Keystone contamination results in; more tests needed
Last week the town received the results of environmental testing conducted last fall at the old Keystone Metal Finishing plant on Humboldt Street.
With the help of a $60,000 grant last August from the Hudson County Economic Development Corporation (HCEDC), the town hired engineers from Birdsall Services Group-PMK to conduct another round of environmental testing at the notorious site. A 1.37-acre site, located along Humboldt Place and Raydol Avenue in a mostly residential neighborhood, Keystone Metal Finishing operated in town from 1947 to 1991, when the plant closed after the owner’s death. Remediation of groundwater and soil at the site began in 1996, two years after the plant was demolished. Since then, the town has continued to monitor the success of the remediation and any environmental impact of the contamination.
Last week, Town Councilman Gary Jeffas, who represents the 1st Ward where the Keystone site is located, informed residents that preliminary test results from Birdsall came in on March 21.
“Nineteen of the monitoring ground water wells on-site and off-site were tested,” he said. “The results of the groundwater sampling indicate that the original contaminants are still present in the ground water in that area and it’s above the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) standards. However, the concentrations, for the most part, have decreased over time from 1999 to 2010, and that’s mainly the result of the remediation that was done there.”
Past remediation of the area included soil removal and chemical injections into the ground.
The overall plume of the contamination is now 50 percent smaller than what it was in 1990, but it hasn’t decreased significantly since 2004.
Based on these results the town wants to test the homes located 100 feet or less from the groundwater contamination for vapor intrusion.
Birdsall has contacted the Environmental Protection Agency, the DEP, and the HCEDC to see if there are any funding sources available for this planned air sampling, which could cost another $65,000.
Medical escort cuts gas
Secaucus is now using five fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles for its Medical Escort Service, which transports local elderly and disabled residents to doctor appointments out of town.
Since the cars used for the service are constantly on the road transporting people, town officials have been looking for ways to cut fuel costs, particularly with gas prices once again on the rise.
Thus, the town has been gradually “retiring” older cars in the Medical Escort fleet and replacing those vehicles with more cost effective options.
Councilman James Clancy said last week Medical Escort now includes several fuel efficient hybrid vehicles.
“One gets something like 40 MPG,” said Clancy. “Before, we were using an old Ford Crowne Victoria, which was getting something like 10 MPG. Another [hybrid] gets about 30 MPG. We also had a Ford Escort that I think was getting something like 16 MPG. These vehicles do travel a lot, so it was important to save dollars there.”
Can’t afford college?
O n Tuesday, March 29, two representatives from Alpine Financial Services will offer a free seminar at the Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center on ways families can begin saving for a college education. With the costs of higher education on the rise, parents of young children are strongly encouraged to attend this event to begin planning for the future.
The presentation will begin at 7 p.m. Registration is strongly encouraged.
Secaucus Public Library and Business Resource Center, 1379 Paterson Plank Road. For more information, call (201) 330-2083.
Correction:
Last week’s story on the Secaucus Board of Education budget (“School budget to be presented this week,” Secaucus Reporter, March 20, 2011), erroneously stated that temporary Business Administrator Ronald Smith had worked in Wayne. In fact, he has not worked in Wayne.