Princeton Hospital Update

Written and submitted by Princeton officials:

This is an update regarding work at the Hospital Site. The following is proceeding at this time, updates from the prior notice are shown in bold.

Yannuzzi Corporation is continuing to remove from the inside of hospital buildings various items that are being prepared for recycling or disposal, including the following:

− Carpeting
− Non asbestos ceiling tiles
− Lighting fixtures
− Non asbestos pipe coverings
− Copper water piping
− Electrical wiring
− Office partitions

All of the above referenced work has been completed as of June 13th. 

Eisco Environmental has been removing the underground fuel storage tanks and anticipates being completed this week. No petroleum contamination had been found in connection with the removal of the first four (4) of the tanks.  One post excavation soil sample in connection with the removal of the two (2) 30,000 gallon tanks showed a petroleum hydrocarbon reading of 110 mg/kg, slightly above the 100 mg/kg threshold. As a result additional testing will be completed. 

Eisco Environmental has completed the removal of all of the underground tanks and fuel lines. It is anticipated that the results of the additional soils testing will be received by June 13th.  During the removal of the remaining two (2) previously abandoned 6,000 gallon # 6 heating oil tanks, located between the hospital and parking garage, evidence of a discharge was observed.

The LSRP notified NJDEP on Thursday, May 22nd of the observance and NJDEP Case # 14-05-22-1548-10 was assigned. Any soils found to be subject to a discharge will be removed from the site and properly disposed of at a NJDEP approved facility.

It has been determined that all soil excavated from around two (2) 6,000 gallon tanks (5-6 truck loads) will be removed from site and properly disposed. Sixteen (16) post excavation soil  samples were taken and all but one was found to be below the petroleum hydrocarbon threshold of 100 mg/kg. One sample showed a reading of 290 mg/kg and additional testing will therefore be completed. 

A second round of testing of the excavated area was completed and benzo(a)pyrene was identified at a concentration of 0.33 mg/kg, above the NJDEP’s Residential Direct Contact Soil Remediation Standard (RDCSRS) of 0.2 mg/kg. Ecol-Sciences is conducting further investigation to determine how best to complete the remediation. 

It is anticipated that the soil excavated in connection with the two (2) 6,000 gallon tanks will be removed from the site in the next 2-3 weeks, and disposed of at an approved recycling facility.

The removal of the soil excavated in connection with the two (2) 6,000 gallon tanks to an approved recycling facility started today and it is anticipated to be completed by the end of the week.

Yannuzzi Corporation has started the removal of asbestos from the inside of the hospital buildings.  The asbestos is double bagged and stored in a secure storage area inside hospital prior to being loaded into special sealed containers and transported offsite for proper disposal.

To date, one container has been removed from the site and a second container is scheduled to be removed tomorrow. This work is anticipated to continue for approximately eight (8) weeks time.  The asbestos removal has been completed in several areas, the contractor has submitted the initial results of the air monitoring to the Health Department that were found to be satisfactory. During the removal process there were additional areas with asbestos identified for removal.

It is anticipated that this work will continue for an additional eight (8) weeks.  The asbestos removal from the interior of the buildings is anticipated to continue for the next 7 weeks.  The site continues to be monitored on a regular basis by representatives of Whitman Environmental, and the Municipal Building, Engineering and Health Departments.

In addition, representatives of the Department of Labor continue to visit the site as well. Workers continue to be found to be qualified and properly certified for the work that they are performing and have been observed to follow proper safety protocols.  Please note that no demolition work has been authorized to proceed.  If you have any questions or concerns please contact the Engineering Department at 609-921-7077 or at cceballos@princetonnj.gov.