Client Name: Private Corporation

Location of Work: Carlstadt, New Jersey

Scope of Work: Excel was retained to conduct a due diligent Preliminary Assessment (PA) of an operating coatings and adhesives manufacturing facility in compliance with the Industrial Site Recovery Act (ISRA) in preparation for sale of the property by the owner. The PA was designed to identify potential areas of concern (AOCs) and to determine the necessary scope of evaluation for incorporation into a Site Investigation (SI) scope of work. The owner required the work to be conducted on an expedited schedule, as necessary for negotiations with the prospective purchaser. Excel conducted the PA and identified multiple AOCs which required evaluation as part of an SI phase of work, including several sumps and pits located within the building, a large aboveground storage tank farm, several loading and off-loading areas for hazardous substances used in the manufacturing process, several hazardous material storage areas, and areas of spills and stressed vegetation. An extremely shallow depth to groundwater and wetland and surface waters in close proximity to the site heightened concerns regarding potential impact to groundwater, therefore an evaluation of shallow groundwater quality was incorporated into the investigation early in the assessment.

Excel designed an efficient SI method using a jack-hammer operated soil sampling system inside the building and the GeoProbe system in outside areas. The results of the SI were evaluated in comparison to applicable NJDEP soil cleanup criteria with consideration of current and future use of the facility. Based on the results of the SI, additional soil quality delineation was required for few of the AOCs. and Excel completed the soil quality delineation using a focused supplemental soil sampling and shallow groundwater sampling program using NJDEP-approved alternate groundwater sampling techniques. Based on the results of the PA/SI, a focused PA/SI report was prepared which included a detailed engineering cost estimate for final compliance activities at the site, including institutional controls in the form of a Declaration of Environmental Restriction (DER) for several AOCs at the site.

Excel assisted the property owner and the owners environmental legal counsel with negotiations with the prospective purchaser regarding final measures for environmental compliance. Excel also prepared a detailed engineering cost estimate for final compliance measures to support a Remediation Agreement between the owner and the NJDEP as necessary to enable the property transaction to proceed.

Project Outcome: The Remediation Agreement was executed by the NJDEP and final agreements reached between the owner and the purchaser enabling the property transaction to proceed. Remedial Action in the form of limited soil removal and a DER is proceeding by the owner as required for ISRA compliance under the Remediation Agreement.