Soil cleanup not expected to delay rec center project
BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer

MANALAPAN - The planned expansion of the Manalapan Recreation Center, Route 522, will not be affected by a soil remediation project that will soon be started on the site, according to township engineer Greg Valesi.

Valesi said a cleanup plan is being developed by his firm, CME Associates, and should be ready to go out for public bid by the end of the month.

The remediation project is being done to clean up soil contamination beneath the Dreyer house, Route 522, which occurred due to a leaking underground heating oil tank. There will also be a cleanup of pesticide impacted soil.

According to documents provided to the News Transcript, the contamination resulting from the heating oil tank is limited to a thin layer 6 inches or less in thickness, over a plan area of about 22 square feet. No contamination of ground water was found, according to the documents.

The documents show that the projected cost of the contaminated soil removal related to the former underground storage tank will be $13,500.

There is also pesticide contamination on the former farm property. The contamination impacts between six and eight cubic yards of DDT impacted soil, according to the documents.

In connection with the pesticide impacted soil, it is recommended that certified clean topsoil be imported to the site and blended with the limited impact material. Tests will be conducted after the work to assure the success of the remediation, according to the documents. After that, the topsoil will be seeded with a suitable lawn mixture.

The contaminated soil removal or blending from the pesticide impacted area is projected to be $5,000, according to the documents.

Costs for institutional control (deed notice filing) and final Department of Environmental Protection reporting, remedial action report are projected at a total cost of $12,500.

The Dreyer property was part of a combined municipal purchase that also included the purchase of a second house (the Herbert parcel) on Route 522 that abuts the recreation center.

Township officials recently approved the issuance of bonds in the amount of $4.1 million, as part of a total project cost of $4.4 million, to construct new sports fields, a tot lot and other amenities at the expanded recreation center.

Valesi has said the soil cleanup will not interfere with the upcoming phase one component of the recreation center expansion into the Dreyer-Herbert tract.

Mayor Andrew Lucas has said township officials expect to put shovels in the ground by August.

Municipal officials have retained legal counsel in order to determine if litigation should be filed against any individual in connection with Manalapan's purchase of the Dreyer property in 2005 and the subsequent finding of contamination.