (approximately RM 0.75) and SSLHR180a
(approximately RM 19.5) (see Figures 9a, 9b, 10a, and 10b). The area of river between these
two RM 0.75 and RM 19.5 is approximately 1,905 acres (Ref. 46). However, the information
available on the depth and extent of the contamination associated with each source is not
sufficiently specific to support a volume of the contaminated surface water sediments with
reasonable confidence. Therefore, each source has been assigned a value of greater than zero
(>0, but exact amount unknown) for the volume measure, resulting in a source hazardous waste
quantity value of >0 for each source, and a sum of >0 for all sources.
TABLE 31
SOURCE 1 through 5 HAZARDOUS WASTE QUANTITY
Source No.
Source Type
Source Hazardous Waste Quantity
1,2,3,3,4,5
Other
>0
Sum of Values: 1 (rounded from >0 to 1 as specified in HRS Section 2.4.2.2)
A hazardous waste quantity factor value of 100 is assigned. Per Reference 1, Section 2.4.2.2, if
any target for a migration pathway is subject to Level I or Level II concentrations, assign either
the value from Table 2-6 or a value of 100, whichever is greater, as the hazardous waste quantity
factor value for that pathway. As documented in Sections 4.1.3.3 and 4.1.4.3 of the HRS
documentation record, surface water migration targets are subject to Level II concentrations (see
Sections 4.1.3.3 and 4.1.4.3 of this HRS documentation record; Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.2).
Hazardous Waste Quantity Factor Value: 100
(Ref. 1, Table 2-6, Section 2.4.2.2)
4.1.3.2.3 Waste Characteristics Factor Category Value
Toxicity/Persistence Factor Value: 10,000
Hazardous Waste Quantity Factor Value: 100
Toxicity/Persistence Factor Value (10,000) x Hazardous Waste Quantity Factor Value (100):
1E+6
(Toxicity/Persistence Factor Value X Hazardous Waste Quantity Factor Value [1E+6]) x
Bioaccumulation Factor Value (50,000): 5 E+10
Waste Characteristics Factor Category Value: 320 (Ref. 1, Section 4.1.3.2.3 and Table 2-7)
159
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4.1.3.3 Human Food Chain Threat Targets
There is evidence that the LHR is used for fishing for human consumption despite advisories
(Ref. 157, pp. 1, 2, 7, 11). NJDEP has issued a "do not harvest or eat" advisory for blue crabs in
the Newark Bay Complex due to contaminants including mercury, PCBs, and dioxins (Ref. 37;
Ref. 38, pp. 7, 8, 14). Additionally, NJDEP has issued fish consumption advisories to freshwater,
and estuarine and marine waters statewide, as well as specific advisories to the Newark Bay
Complex (which includes the tidal Hackensack River, as well as Newark Bay, Arthur Kill, Kill
Van Kull, and all tidal tributaries) (Ref. 38, pp. 7, 8, 9, 14). Statewide freshwater fish advisory
species include trout (Brown, Brook, Rainbow, and hybrid species), largemouth bass,
smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, sunfish, brown bullhead, yellow bullhead, and common carp.
Statewide estuarine and marine water fish advisory fish include striped bass, American eel,
bluefish, and American lobster. Additional species specific to the Newark Bay complex
(including the Hackensack River) include blue crab, white perch, and white catfish (Ref. 38, pp.
9, 14).
Further, based on angler interviews there is evidence that fish are caught for human consumption
in the Newark Bay Complex regardless of advisories (Refs. 12, pp. 55, 56; 157, p. 1). One
public boat landing for recreational use is located at the Laurel Hill County Park and a second
boat landing, suitable only for canoes and kayaks is present on Mill Creek. Docks are located
alongside the public boat ramp at the Laurel Hill County Park; a fishing area is designated at the
Mill Creek Landing, and other areas along the shoreline of the river of the Laurel Hill County
Park appear suitable for fishing (Ref. 4, pp. 110, 286, 289, 292, 295). Riverside Way boat
launch provides access to the Hackensack River (Ref. 156, p. 1, 2). The Hackensack River
Greenway through Teaneck is a 3.5-mile linear park running from Brett Park, south through the
campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University to Terhune Park. Andreas Park features a pond and
several fishing spots along the riverbank. Hackensack River County Park provides fishing from
the trails and fishing docks. Johnson Park is a popular fishing spot and a place to launch a canoe
or kayak (Ref. 156, p. 2)
New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife (NJDFWS) provides the public with recreational
fishing access sites in the LHR and Meadowlands area (Ref. 4, pp. 287, 295).
Actual Human Food Chain Contamination
An observed release of a hazardous substance (mercury) has been documented to the TDL within
a closed fishery (the blue crab fishery). The fishery was closed to fishing due to concentrations
of mercury (Ref. 1, Section 4.1.3.3; Ref. 37; Ref. 38; See Section 4.0 of this HRS documentation
record). The fishery is closed, and a hazardous substance (mercury) for which the fishery has
been closed has been documented in an observed release to the watershed from the site, and least
a portion of the fishery is within the boundaries of the observed release. The closed fishery
overlaps with Source 4 (Ref. 37, Ref. 38; Figures 7, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, and 11). The zone of actual
160
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contamination specific to mercury is the same as that for the overall LHR site: the stretch from
sample VCLHR005 to SSLHR180a as shown in Figure 7 (Figures 7, 9a, 9b, 10a, and 10b).
Most Distant Level II Sample
Samples collected during the ESI and Supplemental ESI document contaminated sediments
between sampling location sampling locations VCLHR005 (approximately RM 0.75) and
SSLHR180a (approximately RM 19.5) (Figures 9a, 9b, 10a, and 10b).
4.1.3.3.1 Food Chain Individual
An observed release of a hazardous substance (mercury) has been documented in the LHR, and a
portion of a closed fishery is within the boundaries of the observed release. The fishery was
closed to fishing due to concentrations of mercury (Ref. 1, Section 4.1.3.3; Ref. 37; See Section
4.0 of this HRS documentation record).
Food Chain Individual Factor Value: 45 (Ref. 1, Section 4.1.3.3.1)
4.1.3.3.2 Population
4.1.3.3.2.1 Level I Concentrations
None.
4.1.3.3.2.2 Level II Concentrations
A Level II fishery has been documented within the zone of actual contamination. Production data
for the closed blue crab fishery is not available. Therefore, a human food chain production value
of greater than zero was assigned to the Level II Fishery. The Level II fishery is assigned to the
category "Greater than 0 to 100 pounds per year" (Ref. 1, Section 4.1.3.3.2 and Table 4-18),
which corresponds to the assigned Human Food Chain Population Value of 0.03 in Table 4-18 of
the HRS (Ref. 1, Table 4-18).
4.1.3.3.2.3 Potential Human Food Chain Contamination
Potential Population Targets
A portion of the Newark Bay Complex closed blue crab fishery as well as angler interview
evidence that fish are caught for human consumption in the Newark Bay Complex (discussed
above in section 4.1.3.3 of this HRS documentation record) establish a human food chain fishery
within the TDL (and outside of the zone of actual contamination). Human food production data
161
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within the TDL has not been documented. Therefore, an annual production of greater than 0 is
assigned. The fish consumption rate for the downstream fishery is not documented, so the fishery
is assigned to the category "Greater than 0 to 100 pounds per year" (Ref. 1, Section 4.1.3.3.2 and
Table 4-18), which corresponds to the assigned Human Food Chain Population Value of 0.03 in
Table 4-18 of the HRS (Ref. 1, Table 4-18).
TABLE 32
HUMAN FOOD CHAIN POTENTIAL POPULATION TARGETS
Identity of
Fishery
Annual
Production
(pounds)
Type of
Surface Water
Body
Average
Annual Flow
(cfs)
Population
Value (Pi)
(Ref. 1,
Table 4-18)
Dilution
Weight (Di)
(Ref. 1,
Table 4-13)
Pi X Di
Hackensack
River and
Harbor
>0
Coastal tidal
water
(brackish)
Not applicable
0.03
0.0001
3 E-6
Sum of Pi xD;: 3 E-6
(Sum of Pi x D;)/10: 3 E-7
Potential Human Food Chain Contamination Factor Value: 3E-7
162
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4.1.4.2 Environmental Threat Waste Characteristics
4.1.4.2.1 Ecosystem Toxicity/Persistence/Bioaccumulation
The ecosystem toxicity/persistence/bioaccumulation factor values for the sources are summarized in the table below.
TABLE 33
ECOSYSTEM TOXICITY/PERSISTENCE/BIOACCUMULATION FACTOR VALUES
Hazardous Substance
Source
No.
Ecosystem
Toxicity
Factor
Value**
Persistence
Factor
Value*
Bio-
accumulation
Value**
Ecosystem Toxicity/
Persistence/
Ecosystem
Bioaccumulation
Factor Value
(Ref. 1, Table 4-21)
Reference 2
Arsenic
1
100
1
50,000
5,000,000
p. 10
Anthracene
5
10,000
0.4
50,000
200,000,000
p. 2
Benzo(a)anthracene
5
10,000
1
50,000
500,000,000
p. 18
Benzo(a)pyrene
5
10,000
1
50,000
500,000,000
p. 26
B enzo(b)fluoranthene
5
NC
NC
NC
NC
Benzo(g,h,i)perylene
5
0
1
50,000
0
p. 34
B enzo(k)fluoranthene
5
0
1
50,000
0
p. 50
163
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TABLE 33 (Continued)
ECOSYSTEM TOXICITY/PERSISTENCE/BIOACCUMULATION FACTOR VALUES
Ecosystem Toxicity/
Persistence/
Ecosystem
Toxicity
Persistence
Bio-
Ecosystem
Bioaccumulation
Source
Factor
Factor
accumulation
Factor Value
Hazardous Substance
No.
Value**
Value*
Value**
(Ref. 1, Table 4-21)
Reference 2
Chromium
2
10,000
1
500
5,000,000
p. 58
Chrysene
5
1,000
1
5,000
5,000,000
p. 66
Fluoranthene
5
10,000
1
50,000
500,000,000
p. 42
Indeno( 1,2,3 -cd)pyrene
5
0
1
50,000
0
p. 74
Lead
3
1,000
1
50,000
50,000,000
p. 82
Mercury
4
10,000
1
50,000
500,000,000
p. 117
Naphthalene
5
1,000
0.07
50,000
3,500,000
p. 90
Phenanthrene
5
10,000
0.4
50,000
200,000,000
p. 98
Pyrene
5
10,000
1
50,000
500,000,000
p. 106
Notes for Ecosystem toxicity/Persistence/Ecosystem Bioaccumulation Factor Value Table:
* Persistence value for (Lakes or Rivers): Rivers, oceans, coastal tidal waters, and Great Lakes
** Ecosystem toxicity factor value and bioaccumulation factor value for (Salt or Freshwater): For brackish waters, the higher of the
salt and freshwater toxicity and bioaccumulation factor values are assigned (Ref. 1, Sections 4.1.4.2.1.1 and 4.1.4.2.1.3).
NC Not calculated
Ecosystem Toxicity/Persistence/Ecosystem Bioaccumulation Factor Value: 5 E+8 (fluoranthene, mercury, pyrene)
164
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4.1.4.2.2 Hazardous Waste Quantity
The extent of contamination based on HRS observed release criteria is from sample locations
VCLHR005 (approximately RM 0.75) and SSLHR180a (approximately RM 19.5) (see Figures
9a, 9b, 10a, and 10b). The area of river between these two RM 0.75 and RM 19.5 is
approximately 1,905 acres (Ref. 46). However, the information available on the depth and extent
of the contamination associated with each source is not sufficiently specific to support a volume
of the contaminated surface water sediments with reasonable confidence. Therefore, each source
has been assigned a value of greater than zero (>0) for the volume measure, resulting in a source
hazardous waste quantity value of >0 for each source, and a sum of >0 for all sources.
TABLE 34
SOURCE 1 through 5 HAZARDOUS WASTE QUANTITY
Source No.
Source Type
Source Hazardous Waste Quantity
1 to 5
Other
>0
Sum of Values: 1 (rounded from >0 to 1 as specified in HRS Section 2.4.2.2)
A hazardous waste quantity factor value of 100 is assigned. Per Reference 1, Section 2.4.2.2, if
any target for a migration pathway is subject to Level I or Level II concentrations, assign either
the value from Table 2-6 or a value of 100, whichever is greater, as the hazardous waste quantity
factor value for that pathway. As documented in Sections 4.1.3.3 and 4.1.4.3 of the HRS
documentation record, surface water migration targets are subject to Level II concentrations (see
Sections 4.1.3.3 and 4.1.4.3 of this HRS documentation record; Ref. 1, Section 2.4.2.2).
Hazardous Waste Quantity Factor Value: 100 (Ref. 1, Table 2-6, Section 2.4.2.2)
4.1.4.2.3 Waste Characteristics Factor Category Value
Ecosystem Toxicity/Persistence Factor Value: 10,000
Hazardous Waste Quantity Factor Value: 100
Ecosystem Toxicity/Persistence Factor Value x (10,000) Hazardous Waste Quantity Factor
Value (100): 1E+6
(Ecosystem Toxicity/Persistence Factor Value x Hazardous Waste Quantity Factor Value
[1E+6]) x Environmental Bioaccumulation Factor Value (50,000): 5E+10
Waste Characteristics Factor Category Value: 320 (Ref. 1, Section 4.1.4.2.3 and Table 2-7)
165
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4.1.4.3 Environmental Threat Targets
Consultations with the USFWS and the New Jersey Natural Heritage Program identified several
State threatened and endangered species know to use habitat associated with the LHR and with
the zone of actual contamination, listed below (Ref. 21). The New Jersey Audubon Society
conducted two full years of avian surveys in the Meadowlands, from August 2004 to September
2006 and identified numerous endangered avian species associated with the Meadowlands and
summarized in Table 35 (Ref. 182, p. /'/'). It was observed that shorebirds such as Least
Sandpipers (C. minutilla) utilize the Meadowlands District mostly as a stopover area during their
southbound migration (Ref. 182, p. Hi).
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSFCMA) of 1976
established eight regional Fishery Management Councils (FMCs) responsible for the protection
of marine fisheries. A 1996 amendment to the Act instituted a new mandate to identify and
provide protection to important marine and anadromous fisheries habitat, or Essential Fish
Habitat (EFH). FMCs, with assistance from the National Marine Fish Service (NMFS), are
required to delineate EFH in fisheries management plans for all federally managed fisheries in
order to conserve and enhance those habitats. EFH may be applied to individual fish species or
to an assemblage of species. EFH is defined in the MSFCMA as "those waters and substrates
necessary to fish for spawning, breeding, feeding, or growth to maturity". EFH for many
commercial fish species is located within the LHR. The NMFS has identified the Meadowlands
as Essential Fish Habitat for: winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus); summer
flounder (Paralichthys den talus): and windowpane flounder (Scophthalmus aquosus) (Ref. 4, p.
262; Ref. 39, p. 2, 4, 5; Figure 12).
Anadromous fish species including the striped bass and river herring are threatened by the loss of
migratory pathways and spawning habitat making the Lower Hackensack River a migratory
pathway critical for the maintenance of the fish species (Ref. 141, p. 2; Ref. 142, p. 1).
The Hackensack River provides habitat for many species of birds including the Bald Eagle and
other State Endangered and Threatened bird species, as listed in Table 35 below (Ref. 4, p. 132;
Ref. 12, pp. 152-158, 153; Ref. 21, pp. 6-8 Ref. 136, p. 4; Ref. 181, pp. 4, 5). The Hackensack
Meadowlands is increasingly used for migrating, foraging, and overwintering by the Bald Eagle
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus) (Ref. 4, p. 123). Bald eagles have been observed along the
Hackensack River and other large bodies of water in the region, where they roost and forage. A
bald eagle that drowned subsequent to a mid-air collision was recovered in October 2000 from
the Hackensack River (Ref. 4, p. 46).
The Meadowlands is located in the Atlantic Flyway at the juncture of three physiographic areas
(Southern New England, Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain, and Mid-Atlantic Piedmont) and within the
hub of several major bird migration routes connecting the eastern Great Lakes, Hudson River
Valley, New England, and the coast. The Meadowlands provides increasingly vital migratory
166
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stopover and breeding habitats for nearly 40 percent of the migratory bird species that occur in
the eastern United States. Approximately 76 percent of the 445 species observed in New Jersey
use the Meadowlands as nesting habitat or as a stopover for resting and feeding along historic
migration corridors between the Atlantic Ocean and interior regions of the Hudson Valley and
the Great Lakes. Nearly all of the 65 bird species nesting in the meadowlands are migratory.
Nearly all migratory birds in the United States are protected under the auspices of the Migratory
Bird Treaty Act (Ref. 4, p. 47).
The NY-NJ Harbor Estuary, which includes the Meadowlands, was designated an "Estuary of
National Significance" and the NY-NJ Harbor Estuary Program was established as one of 28
National Estuary Programs (Ref. 4, p. 55).
Small numbers of savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis), state listed as threatened, nest
in several different habitats in the Meadowlands (grassy fields, marsh edges) and feed on upland
and wetland prey (insects, crustaceans, small mollusks). Several state-listed species (e.g., least
tern [Sterna antillarum\ black-crowned night heron \Nycticorax nycticorax], and osprey
[Pandion haliaetus]) are common in the 727-acre Sawmill Creek Wildlife Management Area
located adjacent to the LHR (Ref. 4, p. 101, Table 10, p. 132, Figure 21, p. 102; Ref. 140, p. 5).
The Meadowlands are part of the National Estuary Program and the LHR is a critical spawning
area (Ref. 42).
Figure 12 illustrates the location of the sensitive environments (Ref. 148).
167
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TABLE 35
SUMMARY OF SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTS
Sensitive Environment
Type
HRS
Table
4-23
Reference
Hackensack
Meadowlands
National Estuary Program
100
4, pp., 55, 56; 42
Essential Fish Habitat -
Winter Flounder
Critical spawning areas
75
4, pp. 45, 55, 262;
152, p. 1; Figure 12
Essential Fish Habitat -
Summer Flounder
Critical spawning areas
75
4, pp. 55, 262; 152, p.
2; Figure 12
Essential Fish Habitat -
Window Pane Flounder
Critical spawning areas
75
4, pp. 55, 262; 152, p.
1; Figure 12
Striped Bass and River
Herring
Migratory Pathways and Feeding
Areas Critical for Maintenance of
Anadromous Fish Species
75
4, p. 101; 41, p. 6; 43,
pp. 2, 7; 44; 91, pp.
ES-2, ES-4; 141, p. 2;
142, p. 1; 153, pp. 7,
8,39; 154, p. 5
Sawmill Creek
State Wildlife Management Area
25
4, pp. 35, 74, 99, 101,
102; 45; 140, p. 5
Atlantic Sturgeon
(Acipenser oxyrinchus)
Habitat known to be used by
Federal designated endangered or
threatened species
75
181, p. 17
Shortnose Sturgeon
(Acipenser brevirostrum)
Habitat known to be used by
Federal designated endangered or
threatened species
75
181, p. 17
American Kestrel
(Falco sparverius)
Habitat known to be used by State
designated endangered or
threatened species
50
4, p. 137; 12, p. 153;
21, p. 7; 155, p. 1;
182, p. 32; 181, p. 14
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus
leucocephalus)
Habitat known to be used by State
designated endangered or
threatened species
50
4, pp. 46, 122, 123,
124; 12, p. 153; 21, p.
6; 136, p. 4; 155, p. 1;
182, p. 32; 181, p. 4
Black-crowned Night-
heron (Nycticorax
nycticorax)
Habitat known to be used by State
designated endangered or
threatened species
50
4, pp. 101,132; 12,
p.152; 21, p. 6; 155,
pp. 1, 2; 182, pp. 5-
18, 32; 181, p. 4
Bobolink
(Dolichonyx oryzivorus)
Habitat known to be used by State
designated endangered or
threatened species
50
4, p. 132; 12, p. 158;
21, p. 6; 155, p. 1;
182, p. 32; 181, p. 9
168
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TABLE 35
SUMMARY OF SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTS
Sensitive Environment
Type
HRS
Table
4-23
Reference
Cattle Egret
(Bubulcus ibis)
Habitat known to be used by State
designated endangered or
threatened species
50
4, p. 132; 12, p. 152;
21, p. 7; 155, p. 1;
181, p. 4
Grasshopper Sparrow
(Ammodramus
savannarum)
Habitat known to be used by State
designated endangered or
threatened species
50
21, p. 7; 155, p. 2;
182, p. 33; 181, p. 15
Least Tern (,Sterna
antillarum)
Habitat known to be used by State
designated endangered or
threatened species
50
20, p. 2; 154, p. 4;
155, p. 2; 182, p. 34;
181, p. 15
Northern Harrier
{Circus cyaneus)
Habitat known to be used by State
designated endangered or
threatened species
50
4, p. 132; 12, p. 153;
21, p. 7; 154, p. 4;
155, p. 1; 182, p. 34;
181, p. 4
Osprey
(Pandion haliaetus)
Habitat known to be used by State
designated endangered or
threatened species
50
4, p. 132; 12, p. 153;
21, p. 7; 155, p. 2;
182, p. 34; 181, pp. 4,
5
Peregrine Falcon
(Falco peregrinus)
Habitat known to be used by State
designated endangered or
threatened species
50
4, p. 132; 12, p. 153;
21, p. 7; 154, p. 4;
155, p. 1; 182, p. 34;
181, p. 5
Pied-billed Grebe
(Podilymbus podiceps)
Habitat known to be used by State
designated endangered or
threatened species
50
4, p. 132; 12, p. 152;
21, p. 8; 154, p. 4;
155, p. 1; 182, p. 5-
18, 34; 181, p. 16
Savannah Sparrow
(Passerculus
sandwichensis)
Habitat known to be used by State
designated endangered or
threatened species
50
4, p. 132; 12, p. 157;
21, p. 8; 154, p. 4;
155, p. 2; 182, p. 35;
181, p. 16
Short-eared Owl
(Asio flammeus)
Habitat known to be used by State
designated endangered or
threatened species
50
154, p. 4; 155, p. 2;
182, p. 35; 181, p. 10
Upland Sandpiper
(Bartramia longicauda)
Habitat known to be used by State
designated endangered or
threatened species
50
4, p. 132; 12, p. 154;
21, p. 8; 155, p. 2;
181, p. 16
Yellow-crowned Night-
heron
Habitat known to be used by State
designated endangered or
50
4, p. 132; 12, p. 152;
21, p. 8; 154, p. 4;
169
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TABLE 35
SUMMARY OF SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTS
Sensitive Environment
Type
HRS
Table
4-23
Reference
(Nyctanass violacea)
threatened species
155, p. 2; 182, p. 35;
181, p. 5
Total
1,325
170
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Midpoint!
ZOC Midpoint*
ZOC Target Distance (TDL)'
Zone of Contamination (ZOC)'
Hackensack River Section
Wild Life Management Area
State Designated Protected Area
HRS Eligible Wetlands (E2EM)
EFH (Summer Flounder, Windowpane Flounder, Winter Flounder)
MILES
ORIGINAL SCALE: 1 " = 1 MILES
FIGURE: 12
'Target Distance Limits are measured 15 miles from the mid-point
of the specified Zone of Contamination. ZOC and TDL data has
been aggregate from 2016 and 2021 data
Source: National Wetlands Inventory (NWI), New Jersey Bureau of GIS, ESRI Base Maps
* The source of this basemap is Esri, used by EPA with Esri's permission
Coordinate System: NAD 1983 State Plane New Jersey FIPS 2900 Feet
Projection: Transverse Mercator, Datum: North American 1983
Map Date: 2/16/2022
SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTS
LOWER HACKENSACK RIVER
Bergen, Hudson, & Essex County, New Jersey
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Wetlands
Wetland types associated with the Hackensack River within the study area include estuarine and
marine emergent marsh, estuarine and marine scrub/shrub, freshwater emergent marsh,
freshwater forested, and freshwater scrub/shrub (Figure 13) (Ref. 4, pp. 100, 179, 184, 185, 186,
187, 217).
The surrounding landscape is predominantly urbanized, and the wetlands provide significant
natural habitat to wildlife and plant species. Adjacent to tidally influenced reaches, the river
broadens considerably and flows through the extensive Meadowlands estuarine marsh wetlands
before reaching the mouth at Newark Bay. The Meadowlands comprises approximately 8,400
acres of wetlands that provide habitat for protected species, waterfowl and other birds,
anadromous fish, estuarine fish, and reptile species. The Hackensack River is tidal in this area
and most of the wetlands are subject to tidal flooding on a less than daily basis. Non-tidal
wetlands in this urban area have been largely filled, with few remaining (Ref. 4, pp. 100, 126,
153, 184, 313, 471).
Wetlands are located adjacent to the banks of the LHR and expand from the river to form large
wetlands areas (Ref. 4, pp. 12, 100; Figure 13 of this HRS documentation record). (Wetlands
contiguous to rivers are part of the surface water body for HRS purposes, per HRS section 4.0.2.)
The 727-acre Sawmill Creek Wildlife Management Area is the largest single wetland
landholding along the LHR (Ref. 4, pp. 101, 102; Ref. 140, p. 5). Other significant wetlands
adjacent to the LHR include: 52-acre Anderson Creek Marsh; 74-acre Metro Media Tract; 587-
acre former Empire Tract; 224-acre Oritani Marsh; 31-acre Lyndhurst Riverside; 77-acre Mori
Tract; 10-acre Vince Lombardi Marsh; 75-acre Western Brackish Marsh; 206-acre Marsh
Resources Meadowlands Mitigation; 38-acre Secaucus High School; 42-acre Secaucus Track
(Ref 4, pp. 102, 107, 111, 115, 116). The river flows adjacent to these wetlands and the water
from the river is carried into the wetlands during high tide. To determine wetland frontage along
the LHR, only the wetland area adjacent to the river was included in the wetland frontage; this
wetland frontage length is estimated to be 78,600 feet or 14.8 miles (Ref. 23; Figure 13 of this
HRS documentation record). The extent of contamination is from sampling location VCLHR005
(approximately RM 0.50) and SSLHR180a (approximately RM 19.5) (Figures 9a, 9b, 10a, and
10b). The length of wetlands associated with the river tidal influx is expected to be significantly
higher.
Most Distant Level II Sample
Sample ID: between VCLHR005 and SSLHR180a - River Miles 0.5 and 19.5
Distance from the probable point of entry: The hazardous substance migration path consists
solely of the in-water segment specified in Section 4.1.1.2.
Reference: see Section 4.1.2.1.1 of this HRS documentation record
172
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4.1.4.3.1.2. Level II Concentrations
Level II Sensitive Environment Targets
The sensitive environments summarized in Table 36 overlap the zone of actual contamination
(see Figure 12).
TABLE 36
LEVEL II SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTS
The hazardous substance migration path consists solely of the in-water segment specified in
Section 4.1.1.2
Sensitive Environment
Type
Sensitive
Environment
Value (Ref. 1,
Table 4-23)
Reference
Hackensack Meadowlands
National Estuary Program
100
4, pp, 55, 56; 42
Essential Fish Habitat -
Winter Flounder
Critical spawning areas
75
4, pp. 45, 55,
262; 152, p. 1;
Figure 12
Essential Fish Habitat -
Summer Flounder
Critical spawning areas
75
4, pp. 55, 262;
152, p. 2; Figure
12
Essential Fish Habitat -
Window Pane Flounder
Critical spawning areas
75
4, pp. 55, 262;
152, p. 1; Figure
12
Striped Bass and River
Herring
Migratory Pathways and
Feeding Areas Critical for
Maintenance of
Anadromous Fish Species
75
4, p. 101; 41, p.
6; 43, pp. 2, 7;
44; 91, pp. ES-
2, ES-4; 141, p.
2; 142, p. 1;
153, pp. 7, 8,
39; 154, p. 5
Sawmill Creek
State Wildlife
Management Area
25
4, pp. 35, 74,
101, 102; 44;
140, p. 5
Atlantic Sturgeon
(Acipenser oxyrinchus)
Habitat known to be used
by Federal designated
endangered or threatened
species
75
181, p. 17
Shortnose Sturgeon
(Acipenser brevirostrum)
Habitat known to be used
by Federal designated
endangered or threatened
75
181, p. 17
173
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TABLE 36
LEVEL II SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTS
The hazardous substance migration path consists solely of the in-water segment specified in
Section 4.1.1.2
Sensitive Environment
Type
Sensitive
Environment
Value (Ref. 1,
Table 4-23)
Reference
species
American Kestrel
(Falco sparverius)
Habitat known to be used
by State designated
endangered or threatened
species
50
4, p. 137; 12, p.
153; 21, p. 7;
155, p. 1; 182,
p. 32; 181, p. 14
Bald Eagle
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
Habitat known to be used
by State designated
endangered or threatened
species
50
4, pp. 46, 122,
123, 124; 12, p.
153; 21, p. 6;
136, p. 4; 155,
p. 1; 182, p. 32;
181, p. 4
Black-crowned Night-heron
(Nycticorax nycticorax)
Habitat known to be used
by State designated
endangered or threatened
species
50
4, pp. 101,132;
12, p.152; 21, p.
6; 155, pp. 1,2;
182, pp. 5-18,
32; 181, p. 4
Bobolink
(Dolichonyx oryzivorus)
Habitat known to be used
by State designated
endangered or threatened
species
50
4, p. 132; 12, p.
158; 21, p. 6;
155, p. 1; 182,
p. 32; 181, p. 9
Cattle Egret
(Bubulcus ibis)
Habitat known to be used
by State designated
endangered or threatened
species
50
4, p. 132; 12, p.
152; 21, p. 7;
182, p. 1; 181,
P. 4
Grasshopper Sparrow
(Ammodramus
savannarum)
Habitat known to be used
by State designated
endangered or threatened
species
50
21, p. 7; 155, p.
2; 182, p. 33;
181, p. 15
Northern Harrier
(iCircus cyaneus)
Habitat known to be used
by State designated
endangered or threatened
species
50
4, p. 132; 12, p.
153; 21, p. 7;
154, p. 4; 155,
p. 1; 182, p. 34;
181, p. 4
Least Tern
(Sterna antillarum)
Habitat known to be used
by State designated
50
20, p. 2; 154, p.
4; 155, p. 2;
174
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TABLE 36
LEVEL II SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTS
The hazardous substance migration path consists solely of the in-water segment specified in
Section 4.1.1.2
Sensitive Environment
Type
Sensitive
Environment
Value (Ref. 1,
Table 4-23)
Reference
endangered or threatened
species
182, p. 34; 181,
p. 15
Osprey
(Pandion haliaetus)
Habitat known to be used
by State designated
endangered or threatened
species
50
4, p. 132; 12, p.
153; 21, p. 7;
155, p. 2; 182,
p. 34; 181, pp.
4,5
Peregrine Falcon
(Falco peregrinus)
Habitat known to be used
by State designated
endangered or threatened
species
50
4, p. 132; 12, p.
153; 21, p. 7;
154, p. 4; 155,
p. 1; 182, p. 34;
181, p. 5
Pied-billed Grebe
(Podilymbus podiceps)
Habitat known to be used
by State designated
endangered or threatened
species
50
4, p. 132; 12, p.
152; 21, p. 8;
154, p. 4; 155,
p. 1; 182, p. 5-
18, 34; 181, p.
16
Savannah Sparrow
(Passerculus
sandwichensis)
Habitat known to be used
by State designated
endangered or threatened
species
50
4, p. 132; 12, p.
154, p. 4; 155,
p. 2; 182; 21, p.
8; 181, p. 16
Short-eared Owl (Asio
flammeus)
Habitat known to be used
by State designated
endangered or threatened
species
50
154, p. 4; 155,
p. 2; 182, p. 35;
181, p. 10
Upland Sandpiper
(Bartramia longicauda)
Habitat known to be used
by State designated
endangered or threatened
species
50
4, p. 132; 12, p.
154; 21, p. 8;
155, p. 2; 181,
p. 16
Yellow-crowned Night-
heron
(Nyctanass violacea)
Habitat known to be used
by State designated
endangered or threatened
species
50
4, p. 132; 12, p.
152; 21, p. 8;
154, p. 4; 155,
p. 2; 182, p. 35;
181, p. 5
175
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TABLE 36
LEVEL II SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTS
The hazardous substance migration path consists solely of the in-water segment specified in
Section 4.1.1.2
Sensitive Environment
Type
Sensitive
Environment
Value (Ref. 1,
Table 4-23)
Reference
Sum of Level II Sensitive Environments Value: 1,325
176
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Level II Wetland Frontages
The wetlands within the zone of actual contaminations are estimated to be 78,600 linear feet (or
14.8 miles) (Ref. 23; Figure 13 of this HRS documentation record).
Sum of Level II Wetland Frontages: 14.8 miles
Wetlands Value (Ref. 1, Table 4-24): 350
Sum of Level II Sensitive Environments Value (1,325) + Wetlands Value (350):
Level II Concentrations Factor Value: 1,675
177
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/
//
Zone of Contamination
roximate Midpoint)
Latitude: 40.80717
Longitude: -74.04922
Newark
Liberty Int* I
Newark Bay
¦¦ MILES
ORIGINAL SCALE: 1 " = 2 MILES
o
Sample Location40
O
Zone of Contamination Midpoint40
•
River Mile Post143
Zone of Contamination40
Hackensack River Section143
1 1
HRS Eligible Wetlands (E2EM)145
m
Non-Adjacent/Non-Eligible145
FIGURE: 13
Source:
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI)
New Jersey Bureau of GIS, ESRI Base Maps
* The source of this basemap is Esri, used by EPA with Esri's permission
Coordinate System: NAD 1983 State Plane New Jersey FIPS 2900 Feet
Projection: Transverse Mercator, Datum: North American 1983
Map Date: 2/17/2022
WETLANDS AND ZONE OF CONTAMINATION
LOWER HACKENSACK RIVER
Bergen, Hudson, & Essex County, New Jersey
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4.1.4.3.1.3 Potential Contamination
Although there are numerous targets subject to potential contamination within the LHR (such as
the additional lengths of wetlands subject to tidal influence mentioned in Wetlands of this HRS
documentation record), and possibly in other downstream waterbodies, the targets are not scored
because the dilution factor value for large river would lower the target value significantly and
therefore, greatly reducing the potential sensitive environment target value and would not
significantly impact the site score (Ref. 1, Table 4-13, Section 4.1.4.3.1.3).
179
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