First Quarter 2009
Progress Update Ringwood Mines/ Landfill Site |
Ford Motor Company has been working closely with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to follow up on cleanup activities undertaken in the 1980s and 1990s at the Ringwood Mines Landfill Site in Ringwood, New Jersey, where waste materials from Ford's former assembly plant in ahwah, New Jersey, were disposed from late 1967 through mid-1971. Other parties, including the Borough of Ringwood, used the site for the disposal of waste materials before, during, and after the period when Ford-related wastes were brought to the Site.
Ford is providing this Progress Update to share information about developments in the investigation and cleanup of the Site during the first quarter of 2009.
Background
Over the past four years, Ford has conducted a multi-phase supplemental investigation and removal action at the Ringwood Mines Landfill Site under the direction of the USEPA, NJDEP, and the Army Corps of Engineers. As part of the supplemental investigation, Ford conducted a comprehensive Field Reconnaissance Survey, a Site-wide Test Pit investigation as well as specific studies at the Peters Mine Pit Area, the O'Connor Disposal Area, and the Cannon Mine Pit Area.
This Progress Update reviews the status of these activities.
Status of Removal of Paint Sludge in the SR Areas
Ford's contractor, ARCADIS, has completed the removal of surficial paint sludge in 11 of the 12 sludge removal (SR) areas, and performed post-excavation sampling to confirm that the paint sludge has not impacted nearby soils. Paint sludge within SR-5 will be removed as part of the Peters Mine Pit Area. Additional investigatory work has been undertaken to determine the source of arsenic detailed in SR-3, SR-4 and SR-7. The results of this work are described below in the Mine Tailings Investigation section.
Restoration Activities
After removal activities are complete, Ford’s contractor, ARCADIS, conducts backfilling, grading, and planting activities to restore the SR areas back to natural habitat. To date, Ford has performed restoration and wetland mitigation activities in six SR areas. Mitigation activities have been completed in five SR areas and monitoring and continued maintenance activities are performed as required.
Ford will continue restoration and mitigation activities within the remaining SR areas upon approval from EPA and NJDEP.
Site-Wide Groundwater Sampling
In September 2008, Ford conducted groundwater monitoring at previously installed monitoring wells across the Site. The samples collected were tested for volatile organic compounds, semi-volatile organic compounds, metals, PCBs, and cyanide. The results were submitted to EPA and NJDEP in December 2008 and were generally similar to historical monitoring events. (For more information on groundwater monitoring at the site view the Site-Wide Groundwater Sampling Results posted on Ford’s website www.ringwoodsiteupdate.com.) Additional groundwater sampling will be conducted in June 2009. Ford is working with EPA and NJDEP to finalize the construction details to convert the open hole bedrock wells to multi-level monitoring wells to obviate the need to separate the sampling intervals with inflatable packers. It is anticipated that the wells will be converted during the third quarter of 2009.
Landfill Investigations
Ford has been proceeding under EPA's direction in conducting specific studies within the Cannon Mine Pit Area, the O'Connor Disposal Area, and the Peters Mine Pit Area. Investigative activities at these locations have included additional surface water and soil sampling, the excavation of test pits and test trenches to characterize landfilled materials, and the installation and sampling of additional groundwater monitoring wells to obtain additional groundwater data within and adjacent to the landfills.
Field work associated with the initial investigations for all three landfills has been completed and the data from these investigations have been submitted to EPA and NJDEP. Supplemental investigations will be completed once authorized by EPA and NJDEP.
Mine Tailings Investigations
On December 9, 2008, Ford's contractor, ARCADIS, submitted additional supporting information regarding the Background Soil/Mine Tailings Investigation Report to EPA and NJDEP. The Background Soil/Mine Tailings Investigation Report seeks to determine (1) the relationship between ore and mine tailings from historic mining operations to arsenic that has been detected in some soils on the Site and (2) to identify "background" or naturally occurring levels of arsenic in soils at the Site. The report is currently under review by EPA and NJDEP.
Site Security
At the request of EPA, Ford has placed fencing around the Peters Mine Pit Area, O'Connor Disposal Area and Cannon Mine Pit Area. Regular site inspection and maintenance activities have found that some all-terrain vehicle (ATV) users have been entering the Site without permission from EPA or NJDEP, moved a 1,500-gallon baker tank around the Site, and caused substantial damage to the restoration of the natural habitat. Additionally, approximately 60 feet of fencing around the O'Connor Disposal Area and one of the fencing gates around the Peters Mine Pit Area were found to be damaged. Ford has repaired this damage and is working with EPA, NJDEP and local authorities to address ATV use and damage issues at the Site.
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Ford is committed to addressing remaining environmental issues at the Ringwood Site associated with the disposal of Ford-related wastes. Ford is also committed to keeping the community informed and addressing questions or concerns about Site activities. If you would like a copy of previous issues of the Progress Update, or have any questions regarding activities at the Site, please contact Jon Holt, Ford Community Relations Consultant, at (908) 832-0557.
