An excavator loads a truck with chromium-impacted soil and debris in parking lot west of Building No. 1. Air quality is measured 24/7 to ensure contamination does not become airborne. Air quality results show that the excavation has been conducted at levels well within limits set by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Numerous air monitors are set around the site and one can be seen in the photo to the right of the truck (black box on a tripod with yellow canister on the top).

JERSEY CITY, N.J., May 7, 2013 – Workers are digging up and hauling away nearly 4,000 cubic yards of chromium-impacted soil and debris during the first phase of the environmental cleanup at Metropolis Towers.

Under a plan approved by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, PPG Industries is removing the chromium-contaminated material and replacing it with clean fill. The first phase of the cleanup, which is located west and south of Building No. 1, or 280 Marin Blvd., is expected to be complete by late May or early June.

To prevent excavated materials, including hexavalent chromium, from becoming airborne, PPG has implemented a dust-suppression plan, which was shared with residents and others at a public meeting before the cleanup began. Click here to see the meeting presentation.

Dust-suppression practices include water-misting of work areas, limiting truck traffic to paved areas and washing down trucks before they leave the site. In addition, a fulltime air-monitoring technician is on site whenever excavation is under way.

As a result, air quality remains well within safety limits, according to monitoring that is being conducted 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Click here to see the latest air-monitoring results.

PPG officials said they plan to conduct public meetings before the second and third phases of the cleanup get under way on the grounds of the twin 21-story residential buildings.