Council and BOE work on tainted soil at NBTHS
All other areas
testing clean
By jennifer kohlhepp
Staff Writer

CHRIS KELLY Piles of soil excavated during the first phase of construction on North Brunswick Township High School were covered and fenced in when preliminary testing revealed elevated levels of arsenic, lead, zinc, copper and glass.

NORTH BRUNSWICK — Township officials say they are taking immediate action to ensure the safety of Veterans Park.

In light of the recent finding of contaminated soil with elevated levels of glass, arsenic and lead found near the border of the North Brunswick Township High School and township property, the Township Council urged the environmental engineering firm Powell-Harpstead, Inc. to expedite soil testing in the area of Veterans Park on Raider Road.

"We’re going to err on the side of caution at every turn, and make absolutely sure all of the appropriate tests are performed and every responsible action is taken with respect to the test findings," Council President Frances "Mac" Womack said.

The engineering firm collected 19 soil samples in Veterans Park on Aug. 4, and plans to rush analysis results to township officials as early as Friday, to ensure that the area is safe for patrons of the park and surrounding residents, according to Powell-Harpstead, Inc. Vice President Dan Harpstead.

"This is a very serious issue, and we don’t want to overreact," Township Council Vice President Carlo Socio said. "We have to go by what the experts tell us."

In a memo addressed to the township, Powell-Harpstead President Jodi Powell wrote, "Restricting access to the park prior to obtaining additional data would not be necessary."

Township officials decided Monday night, upon the recommendation of the engineering firm, not to restrict access to the park.

"A state-certified industrial hygienist also investigated the site last week and determined there are no possible effects of the contamination," Womack said. "The contaminates, covered by a layer of top soil and grass, are not harmful unless airborne or ingested."

The soil sampling comes as a result of Tak Construction, Clark, excavating less than an acre of 4-foot-deep contaminated surface fill with a higher-than-expected percentage of glass during the initial phase of the $29 million renovation project to the high school, last month.

Powell said the firm intends to "prepare a formal scope of work, with costs, to conduct a formal remediation investigation that will be submitted to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection."

The estimated fee for retaining the firm is $12,400, according to Powell.

The Board of Education retained Powell-Harpstead of Cinnaminson to test the soil after the elevated levels of glass were found last month.

The school district and the township have decided to enter into separate agreements with Powell-Harpstead during the investigative phase of the identified areas of concern, according to Powell.

Only one of the additional surface samples collected on school property last week tested positive for a dangerous level of arsenic, according to officials.

The soil tested at 25.5 parts per million for arsenic, whereas the DEP guideline for arsenic is 20 parts per million.

Powell-Harpstead also conducted additional testing at Judd Elementary School, which is located on the south end of the same property, last week.

Superintendent Dr. Robert Rimmer said all sites at Judd School tested clean.

Harpstead said once the DEP agrees with his firm’s plan of action, "all contaminated soil will be leaving the site."

The contaminated soil found at the high school leads Harpstead to believe the area was once a dumping ground for laboratory equipment.

"We have an aerial view photograph of dumping on this property in 1962," Harpstead said.

Rimmer assures residents there have been no indications that the materials in the soil have had an adverse impact on the health and well-being of students, faculty or residents.

The park and the school will remain open for summer activities.

"School will open on time in September," Rimmer said.

The School Board had the excavated soil covered, and placed a fence around the area with the contaminated soil.

"We placed a moratorium on further construction and any other activity in the immediate area of the proposed au­ditorium, where the contaminated soil was found," Rimmer said.

During preliminary testing, five sam­ples of soil, taken from the area around the site for the proposed auditorium, demonstrated elevated levels of ar­senic, lead, copper and zinc.

Long-term exposure to arsenic is linked to liver, lung, prostate, bladder, kidney and non-melanoma cancers, ac­cording to the DEP.

Long-term exposure to lead, accord­ing to the DEP, causes a variety of health effects, including developmental delays and lowered IQ in children. Other health effects include brain and kidney damage.

Once the safety of the area is en­sured, the township and the board agree that their next priority is to investigate who dumped on the property.