BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — The next phase of excavation is about to begin near the former site of the manufactured gasification plant [MGP] on Long Branch Avenue, according to a spokeswoman for NJ Natural Gas (NJNG).
And a new group will have a say in the process.
A community advisory panel (CAP) has been formed by NJNG to assist the company in its efforts to remediate the areas in the city that the Concerned Citizens Coalition — a local group formed to oversee the remediation of the MGP site — says have been contaminated by the MGP.
The CAP will represent the interests and concerns of the community, Roseanne Koberle, NJNG, said.
“The CAP represents the diversity from the community and provides on-going advice,” she said. “They will provide us with information about our [NJNG] efforts.”
The group met for the first time on Nov. 4.
CAP members include:
Marcia Blackwell, Troutman’s Creek Homeowner Association; Lorenzo “Bill” Dangler, Greater Long Branch NAACP; Tyrone Garrett, Housing Authority of the city of Long Branch; Reverend Aaron Gibson Sr., Second Baptist Church; Avery Grant, Concerned Citizens Coalition; Dorthia Johnson, LBHA resident; Paul Dement, Rep. Frank Pallone’s office; Howard Woolley, Long Branch business administrator; Brooke Tarabour, Family & Children’s Services; Nancy Kleinberg, Long Branch Chamber of Commerce; Jeremee Johnson, N.J. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); and Sharon Kubiak, representative Consumer and Environmental Health.
One member said his group is already achieving the goals of the CAP.
“They [NJNG] are trying to reach out to us [Long Branch residents], but it appears that efforts are being duplicated,” Grant of the Concerned Citizens Coalition, said. “It might make more sense for them [CAP] to join with us [Concerned Citizens Coalition].
The Coalition is formed of city residents who live in the area around the MGP site, according to Grant who said the group has been working with the community for over two years.
“Participants [of CAP] represent a diverse cross section of representatives from the community and various organizations,” according to the city MGP progress report released by NJNG. “We believe the CAP will play an important role in assuring the views of all key stakeholders are taken into account as our progress continues.”
Grant said he joined the CAP because “[the coalition] tries to cooperate with every organization.”
NJNG held an open house on Nov. 10 in the Learning Center at Brookdale Community College on Broadway that consisted of various stations arranged that contained the remediation updates.
Grant said he does not like the open house format.
“They have open houses, but they do not allow public discussion,” he said. “That disturbs [the coalition]. Let’s sit and talk.”
Contamination that has been generated from the MGP site has plagued Seaview Manor, a Housing Authority complex located on the site, and the 46 families that resided in the buildings were relocated by the authority and NJNG in April.
Since that time, the vacant buildings have been bulldozed and removed, according to Koberle, who said the next step is to improve the properties where the vacant Seaview Manor buildings were located.
“Soil will be removed and replaced and testing will be conducted to certify the property meets clean standards,” Koberle said. “On nonresidential portions of the properties, soil will be removed and covered with a geotextile fabric and a clean-fill cap.”
She said this phase is expected to be completed by the Spring.
Troutman’s Creek has also been polluted by the site, according to the Concerned Citizens Coalition.
A substantial section of the creek has been restored and rechanneled on the plant property, according to the progress report, which says that Troutman’s Creek is currently being tested for possible impacts from the former plant site beyond the plant property.
“NJNG began testing Troutman’s Creek in March for possible impacts from the former MGP beyond the plant property,” Koberle said. “In the course of this testing, NJNG has identified MGP-related materials in deep core sediment samples taken 3 to 6feet below the creek bed.”
“NJNG is working with NJDEP to determine an approach to address these materials, which would not be contacted by humans at the depths found,” she said.
Future remediation plans include the removal of the former MGP building, which Koberle said should be taking place this winter.
Improvements will also be made to the following properties: the city Sewage Authority on Joline Avenue and Talco and Atlantic Plumbing, both located adjacent to the site on Long Branch Avenue.
A project hot-line number, 888-638-9924, is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for questions and comments.