SamS wrote:
Just to illuminate salient pertinent parts of Glenn Wrigley's statement which was posted here:

1. The vast majority of the park has no or lead levels.
2. There was only one small area with lead.
3. Glenn says work is continuing with out delays.

From: "Glenn Wrigley"
Date: June 29, 2009 11:06:36 AM EDT
To: "Brian O'Reilly"

All test results came back with very low or non-existent contamination levels except for one, which is an area about 20 feet West of the gazebo. This one sample came back with a level for lead which is above DEP acceptable residential standards.

One suspect reason may be the bedding or base material under old concrete walkways, which are described as cinders. It was common back around the turn of the century and up to the 1930's for cinders from power generating plants to be used as a base course for concrete.

Much of the old walkways were removed in the 1970's renovation of the park, but some of the chips probably remained in this spot and were covered over with soil.

Meanwhile, other construction will continue without delay.



Glenn
without delay

Vigilante wrote:
Quote:

jcnight wrote:
Quote:

Vigilante wrote:
Quote:

Bogart wrote:
"Like I said earlier, it could take months or it could take years. Who wants to explain this to potential home buyers? The centerpiece of the neighborhood may be a toxic dump or maybe not..."

Now, that is speculation.

No Sh*t Sherlock. That's why I asked if anyone had any real info not just more speculation. Duh.

sorry i cant refuse this.

Real Info:

The park is closed for renovations
It will re-open someday.

You sure about that? I know some people are still using the park. "Closed"? For some of you it is.

jcnight wrote:
Quote:

Vigilante wrote:
Quote:

Bogart wrote:
"Like I said earlier, it could take months or it could take years. Who wants to explain this to potential home buyers? The centerpiece of the neighborhood may be a toxic dump or maybe not..."

Now, that is speculation.

No Sh*t Sherlock. That's why I asked if anyone had any real info not just more speculation. Duh.

sorry i cant refuse this.

Real Info:

The park is closed for renovations
It will re-open someday.

No Sh*t Sherlock. That's why I asked if anyone had any real info not just more speculation. Duh.

Vigilante wrote:
Quote:

Bogart wrote:
"Like I said earlier, it could take months or it could take years. Who wants to explain this to potential home buyers? The centerpiece of the neighborhood may be a toxic dump or maybe not..."

Now, that is speculation.

No Sh*t Sherlock. That's why I asked if anyone had any real info not just more speculation. Duh.

Bogart wrote:
"Like I said earlier, it could take months or it could take years. Who wants to explain this to potential home buyers? The centerpiece of the neighborhood may be a toxic dump or maybe not..."

Now, that is speculation.

sandstone wrote:
Thanks for that information. That fact-based, calm, reasonable information.

SamS wrote:
Vigilante,

Uuuum, first I didn't speculate anything nor did I say I was an expert on any of this. All I said was I conducted a little cursory research which suggested it's a simple matter of changing some soil and in some instances adding some plants that are particularly effective in diluting the effects of lead in soil.

Incidentally, would it surprise you to know that most of our homes have lead some where in them, including our back yards??

Based upon what has been reported from the contractors per the post on here, the workers seemed to have found a relatively small amount of lead in a designated area of the park. To my knowledge there hasn't been any reporting from the DEP on this.

But my point was THERE IS NO NEED TO JUMP TO THE CONCLUSION THAT ITS GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME to remediate the problem, which seems almost innocuous.

Moreover, as evidenced by the continued work that's going on in the park, it seems renovation is continuing to progress on target.

Quote:

Vigilante wrote:
Quote:

SamS wrote:
In doing some cursory research it seems remediating lead contamination is no where near as difficult as cleaning up oil or other toxins.

Also, it seems to me that progress on the progress has been continuing since the discovery of the lead, which was found in a rather isolated section of the park.

So how long will the clean up take? Or is this just your speculation?

Vigilante wrote:
Quote:

SamS wrote:
In doing some cursory research it seems remediating lead contamination is no where near as difficult as cleaning up oil or other toxins.

Also, it seems to me that progress on the progress has been continuing since the discovery of the lead, which was found in a rather isolated section of the park.

So how long will the clean up take? Or is this just your speculation?

SamS wrote:
In doing some cursory research it seems remediating lead contamination is no where near as difficult as cleaning up oil or other toxins.

Also, it seems to me that progress on the progress has been continuing since the discovery of the lead, which was found in a rather isolated section of the park.

jcnight wrote:
exactly. not only does this effect our health, but it effects the value of our homes. i dont care how long it takes to clean it up, just do it. i cannot beleive that people are complaining beacuse its now going to take longer. WTF..... its a contaminated park, you wanna live to enjoy it fruitcake? And dont tell me that all of jersey city is contaminated beacuse i already know this. The fact is this is a site that is now going to be dealt with, however long it takes. ugh !!!!!

tern wrote:
Disaster! Why did they have to test this stuff, they were obviously going to find some kind of contamination. Now the park won't be open for years of remediation.

Damn.

Robin.

Green CONSTRUCTION, as part of their contractual obligations, did have areas where soil is being excavated tested for contaminants (per NJDEP requirements before soil can be transported off of any site to an accepting landfill).

tern wrote:
Disaster! Why did they have to test this stuff, they were obviously going to find some kind of contamination. Now the park won't be open for years of remediation.

Damn.

Robin.

From: "Glenn Wrigley"
Date: June 29, 2009 11:06:36 AM EDT
To: "Brian O'Reilly"
Cc: "Olu Howard" ,"Steve Fulop" , "Brian Weller"
Subject:
Brian,

I want to keep you informed of a situation that has occurred in Hamilton Park late last week. Green CONSTRUCTION, as part of their contractual obligations, did have areas where soil is being excavated tested for contaminants (per NJDEP requirements before soil can be transported off of any site to an accepting landfill). The reason for excavation at all is to install these new underground drainage structures required by the NJMUA. All test results came back with very low or non-existent contamination levels except for one, which is an area about 20 feet West of the gazebo. This one sample came back with a level for lead which is above DEP acceptable residential standards.

We met with the testing company and we are attempting to delineate just how much of an area may be contaminated with this high level of lead. One suspect reason may be the bedding or base material under old concrete walkways, which are described as cinders. It was common back around the turn of the century and up to the 1930's for cinders from power generating plants to be used as a base course for concrete. It is possible that these chips are the source of the lead levels. Much of the old walkways were removed in the 1970's renovation of the park, but some of the chips probably remained in this spot and were covered over with soil. This new renovation proposes to put this old walkway path back, albeit wider (11 to 12 feet) than the old pathways (about 4 feet).

Since tests were performed, and this level has been detected, the NJDEP must be notified. Such notification naturally makes this a public record. In order to assure the public that the extent of this contamination is found and remediated, NJDEP protocol is for additional testing at a rate of 4 samples per acre (or about 24 samples for this 6.0 acre park). These additional tests will take about 2 to 3 weeks to obtain and analyze. Meanwhile, other construction will continue without delay.

Once notification is given to the NJDEP, this project will be assigned a case number. A hotline number to the DEP is also established so that residents have current information on the investigation. There will be some signs posted around the park (A DEP requirement), letting the public know that an investigation is taking place. The hotline number will be clearly listed on these posters. Full transparent disclosure is the objective here. All test results will be sent to the DEP for review, and a Remedial Action Work Plan (RAWP) will be sent to the DEP for their review and approval. Hopefully, this problem will be limited to the one uncovered location.

I will be happy to meet with you, the Mayor's office, Councilman Fulop, and some HPNA representatives if anyone wishes.

Glenn

weinish wrote:
i for one play on the basketball court all the time and have lived here since 2001. i pray there's a court because there are no good courts in the entire area. this is a city! there should be basketball courts in safe neighborhoods.