Restoration
Advisory
Board 

RAB Members: 

Community Members: 

Fred Carl 

John T. Cervini 

Robert B. Corby 

Matthew Durkin 

Thomas Grasso 

Philip Harris 

Robert Keleher 

Gayle E. Koepping 

Lynn Lemire Bryan 

Robert E. McAllan 

Wilma J. Morrissay 

Jeffrey R. Munyan 

James Stigliano 

Lawrence R. Tormey 

John S. Truhan, P.E. 

U.S. Army Members: 

Michael Ruane, Base Transition Coordinator 

Henry Kearney, Chief, Public Affairs Office 

Regulatory Agency Members: 

Ian R. Curtis, State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection 

Copyright © 1998 InfoAge. 
All rights reserved.

The next scheduled meeting is Sept 22, 1998. 

All RAB meetings are held at 7:30 PM at the Wall Township Municipal Building, 2700 Allaire Road. Wall, New Jersey 07719-1168 

• 1.Historical overview 
• 2. Program management and oversight 
• a. BRAC Cleanup Team 
• b. Restoration Advisory Board 
• 3. Program highlights 
• a. Enhanced Preliminary Assessment 
• b. Site Inspection 
• c. Supplementary Site Inspection 
• d. Remedial Action 
• 1. Former metal plating facility - building 9007 
• 2. Former electrical testing facilities - buildings 9049/9359 
• 3. Underground neutralization tanks 
• 4. Abandoned sewage treatment plant 
• 5. Abandoned septic tank 
• 6. Former transformer location 
• e.Additional Evaluation 
• 1. Groundwater investigation 
• 2. Lead-based paint 
• 3. Sediments in the Laurel Gully Brook and Shark River Bay 
• f. Fuel Oil Underground Storage Tanks 
• g. Radiological Characterization 

Status of BRAC 93 Environmental Program based upon April 10, 1998 Information Paper prepared by Christopher Kencik, BRAC Environmental Coordinator 

Remedial Actions at Camp Evans: 

1. Historical overview. 

2. Program management and oversight. 

a. BRAC Cleanup Team. During November 1993, in response to the BRAC 93 decision affecting the Evans Area, a multi-disciplinary BRAC Cleanup Team (BCT) was formed, under the leadership of the CECOM/Fort Monmouth BRAC Environmental Coordinator (BEC). The BCT was formed to satisfy the President's "fast-track cleanup" mandate to identify environmental conditions, expedite environmental cleanup, promote early reuse and building consensus. Developing a partnership between tha Army, federal and state environmental regulators and the affected community, is the means toward building consensus, and by its very nature is the means toward expediting cleanup and promoting early reuse. In addition to the BEC, the BCT is comprised of the Base Transition Coordinator, and representatives of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Army Environmental Center (AEC), Army Corps of Engineers (AEC), the CECOM Legal and Public Affairs Offices, and the Fort Monmouth Directorate of Public Works (DPW). 

b. Restoration Advisory Board. In addition to the BCT, a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) was formed in order to promote community involvement in the environmental remediation process associated with the closure of the Evans Area. The board, co-chaired by the BEC and a community representative, serves as a forum for the exchange of information and partnership between the community and representatives of the Army, USEPA and NJDEP. The RAD held its first organizational meeting June 11, 1996, and has since met on an approximately monthy basis. 

3. Program highlights. 

a. Enhanced Preliminary Assessment. At the onset of the BRAC 93 process, one of the BCT's first orders of business was the preparation of an Enhanced Preliminary Assessment (EnPA) Report, completed in January 1994, which addressed potential environmental contamination which may have resulted from past activities at the Evans Area. This report evaluated existing baseline environmental conditions based on historical records and personnel interviews, and became the basis for further environmental investigations required to ensure environmental acceptability of the property prior to any future conveyance actions. A total of eighty three sites associated with past activities at the Evans Area were evaluated during the EnPA process as well as the subsequent site inspections discussed in paragraphs 3b and 3c, below. 

b. Site Inspection. On the basis of the EnPA Report, comprehensive environmental site inspection field work was completed in two phases by the AEC and the ACE between the summer of 1994 and the spring of 1996, in close coordination with the USEPA and the NJDEP. The findings, conclusions and recommendations of the first phase of field work were presented in a final Site Inspection Report (SIR) distributed in May 1996. Copies of the EnPA Report and Site Inspection Report were placed into the Wall Township Public Library repository for public review. 

c. Supplementary Site Inspection. Preliminary findings, conclusions and recommendations of the second phase of field work were presented in an initial draft Supplementary Site Inspection Report (SSIR) prepared in May 1996. The final SSIR will be placed into the public library repository as a companion document to the original SIR. It will reflect (1) comments received from the NJDEP and USEPA, (2) regulatory agreement concerning "no further action sites", (3) any additional sampling/analysis which may be required and (4) remedial actions which are required prior to property conveyance. Publication of the final SSIR, originally projected for the March 1998 timeframe, has been delayed due to two logistical factors: (1) Transition of program execution responsibility from the AEC to the ACE, and (2) Personnel changes at the supporting contractor's facility. Completion is now projected for the Summer 1998 timeframe. 

d. Remedial Action. Site remediation by the ACE was initiated in mid November 1997, with completion anticipated by the end of 1998. The recommended actions at the twelve active sites are summarized below. Additional concurrent "parallel track" actions are discussed in paragraphs 3f and 3g. An additional factor which will have a direct bearing on project execution and associated timelines is the Army's newly implemented Technical Peer Review Program. An initial program meeting is scheduled for 23 April 1998 at the AEC's facility located at Aberdeen Proving Ground, NO, and will involve the review of data and information associated with building 9007 fre: para 3d(l)], and groundwater quality monitoring and evaluation [re: para 3e(l)]. 

(1) Former metal plating facility building 9007 [1 site] Removal of localized soil contaminated with semi volatile organic compounds and metals is planned. Evaluation and long term monitoring of localized and confined shallow aquifer (Kirkwood Cohansey) groundwater contaminated with chlorinated hydrocarbons is also proposed. No adverse human or ecological impact has been detected nor is it anticipated. Refer to paragraph 3e(l) for additional information concerning groundwater quality evaluation. 

(2) Former electrical testing facilities buildings 9049 and 9359 [a.k.a. High Power Switching Facility] [2 sites] Demolition of the structures has been completed. Current plans call for verification sampling and analysis, followed by necessary removal of any localized soil found to contain PolychlorinatedBiphenyls (PCBs) which exceed applicable regulatory soil criteria. Any residual soil contamination which may exist is expected to be confined to the immediate site; no adverse human or ecological impact is anticipated. 

(3) Underground neutralization tanks [6 sites] Removal of tanks associated with former laboratory operations (buildings 9007, 9025, 9034, 9040, 9045 and 9105) and assessment of soil following removal actions had been inititated in the January 1998 timeframe, but is currently on hold pending completion of the technical review process [re: para 3d]. Although not directly scheduled to undergo peer review, this project was postponement as a matter of good business practice, given that these tanks may be considered as potential point sources of groundwater contamination and as such must be factored into the groundwater quality evaluation project which will be the subject of peer review. No environmental contamination has been detected to date at these sites and no adverse human or ecological impact is anticipated. 

(4) Abandoned sewage treatment plant [I site] Based on site inspection findings, the overall environmental conditions at this site do not appear to have been significantly impacted by the former operations at the sewage treatment plant, and no adverse human or ecological impact is anticipated. Demolition of the structures has been completed and will be followed by confirmatory soil analysis (as required), and final soil stabilization and seeding, expected to be completed in the Summer 1998 timeframe. 

(5) Abandoned septic tank [I site] Removal of a large abandoned septic tank, located on the east side of Marconi Road at the intersection with Monmouth Boulevard, and assessment of soil following removal actions is planned for the Summer 1998 timeframe. No adverse human or ecological impact is anticipated. 

(6) Former transformer location [I site] Removal of minor residual Polychlorinated Biphenyls contamination of the concrete floor in an above ground vault located adjacent to building 9007 is planned, and will involve scarification of the concrete surface. This minor contamination is limited to the vault interior and no adverse human or ecological impact is anticipated. 

e. Additional Evaluation 

(1) As part of a comprehensive groundwater quality investigation, sporadic exceedances of NJDEP groundwater quality criteria were found for a volatile organic chemical (Perchloroethane) and lead, in the general vicinity of buildings 9007, 9010, 9011 and 9032. As discussed in paragraph 3d(l) above, a groundwater monitoring program had been established to gather additional (bi annual) samples for comparison with the original (baseline) findings prior to making a final recommendation. Data generated by the monitoring program will be reviewed by the Army, NJDEP and USEPA under the peer review process [re: para 3d], and will be used as the basis for developing appropriate remedial actions. 

(2) Lead based paint (used extensively in both the public and private sectors until 1975) is an open issue for which formulation of an appropriate course of action is pending, especially given the sporadic groundwater exceedances for lead which had been found during the groundwater quality investigation discussed in paragraph 2e(l) above. This broad scope issue of potential lead based paint contamination of soil and groundwater is currently still being evaluated by the DoD and USEPA. Although the associated timeline has not been formally identified, resolution of this issue is expected to be reached by the end of calendar year 1998, and will followed by the development of an appropriate action plan. 

(3) The overall quality of sediments in the Laurel Gully Brook and the tidally influenced Shark River Bay is being reviewed and compared with sediment samples taken on, and adjacent to, the Evans Area property. The sediment quality of the Shark River Bay is generally considered to be poor, primarily from the aesthetic standpoint, as is common in such tidal bodies of water throughout the East coast. The Army and the environmental regulatory community will complete evaluation of the overall conditions prior to property conveyance, giving due consideration to the proposed reuse of the Evans Area. Past activities at the Evans Area are not considered to be significant contributing factors to sediment quality. 

f. Fuel Oil Underground Storage Tanks. In addition to the twelve sites identified above, work had been initiated by the Fort Monmouth DPW concerning thirty six fuel oil underground storage tanks (USTs) at the Evans Area. This project entails, prior to property conveyance, an assessment and removal of all remaining underground storage tanks at the Evans Area, followed by any site remediation which may be required, and submission of closure reports to the NJDEP. USTs at buildings which are scheduled for community reuse have been replaced by aboveground tanks in order to provide necessary heating capability prior to property conveyance. All of the thirty six (36) known USTs have been removed, of which seven (7) were identified as "leakers" and twenty nine (29) as "non leakers". Required cleanup activities are near completion, and based on currently available information, no significant adverse environmental impact is anticipated at any of the UST locations. In addition the the known USTs, field work had been initiated to confirm the existence and condition of a UST which reportedly exists beneath the Evans Area electrical sub station. Final closing actions on this project are currently expected to take place during the Summer 1998 timeframe. 

g. Radiological Characterization. Another concurrent action radiological characterization is currently underway under the direction of the CECOM Directorate for Safety Risk Management (DSRM). This action entails a comprehensive evaluation of sites and buildings at the Evans Area which are currently, or have been historically, associated with radiological research and development activities which have been conducted utilizing radioactive materials licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Areas which have no recorded history of radioactive material involvement, classified as "non impacted" areas, also require evaluation but to a lesser extent. This parallel track effort involves performance of surveys, preparation of a NRC License Termination Report, site remediation as required, preparation of a final survey report, and ultimately, approval by the NRC for the unrestricted use release of the Evans Area. 

The first phase of site characterization field surveys had been completed during the Fall of 1996 at the Watson Avenue "farmhouse parcel" and the Sewage Treatment Plant site on Marconi Road. Following a review of the survey report, the NJDEP had concluded that this acreage (approximately 100 acres 40% of total real estate) may be released for unrestricted use, based on NRC approval received. A draft Finding of Suitability for Transfer (FOST) and an updated draft Environmental Baseline Survey (EBS) Report have been prepared by the Army Environmental Center (AEC) based on the findings of the earlier environmental site investigations and the radiological characterization surveys conducted on this property. The FOST and EBS will be finalized following completion of regulatory review and approval, currently expected during the Summer 1998 timeframe. 

Site characterization at the "antenna field", a.k.a., Area G and G 2, was completed during the summer of 1997. Completion of soil sample analysis and independent verification are expected to be completed in the Summer 1998 timeframe, followed by regulatory review of findings as in the "farmhouse parcel" above. This parcel, which represents approximately 70 acres 25% of total real estate, has been secured by newly installed gates at the two access points from the main compound. 

Surveys of the buildings are ongoing, and will continue as building contents are removed. This final parcel of land represents approximately 90 acres 35% of total real estate. The buildings at the radiological enclave, 9045 and 940 1, will be the last to be surveyed, as the relocation of the "Shield" mission is contingent on the completion of a supplemental Environmental Assessment by the ACE's Mobile District (expected by the July 1998 timeframe) and the construction of a new facility to replace the "Shield". Relocation of the "Shield" and final NRC release of the enclave are tentatively projected for the October 1999 timeframe.