State OKs Votee Park Contamination Plan

The state Department of Environmental Protection has approved a consultant's plan to address soil contamination found in Milton Votee Park more than a year ago, the chairman of a town committee advising on the project said.

Soil samples showing contamination from around the park would be averaged to come up with a measurement specific to the park under a plan developed by the JM Sorge firm, according to Dr. Ken Hoffman, chair of the Environmental Advisory Board Respecting Votee Park.

Any "hot spots" above the average would be removed, the firm proposed.

The approach would cost significantly less than initial estimates of around $8 million floated by GZA GeoEnvironmental to remediate the park, he said. Only a section of lead in the southwest corner of the park would be removed.

Officials closed the park in December 2011 after testing found levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, and PCBs above existing state guidelines. None of the measurements were above federal guidelines and the state health department later determined the readings did not present a health risk to park visitors.

The environmental advisory board and an independent panel of academics also concluded there was no health risk to park visitors.

The township said at the time the park was closed as a precaution immediately after the contamination was found. Officials then ordered more testing.

JM Sorge, a Somerset County-based environmental firm, was hired last year as the licensed site remediation professional, a DEP program where private firms manage and carry out work on contaminated sites in compliance with state standards.

The contamination was discovered through a project to install artificial turf on playing fields in the park. The project used state money from the Green Acres Program, which required the soil tests.

Bids for that project are set to come in early next month.

Related Stories: 

• Firm Set to Begin Votee Park Cleanup
• Teaneck Moves Ahead on Contaminated Park Cleanup
• Officials Work to Reassure Residents About Soil Contamination in Votee Park
• Teaneck Officials to Reopen Votee Park
• Contamination Found in Votee Park Surface Soil
• Teaneck to Form Citizen Advisory Board on Votee Park Contamination
• Teaneck’s Milton Votee Park Closed After Soil Contamination Discovered