Chromium Cleanup Partnership

2009 / Q4 News Briefs

Workers to collect site samples beginning Jan. 4

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Dec. 28, 2009 – Workers will use a drill rig mounted to a pickup truck to collect soil samples at the 900 Garfield Ave. cleanup site during the week of Jan. 4, weather permitting. All work will be conducted in accordance with health and safety regulations. The work is expected to take one day.

The samples, to be taken from a depth about four feet below surface, will be used to distinguish chromium generated from historical manufacturing activities at the site and other sources, such as materials brought to the site to raise its elevation. The samples will be analyzed and the information gathered will aid in planning future cleanup activities.

Analysis of the samples will be performed by a New Jersey certified laboratory in accordance with methods approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection .

Air monitoring and dust-control procedures such as water spray will be used throughout the duration of the work, as needed. For their safety in handling the samples, trained technicians will be dressed in protective gear such as hard hats, gloves and synthetic jump suits and boot covers. Individuals living and working near PPG cleanup sites do not require special protection because measures are in place to prevent them from being exposed to hazardous materials at the sites.

Site administrator hears community's health concerns

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Dec. 21, 2009 – More than 50 residents and interested parties attended a public meeting Thursday night to discuss whether there is a need for future health studies that examine exposure to chrome manufacturing residue near the Garfield Avenue site in Jersey City.

The two-hour meeting at New Jersey City University was led by Mike McCabe, the independent, court-appointed site administrator for PPG Industries’ cleanups.

McCabe provided an overview of existing health studies and his requirements for any future health studies. Audience members also heard presentations from Dr. Kathy Black of the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute and Dr. Jerry Fagliano of the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, who have conducted research into the health impacts of chrome residue near waste sites.

Among his responsibilities, McCabe is required to:

Review chromium-related health studies concerning health impacts in Hudson County;
Consult with experts in the field; and
If necessary, recommend a health exposure study that would monitor the people living within the vicinity of the Garfield Avenue Site.

McCabe said he has not made a determination if a study is needed, adding that the purpose of last night’s meeting was to hear the community’s concerns. Copies of the presentations and a list of the health studies reviewed can be viewed at the following link:

The next public meeting, which will focus on the residential chrome sampling and cleanup program, will be conducted Jan. 21, at the Bethune Center, 140 Martin Luther King Drive, in Jersey City, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Soil samples to be taken at 900 Garfield Ave. site

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Dec. 8, 2009 -- PPG Industries plans to conduct limited soil sampling at the 900 Garfield Ave., site this Thursday and Friday. All work will be conducted in accordance with the health and safety plan approved for the site.

The purpose of this work is to collect samples of chromate chemical production waste (CCPW) to prepare for site remediation in the future. Using a backhoe, PPG’s contractor will collect samples. Once sampling is complete, PPG’s contractor will backfill and cover each area with asphalt pavement. The work is expected to take two days to complete.

Health studies public meeting set for Dec. 17 at NJCU

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Dec. 4, 2009 – The Chromium Cleanup Partnership will conduct a public meeting Thursday, Dec. 17, to review the court settlement with PPG Industries, which requires the site administrator for the company’s cleanups to determine the need for future health studies and solicit community ideas.

The meeting will be conducted in the Gothic Lounge (Room 202) of Hepburn Hall on the campus of New Jersey City University, 2039 Kennedy Blvd., Jersey City, beginning at 6:30 p.m. No preregistration is required.

Mike McCabe, the site administrator, said he is responsible for reviewing chromium-related health studies, consulting with experts in the field and, if necessary, recommending a health exposure study that would monitor people living within the vicinity of the Garfield Avenue site. McCabe said the review is under way and will be ready for presentation next month.

“The key questions for any community health study are: Will the data gathered detect adverse health effects directly linked to a specific contaminant, and are those adverse health effects amenable to prevention or intervention measures?” McCabe said. “We are reviewing the scientific literature for guidance on these central questions and to see if there are studies that can be used as models for a health exposure study.

“In the meantime, we want to hear what the community thinks.”

The health studies public meeting originally had been scheduled for Dec. 14. It was then rescheduled for Dec. 17 at the Bethune Center before being moved to NJCU.

About the Chromium Cleanup Partnership

The Chromium Cleanup Partnership includes the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the City of Jersey City and PPG Industries, which have agreed to work together to address the 20 chromium sites in Hudson County that will be remediated by PPG. The fourth member of the partnership, the independent site administrator, was appointed by the Superior Court of New Jersey and given oversight responsibilities for PPG’s cleanups. As part of their 2009 agreement, the partners established a five-year goal for cleaning up all PPG sites.

Local employment program guidelines announced

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Dec. 2, 2009 -- As a part of its commitment to play a positive role in Jersey City, PPG Industries has agreed to make all reasonable efforts to ensure that 20 percent of the contracts and subcontracts for the work at its chromium cleanup sites are awarded to Jersey City companies, and that 20 percent of the workers employed by all contractors and subcontractors are residents of Jersey City, with preference given to residents of the Wards in which chromium cleanup sites are located.

In addition, PPG has committed to creating a program to provide Occupational Safety and Health Administration Certification Training for Jersey City residents so they can qualify for employment at the company’s cleanup sites.

“With the possible exception of the Garfield Avenue Group sites, PPG expects to employ a single remediation contractor for each site or group of sites,” said Mark Terril, PPG’s Director of Environmental Affairs. “The size and complexity of these projects will require that bidding opportunities be extended to contractors who can demonstrate a history of successful completion of similar projects.”

In addition, Terril said the company anticipates contractors and subcontractors will be needed for supporting activities at all sites. However, he emphasized that hiring for cleanups will involve a small, skilled workforce. “This isn’t like a major commercial or residential development project that would require a large number of building trades or workers,” Terril said. PPG will provide additional information regarding opportunities that are available as plans and contracting strategies develop.

PPG will incorporate the local hiring goal in all requests for proposals and will require contractors, as a condition of their contract, to commit to achieving this goal. Because most, if not all, of the projects will be completed by union labor, PPG will, along with representatives of Jersey City, work with the appropriate trade unions to advise them of the company’s needs and to ensure their support of the goal.

Going beyond the requirements of the agreement, PPG has and will continue to support initiatives to generate economic and employment opportunities such as the Pittsburgh Paints Trade School, a tuition-free program underwritten entirely by PPG that offers Jersey City residents training in commercial and residential painting. PPG, the manufacturer of Pittsburgh Paints, works closely with WomenRising, the Hudson County Schools of Technology and the New Jersey City University Small Business Development Center to select, train and help place trade school students.

PPG is a financial supporter of Rising Tide Capital, a Jersey City non-profit organization that provides business management training and support for low-income, start-up entrepreneurs. PPG also engages Jersey City businesses in support of its chromium cleanup commitments.

Jersey City residents interested in pursuing union employment should contact Angel Valentin at the Jersey City Employment and Training Program at 438 Summit Ave., in Jersey City. The telephone number is: (201) 793-6100. Local contractors with experience in environmental remediation projects can contact Jon Holt at PPG’s Garfield Avenue Renewal Company subsidiary to be considered for placement on a bidders list. Local business owners whose companies provide other goods or services that may be applicable to the efforts of the Chromium Cleanup Partnership are also encouraged to contact Holt to schedule an appointment. His telephone number is (201) 938-0909. His e-mail address is: JonHolt@GarfieldAvenueRenewal.com.

Residents share views at first public meeting

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Nov. 24, 2009 – Nearly 50 people attended the first public meeting of the Chromium Cleanup Partnership last night at city hall, sharing their thoughts on preliminary plans for the cleanup of 20 chromium sites in Hudson County for which PPG Industries is responsible.

Led by court-appointed Site Administrator Mike McCabe, the meeting began with a review of the master schedule of cleanups. The 900 Garfield Avenue site and those sites included in the proposed Berry Lane Park have been given priority in the draft schedule, reflecting community concerns as well as the need to address these sites promptly to meet the partnership’s goal of cleaning up all 20 sites in five years.

The meeting included an overview of a program in which homeowners near PPG sites can request inspection and testing if they suspect chromium waste is present on their residential property.
McCabe also led a brief discussion about community health issues, which was followed by an overview from Brian McPeak, Project Manager for the Site Administrator, about air monitoring procedures that will be in place at cleanup sites.

The meeting concluded with Mark Terril, PPG’s director of environmental affairs, describing a program to hire local residents to work at cleanup sites.

McCabe said the partnership’s next meeting, which will focus on existing research studies into the health impacts of chrome residue, will be conducted Dec. 17 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Bethune Center, 140 Martin Luther King Drive, Jersey City. The meeting had originally been scheduled for Dec. 14.

A meeting to provide homeowners and residents with more information about the residential inspection and testing program will be conducted Jan. 18 at the Bethune Center. McCabe said the time will be announced soon.

Schedule, residential inspection program to highlight Nov. 23 public meeting

JERSEY CITY, N.J. Nov. 14, 2009 -- The Chromium Cleanup Partnership will conduct its first public meeting Monday, Nov. 23, beginning at 7 p.m. in the city council chambers at Jersey City Hall, 280 Grove St.
Residents of the neighborhoods near PPG Industries’ cleanup sites and other interested parties are encouraged to attend, said Mike McCabe, the independent, court-appointed site administrator for PPG’s cleanups.

Key topics at the meeting will include a review and discussion of:

The draft master schedule for the cleanup of all 20 sites that PPG is responsible for; and
A program in which homeowners near PPG cleanup sites can request inspection and testing if they suspect chromium waste is present on their residential property.

Representatives from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the City of Jersey City and PPG Industries will be present.

Attendees will have an opportunity to address the members of the partnership and ask questions. No preregistration is required.

McCabe said public meetings represent one of several ways the partnership is committed to communicating with residents and interested parties as PPG fulfills its environmental commitments in Hudson County.
Other methods of communicating with the partnership include:

Telephone: 201-777-2099;
E-mail: info@chromcleanup.org;
Mail: Chromium Cleanup Partnership, P.O. Box 15981, Jersey City, N.J. 07305; and
Stopping by the PPG-operated Garfield Avenue Renewal Company office at 334 MLK Drive, Jersey City, NJ.

About the Chromium Cleanup Partnership

Mayor Appoints 8 Members to Citizen Advisory Board

JERSEY CITY, N.J., Oct. 20, 2009 – Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy signed an executive order today creating an eight- member Citizen Advisory Board to interact with city officials and consultants responsible for implementing the settlement of litigation between the City of Jersey City and PPG Industries in the remediation of chromium contamination at the site of its former plant on Garfield Avenue and at several other sites throughout the city.

“The Citizen Advisory Board is intended to be a group representative of the citizens who live within the area of the Garfield Avenue site,” said Mayor Healy. “They will have the opportunity to work with the city’s experts and officials who will be part of the overall cleanup process. The Citizen Advisory Board will also have the opportunity to meet with the Site Administrator, his experts, DEP officials and PPG.

“As residents with a clear stake in the outcome of the cleanup, we believe the City Council and the Administration can be assisted by their input,” Mayor Healy added.

Since the City Council approved the settlement in June, Chancery Judge Thomas Oliveri entered an order approving the settlement. The litigation was part of several legal actions commenced by the City of Jersey and the New Jersey Attorney General, on behalf of the Department of Environmental Protection, that sought to compel several generators of chromium contamination to remediate various contaminated sites in Hudson and Essex counties.

Judge Oliveri also entered an order approving former Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under President Bill Clinton, Mike McCabe, to serve as the Site Administrator. Mr. McCabe, who was also the Regional Administrator for Region III of the EPA for four years and served on President Barack Obama’s environmental transition team, will be responsible for overseeing the cleanup.