Remedial Investigation Report (RIR) for the Former BP Terminal
Download a PDF version of this page.
Introduction
The former Paulsboro Terminal is a large, complex site requiring several types of remediation strategies to clean it up. Environmental activities are regulated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and strict guidelines are in place during every step of the process. Working with the NJDEP, BP has spent more than two decades conducting extensive soil, groundwater, and sediment/surface water investigations, while implementing interim remedial measures to control and cleanup source areas. The Remedial Investigation Report (RIR), is the last step in the Remedial Investigation phase under the NJDEP’s Technical Requirements for Site Remediation. It provides the basis and background for decisions about final cleanup remedies at the site.
A public meeting was held on January 22nd, 2008 at 6:00 pm in the Council Chambers of the Paulsboro Municipal Building (1211 Delaware Street) where BP presented the findings of the RIR.
After the presentation by BP, a question-and-answer session followed. Representatives from the NJDEP were also be on hand to answer questions and describe the NJDEP review and approval process. Below is a summary of some of the key issues covered in the report.
Groundwater and Soil Investigations
The site sits above an aquifer system that is divided into three zones: Upper, Middle and Lower. Groundwater investigation and delineation activities have been ongoing at the site since the late 1970s and have focused on characterizing groundwater in all three layers of the aquifer. There are currently more than 200 groundwater monitoring wells located on and off-site. In addition, since the 1980s, BP has collected and analyzed approximately 2,000 soil samples on and off site. These groundwater and soil investigations have defined the nature and extent of environmental impacts related to the site and have provided the necessary technical data required to evaluate remedial action alternatives. BP has now sufficiently gathered and examined all of the groundwater and soil information needed to proceed with the preparation of final cleanup plans.
Interim Remedial Measures
Interim remedial measures (IRM) have been taking place while investigations were underway in order to prevent further migration of chemicals off site and to start cleaning up on-site areas with the worst impacts. To date, IRM activities have removed over 5.1 million pounds of petrochemicals from below the ground. These include pumping and treating groundwater, light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) removal, Air Sparging/Soil Vapor Extraction and source area excavation.
Supplemental Sampling
As part of the final RI efforts, the NJDEP asked BP to conduct additional sampling in the Delaware River and in Mantua Creek, to supplement a similar data collection effort in 2003. Conclusions drawn from the original sampling effort were that the observations of chemicals in river sediments were no different near the site than from other “background” sampling locations some distances away. It is important to note that the Delaware River and its tributaries historically received run-off and discharges from many sources along the industrial corridor through which they flow.
Following a Baseline Ecological Evaluation of the site in 2004, BP recommended and NJDEP approved closing five on-site stormwater collection basins to prevent the possible migration of chemicals off site. In March 2007, BP also conducted sampling at 26 locations in the Delaware River and Mantua Creek, plus an upland area that may have been an overland drainage pathway between the former DuPont property and Mantua Creek. The results of the supplemental sampling confirmed that the samples showed traces of chemicals that are similar to background locations. To date, BP has conducted sampling from 14 surface water locations and 97 sediments locations (including the most recent ones). Additional investigation of the sediments as they relate to site activities will be conducted in connection with final cleanup plans for the site.
Vapor Intrusion
Since 1997, BP has utilized a soil treatment method called soil vapor extraction (SVE) to remove volatile chemicals (meaning they can be found in a vapor form) that are found in soil located above the water table. Historically, SVE systems operated both on-site and off-site. In addition, an air sparging system began operating on site in 2004. This system removes volatile chemicals found in the saturated zone (within the groundwater).
In 2005, the NJDEP issued new Vapor Intrusion Guidance, which required BP to review its investigations and cleanup methods with regard to soil vapor intrusion. BP re-examined vapor exposure pathways by which residents or workers could potentially come into contact with soil vapors, such as in buildings on or near the site or by being exposed to outdoor air at the former Terminal. BP also looked at potential exposure scenarios that could occur with redevelopment and conducted sampling in August 2007 in the southwest corner of the site, which is located near a nursery school. These investigations found no chemicals in soil gas samples above the NJDEP Vapor Intrusion screening criteria. However, monitoring will continue and further evaluation will be necessary once redevelopment plans are finalized.
Path Forward
BP will continue the on-going remedial measures as well as groundwater monitoring and sampling. Now that the RI requirements have been satisfied, the NJDEP will review the Remedial Action Selection Report (RASR) that has already been submitted. This report outlines the most appropriate clean-up strategies for moving forward with site-wide remediation. Upon NJDEP approval, the RASR will provide the basis for completing detailed cleanup plans for remedying site impacts.
For additional information on the site status and the investigation and remediation process, please click here to review the Paulsboro Pipeline newsletters.
