Mansfield Trail cleanup to begin

BYRAM — Lou DiGuardia of the EPA Removal Group announced at last week’s Community Advisory Group (CAG) meeting that remedial cleanup of the Mansfield Trail toxic dump site is moving forward. "We hope to meet with contractors over the winter and start cleanup in the spring," said DiGuardia. He also confirmed that the funding for the first stage of the remedial clean up has been secured. The cleanup will focus on removing the contaminated soil, which contains volatile organic compounds and TCE, a commercial degreaser known to pose health risks including cancer. Volatile organic compounds were identified in the East Brookwood section of Byram in 1980. In a 2004 standard residential well test TCE was discovered. In 2005, 17 homes with traces of TCE in their wells were identified. The homes are now being treated and their water supplies have returned to acceptable drinking levels. The CAG is drafting operating procedures for the group. The EPA is implementing the remedial program, continuing to test for further contamination - which includes vapor testing of air in and under homes - and monitoring the cleanup. The NJ DEP is maintaining the water treatment systems that were installed in the homes provided the home has not been sold from the time of the installation of the system. "There is a lot we have to do before we can actually begin," said DiGuardia. "We need a traffic control plan for the trucks that are removing the soil. We need to do air testing which the Coast Guard will be helping us with. We need to maintain an administrative record, which is currently at the local library. We need to set up a staging area and a trailer. We may even have to install fencing to keep people out of the area. We also need final access permission from PSE&G, who has lines in the area.” The Mansfield trail, which is used by local students to get to and from Lenape Valley High School, will be closed during the removal process. The project is expected to take six to nine months with work taking place between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. DiGuardia said he hopes the project won't interfere with the operation of Lenape Valley High School. Diguardia noted that the major trench is right below the power lines which makes it difficult to get equipment in and out. Kristin Giacalone, project manager for the cleanup, said that after the removal of the soil that contamination levels should go down. For more information visit www.epa.gov and navigate to their Superfund page.