raritan bay slag

BAYVIEW DRIVE

The Raritan Bay Slag Site is located in the Laurence Harbor section of Old Bridge and in Sayreville, Middlesex County, New Jersey. The Site spans approximately 1.3 miles in length and consists of the waterfront area between Margaret’s Creek and the area just beyond the western jetty at the Cheesequake Creek Inlet. The portion of the Site that is situated in Laurence Harbor is part of what is now called the Old Bridge Waterfront Park. The park is made up of walking paths, a playground area, several public beaches, and three jetties, not including the two jetties at the Cheesequake Creek Inlet. The park waterfront is protected by a seawall. The Laurence Harbor seawall was reported to have had metal slag from blast furnace bottoms deposited along the beachfront in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Approximately 2,500 feet of the seawall have been contaminated. The western jetty at the Cheesequake Creek Inlet and the adjoining waterfront area west of the jetty are located in Sayreville and contain slag as well. The slag was placed at the Site approximately 40 years ago. The seawall, jetties, beach area east of the Cheesequake Creek Inlet, and the western jetty at the Cheesequake Creek Inlet are popular fishing areas. The beaches east of the Cheesequake Creek Inlet and west of the seawall appear to be the most popular for swimming. In 2006 the Margaret’s Creek portion of the site was proposed for acquisition by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Green Acres Program from Old Bridge Township. Historic aerial photos revealed the filling of approximately 20 acres of the site by 1974. In response to this finding, DEP conducted a limited site investigation in December 2006 to visually characterize fill material via excavation of test pits. In March 2007, DEP collected soil samples at the Margaret’s Creek portion of the site. Waste material was found in numerous locations, including large quantities of what appeared to be shredded automotive battery casings and refractory brick and slag. This sampling found elevated levels of lead along with arsenic and antimony. In 2007 DEP conducted further soil sampling along the Laurence Harbor seawall and an adjacent bay-beach area and found similar waste material. DEP consulted with the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services ( NJ DHSS) Hazardous Site Health Evaluation Program, which recommended access restrictions to the seawall and a portion of the public beach as a temporary measure to prevent exposure to the lead waste. In addition, DEP worked with Old Bridge officials to notify the public in writing about health concerns for the lead waste material and restricted access by means of signage and temporary fencing. In 2008 DEP requested that EPA evaluate the site to determine whether or not a removal action to address uncontrolled lead contamination was warranted. Site Responsibility: The site is being addressed through federal actions.

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