CAPE MAY – Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L) is ready to issue a letter of completion to the Cape May City and the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for remediation work on the site of the former gas plant on Lafayette Street.
That was the message to City Council when utility representatives delivered a status update July 2.
Remediation at the site has been ongoing since 2012, under the direction of DEP and with oversight from a licensed site remediation professional. Some remedial actions were conducted prior to 2009.
The plant was in operation from 1853 to 1937. It provided gas for street lighting, home heating, and cooking needs. The plant produced gas from coal and other sources in the days before the advent of natural gas. Coal tar, similar to roofing tar, was a by-product of the process, which contaminated the site and endangered the groundwater.
The site sits north of St. Johns Street bordering Lafayette Street, in proximity to Cape May City Elementary school and playground. Plans call for incorporating the site into the four-phase development of a multi-use park with recreational activity, sports complexes, and nature trails.
Remediation activities at the site included excavation and removal of impacted surface soils, installation of an “engineered system,” to contain deeper impacted soils and groundwater, along with treatment and monitoring of the groundwater.
The goal, according to the presentation, has been to “restore impacted property to productive community use.”
One area of particular concern has been the potential impact of the plant’s by-products on the groundwater. The issue was addressed directly in the presentation.
JCP&L officials said the plant posed no danger to the public water supply. They stated that a Classification Exception Area (CEA) was established.
A CEA identifies groundwater pollution in a designated area, usually from discharge at a contamination site. The area would require ongoing monitoring and reporting, usually on a quarterly basis. JCP&L installed a treatment and pump system and said the monitoring of the groundwater would continue “in perpetuity.”
Next steps would involve a city inspection, ongoing communications and coordination, and appropriate control and custody agreements. JCP&L maintains all Manufactured Gas Plant (MGP) related liabilities in perpetuity.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.
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