Welsbach Shining a New Light on an Old Light Source

sources EPA Superfund

Having radiation contamination in their backyard is trying enough for the citizens of two towns in New Jersey, but living a normal life through a cleanup should not be as difficult. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working with the residents of Camden and Gloucester City, N.J., to minimize the disruption of day-to-day life that could occur because of the environmental cleanup of their Superfund site. EPA has even developed work plans around the schedules of the citizens.

The contaminated property is located in residential and commercial areas in the New Jersey towns. \”Our work is done so as to minimize the disturbance to neighbors, and the affected properties are restored quickly and professionally,\” said Carole Petersen, Chief of the New Jersey Remediation Branch with EPA Region 2.

Welsbach & General Gas Mantle Site

At the turn of the of the 20th century, Camden and Gloucester City, NJ, were the center of incandescent gas mantle manufacturing in the United States. Long before electricity became the primary U.S. power source, it was estimated that Americans used 40 million mantles per year to light gas lamps in homes, offices, and streetlights. The Welsbach Company and the General Gas Mantle Company were involved in the production of gas mantles from the late 1890s to 1941, sometimes producing as many as 250,000 per day.

To make their gas lamps glow brighter, the companies utilized a thorium extract as a constituent to coat each cloth mantle, which burned in the flame of the gas lamps. Unfortunately, thorium is a radionuclide that emits alpha, beta, and gamma radiation during its radioactive decay, and has a half life of 14 billion years. Anyone who is directly exposed to radiation, or inadvertently ingests radioactive particles may suffer adverse health effects in the form of an increased risk of certain types of cancer.

When the two New Jersey companies went out of business in the mid-1940s, they left a legacy of soil contaminated by thorium and other radioactive materials. Since 1941, the ownership of the properties have changed hands. New businesses moved in to take over the land and buildings. The former Welsbach facility is now an active port area along the Delaware River.

Cleanup of the Radiation

In the early 1990s, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) conducted an investigation for radiological contamination of over 1,100 properties in Gloucester City and Camden, N.J. About 100 properties are contaminated at different degrees. Moving quickly to provide a solution for the most contaminated properties and to safeguard human health, NJDEP took measures that included placing gamma radiation shielding on 30 properties and installing radon/thoron ventilating systems on three properties. The state also purchased one contaminated residential property and relocated one commercial business. As a result of the NJDEP investigation and in partnership with EPA, the Welsbach & General Gas Mantle Co. properties were placed on Superfund\’s National Priority List on June 16, 1996.

In August 1996, EPA initiated a remedial investigation and feasibility study (RI/FS) to determine the nature and extent of contamination throughout the site, and the risks posed by the site. Based on the radiologically-contaminated soil and waste materials found on both residential and industrial properties in Camden and Gloucester City, EPA plans to excavate the contaminated soil and dispose of it off-site. EPA also has identified more that 800 properties in Camden and Gloucester City where they will conduct additional sampling to make sure no contamination is overlooked. EPA estimates the entire cleanup of the Welsbach & General Gas Mantle site will take approximately five years to complete.

EPA Working with the Community

To date, EPA has begun the first phase of the soil cleanup on 14 residential homes, a private swim club, and a County road. Because the work is so close to the homes, in some cases literally in their back yards, and intersects with daily lives of the residents, EPA has invested a lot of time working with the community to lessen the impact of the cleanup.

In full cooperation with the residents of properties requiring clean up, EPA has had to temporarily relocate twelve families and permanently relocate one other. \”In most cases, the owners and/or residents of uncontaminated properties in the vicinity have been able to continue using their properties with little or no interruption prior to, during, or after the work,\” Petersen explained. EPA has been able to perform the cleanup in a densely populated, residential community with minimal interruption of the day-to-day life of the majority of its residences and businesses. This has been accomplished because EPA listened to the community\’s concerns during public meetings and responded.

In particular, there were community concerns in the spring about the cleanup around the local pool in Gloucester City. To accommodate the summer swimming schedule, EPA modified its schedule to enable the Swim Club to operate during the popular months.

Just the Facts:

In 2001 and 2002, $17 million has been funded for the cleanup of Gloucester City and Camden, NJ.
Since 1996, EPA has invested $20.9 million in clean up costs for the Welsbach & General Gas Mantle site.
EPA is currently cleaning 14 residential properties, a swim club, and two County roads in Gloucester City, NJ.

source NJDEP

SITE DESCRIPTION/RESOLUTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS:

From the 1890s until the early 1940s, the Welsbach Company of Gloucester City and General Gas Mantle Company of the City of Camden manufactured incandescent gas mantles that were used for home and street lighting before the use of electricity became common. A thorium extract was used to coat each cloth mantle (mesh cover) of gas lamps in which a flame burned, making the lamps glow brighter. The radioactive ore that remained after processing was disposed of as fill near and/or under residential and commercial properties as well as on open lands.

NJDEP conducted radiological surveys from 1991 to 1994 to investigate the extent of radiation contamination in Gloucester City and the City of Camden. Out of 1,124 tested, elevated radiation levels were detected at 81 properties. NJDEP implemented Interim Remedial Measures (IRM) which included shielding, ventilating and access restrictions at 31 of these properties due to radiation levels above NJDEP\’s interim exposure criteria. Radiation levels at 48 of the properties did not exceed NJDEP\’s interim exposure criteria while two properties still require some remedial work. The elevated radiation levels at the 81 properties_45 in Gloucester City and 36 in Camden_ require further investigation prior to permanent cleanup action. NJDEP has been unable to gain access to 69 properties within its original survey boundaries because they were either abandoned or the owners denied NJDEP access or could not be contacted. The purpose of NJDEP\’s interim investigation and remedial actions was to determine if there were any contaminated areas affecting public health due to radiation exposure above state and federal guidelines and to take appropriate actions to protect residents from such conditions.

In 1991, NJDEP purchased a private residence in Gloucester City and permanently relocated its owner due to elevated radiation levels detected inside the home. Later that year, NJDEP relocated Ste-Lar Textiles, Inc. from the site of the former General Gas Mantle Company in Camden to protect the health of the employees. NJDEP then conducted a major removal action at this building in 1992 to minimize any potential risk to area residents should a fire occur at the facility. The site was added to the National Priorities List of Superfund sites in 1996. USEPA is conducting a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) to determine the extent of the contamination at approximately 20 properties and select a permanent remedy. The remedy selection process is expected to begin in early 1999, and the cleanup actions will proceed in phases to accelerate the overall remedial process for these sites. NJDEP is maintaining the interim measures to ensure the protection of human health until a final remedy is implemented.

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Ben Franklin Bridge

Shot of the Ben Franklin Bridge taken from the deck of the fireboat. Enjoy! CaptainAmerica

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Brooklawn Family Reflects on Their Son\’s Death

By DANA FORDE
Courier-Post Staff

With a soft voice and loving smile, Vicki Zemek recalled fond memories of her son, James, when he was a child.

\”He was a handful, but he was a happy, happy kid,\” Zemek said.

Seventeen-year-old James knew Spanish so well many people thought he was a native speaker, Zemek added. James easily befriended many Spanish-speaking people and effortlessly cultivated friendships with people from all racial backgrounds, Zemek said.

\”Race means nothing to him. That\’s how we raised him,\” Zemek said. \”And we welcomed any friend he brought through here with open arms.\”

After James started using marijuana about a year ago, Zemek and her husband vowed to stop at nothing to help their son quit.

But on Wednesday, James was fatally shot near Broadway and Emerald Street in South Camden, according to the Camden County Prosecutor\’s Office. So far, no arrests have been made and the investigation continues.

This year, 12 homicides have been reported in Camden, said Bill Shralow, a spokesman for the Camden County Prosecutor\’s Office. Of those, 11 have been murders, Shralow said. Ten of the murders have been shooting-related deaths.

Zemek said her son\’s death highlights the dangers of drugs and the shortcomings of the state\’s drug treatment facilities.

\”We tried to get the help for him and nobody would help us,\” she said. \”Nobody would take him.\”

Zemek and her husband hoped a Secaucus-based residential treatment facility would aid in their son\’s recovery so they signed him up in March. But James stayed for only two days.

\”They needed better security and food. He couldn\’t even have a radio,\” Zemek said. \”If they had a better program, he would\’ve been better. He would be alive today.\”

The day before he died, James saved the life of a turtle that was crossing a busy street, Zemek said. The act, she added, is proof of James\’ kind and gentle spirit.

\”If he met you in the street, he would be nice to you,\” Zemek said. \”He had a heart.\” Courier Post

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Lions Knocked Out of Playoffs

source Gloucester County Times

Five hits, two hit batters, one error and nine runs later, the Lions finally recorded the final out of the inning. By that point the Eagles held an 11-3 lead and were well on their way to a 19-5 victory and a sixth straight crown. continues

source Courier Post

In the end, the Eagles pounded five Gloucester pitchers for 24 hits — 23 of them singles — and scored 10 runs in the third inning as they captured their sixth straight South Jersey Group 1 championship with a five-inning, 19-5 victory Friday. continues

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Obit-John Susini Sr., formerly of Gloucester City

SUSINI, John J. Sr.

On May 31, 2007. Age 89. Of Niagara Falls, NY. Formerly of Gloucester City. Loving husband of 56 years to Marion L. (nee Sharp). Devoted father of Rosemary Dick of Bellmawr, Jeanne Schulz of Collingswood, Margaret Ross of National Park, Catherine Susini of Niagara Falls, NY, John Susini, Jr. of Winter Park, Florida, Dominique Susini of Somerdale, Michael Susini of Virginia. Beloved grandfather of 12 and great-grandfather of 10. Dear Brother of Dominique Susini of Dumont, NJ.

John was a proud U.S. Army Veteran serving our country during World War II. He was a resident of Gloucester City from 1944 to 2003. He was a proud member of the Townsend C. Young V.F.W. Post # 3620 in Gloucester City.

John had made arrangements to have a flag that was flown at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. to be draped on his casket for his viewing. The family would like to thank U.S. Congressman Robert E. Andrews for his help in obtaining this American Flag. He was a carpenter for many years at RCA / GE Aerospace in Camden.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend his viewing on Wednesday Evening from 7 to 9 pm and Thursday morning from 9 am to 10 am at the McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME: 851 Monmouth Street, (at Brown Street) Gloucester City. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 am at Saint Francis De Sales R.C. Church: Gloucester Pike and Wilmont Avenue, Barrington. Entombment New Saint Mary\’s Mausoleum, Bellmawr.

Expressions of sympathy can be e-mailed to the family through our funeral home website www.mccannhealey.com under online obituaries of John J. Susini, Sr. Funeral Arrangements and Inquiries may be made through: McCANN-HEALEY FUNERAL HOME

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Gloucester City Fire Department Weekly Activity Report

Sunday May 20th – Saturday May 26th 2007

Fire Response: 19

Mutual aid to other communities: 5

Received mutual aid from others: 4

Ambulance Response: 37

Provided mutual aid to other communities: 1

Received mutual aid from others: 3

The department was busy this week with fire calls including one fatal fire on Yale Avenue. Another fire is under investigation as being suspicious.

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GAF Cleanup

source EPA

Federal Register: May 2, 1997 (Volume 62, Number 85)]

[Notices]

[Page 24109-24110]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr02my97-81]

———————————————————————–

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5819-9]

Notice of Proposed Administrative Order on Consent for Removal

Action Under Sections 104, 106(a), 107, and 122 of the Comprehensive

Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, Regarding the

Vanguard Vinyl Siding, Inc. Site, Gloucester City, New Jersey

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice of proposed administrative order on consent for removal

action and opportunity for public comment.

———————————————————————–

SUMMARY: In accordance with Section 122(i) of the Comprehensive

Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended

(“CERCLA\’\’), 42 USC Sec. 9622(i), the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (“EPA\’\’) Region II announces a proposed Administrative Order on

Consent for Removal Action under sections 104, 106(a), 107, and 122 of

CERCLA, relating to the Vanguard Vinyl Siding, Inc. Site (“Site\’\’),

Gloucester City, New Jersey. This Site is not on the National

Priorities List established pursuant to section 105(a) of CERCLA. This

notice is being published to inform the public of the proposed Order

and of the opportunity to comment.

The Administrative Order on Consent for Removal Action (the

“Order\’\’), is being entered into by GAF Corporation (“GAF\’\’) and EPA.

The Site occupies approximately two acres in an industrial section

of Gloucester City, New Jersey, near the Delaware River.

GAF commercially produced asbestos-containing insulating products

at the Site from 1967 to October 1971. In 1981, GAF sold the Site to

Vanguard Vinyl Siding, Inc. The Site was abandoned in 1985 and is

currently unoccupied.

The objective of this Order is to eliminate the threat of contact

with asbestos posed at the Site. Under the Order, GAF will remediate

three sources of asbestos on Site.

The first source of asbestos contamination at the Site is the

asbestos that was stabilized during an initial removal action

undertaken by EPA. This asbestos is currently double-bagged and staged

inside a building on the Site. The second source of asbestos

contamination is the asbestos materials inside a 10,000 gallon tank

located in a courtyard. The third source is the asbestos contaminated

soil in the courtyard.

GAF will dispose of the double-bagged asbestos currently staged

inside the on-site building. GAF will also remove and dispose of the

tank in the courtyard, or, will remove the asbestos from the tank,

decontaminate the tank, and dispose of the asbestos. GAF will sample

soil in the courtyard and surrounding the tank to determine the extent

of soil containing more than 1 percent asbestos (“asbestos

contaminated soil\’\’). GAF will either: (1) Excavate, remove, and

dispose of, or, (2) cap, asbestos contaminated soil situated in the

courtyard. GAF will backfill any excavated areas with clean fill.

Under this Order, GAF agrees to reimburse EPA\’s past response costs

in the amount of one hundred seventy-eight thousand dollars

($178,000.00). GAF will also reimburse EPA for future response costs,

if any.

DATES: EPA will accept written comments relating to the proposed

settlement for a period of thirty days from the date of publication of

this notice.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to: Delmar Karlen, Chief, New Jersey

Superfund Branch, Office of Regional Counsel, U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, 290 Broadway, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10007-1866.

Comments should reference the Vanguard Vinyl Siding, Inc. Site and EPA

Index No. II-CERCLA-96-0107. For a copy of the Order, contact the

individual listed below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carl R. Howard, Assistant Regional

Counsel, New Jersey Superfund Branch, Office of Regional Counsel, U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency, 290 Broadway, 17th Floor, New York, NY

10007-1866; Telephone: (212) 637-3216.

[[Page 24110]]

Dated: April 17, 1997.

William J. Muszynski,

Acting Regional Administrator.

[FR Doc. 97-11485 Filed 5-1-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

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Miss Mount Ephraim 2007 Pageant

By Bill Bates

NEWS Correspondent

On Tuesday, May 15, 2007, The Mt. Ephraim Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary hosted the Miss Mt. Ephraim 2007 Pageant at the MEPRI Banquet Hall on Kings Highway for their third year in a row.

The pageant\’s Master of Ceremonies was Mrs. Geralyn Watson who is former Mrs. New Jersey America 2003 and was third runner-up at the Mrs. America Pageant. Mrs. Watson is currently the New Jersey State Director for the Mrs. New Jersey America Pageant and Mrs. Pennsylvania America Pageant, a preliminary to the nationally televised Mrs. America TV special. Mrs. Watson has been a music educator for over 20 years and currently owns her own music studio in West Deptford.

MISS MOUNT EPHRAIM PAGEANT WINNERS – Pictured from left are Miss MEPRI – Morgan Keating, Miss Democrat Club – Melanie Lewis Conover, Miss Sons of Italy – Michelle Greenwald, Miss V.F.W. – Laura McMahon, Miss Mount Ephraim 2007 – Lucy Zettlemoyer, Miss American Legion – Talia Zank, Miss Rotary – Caroline Strazzullo, & Miss Flame – Bridget Gugel. Not Pictured is Miss Spirit – Kathaleen Helvitson.

Special guests for the evening were newly elected Mayor Joe Wolk, Commissioner Andy Gilmore, Commissioner Bruce Greenwald, Spread Eagle Inn owner Sue Cain, MEPRI member Paul Bibik, Mt. Ephraim Fire Department Captain Mark Campanell, and Mt. Ephraim Rotary President George Liontas. Representatives were also present from V.F.W., American Legion, The Democrat Club, and the Sons of Italy.

MISS MOUNT EPHRAIM & MISS NEW JERSEY SUPER TEEN – Pictured is Miss Mount Ephraim 2007 – Lucy Zettlemoyer who eagerly agreed to have her photo taken with Miss New Jersey Super Teen.

Miss Mt. Ephraim 2006, Victoria Licata was present to take her final walk down the runway and to crown Miss Mt. Ephraim 2007. The pageant lasted a little under 2 hours where the young ladies were introduced, followed by an question and answer segment, contestant promenade, and the presentation of awards.

The Mount Ephraim Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary would like to thank the following girls who also participated: Lisa McNamee, Brittany Morris, & Jennifer Weister.

On behalf of the pageant hosts and members, they also wanted to thank the following for their service and contributions: Borough of Mt. Ephraim, ME Department of Public Works for setting up and breaking down the stage, MEPRI for the use of the banquet Hall, Bill Bates for the music/sound system for the evening, Chad Holtzapfel who is the current \”Mr. Audubon\” (a contest for students who attend Audubon High School), Mr. Richard Watson and judges, Brooklawn Florists, and Paul\’s Trophies. Congratulations to all the girls and all of those who participated as well.

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Gulf + Western Agrees to Delaware River Cleanup

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OCTOBER 1981 – VOLUME 2 – NUMBER 10

G L O B A L N E W S W A T C H

Gulf + Western Agrees to Delaware River Cleanup

The largest discharge of industrial water pollution on the east coast of the U.S.-effluent from a Gulf + Western Industries titanium dioxide plant in Gloucester City, New Jersey-is beginning to be cleared up as a result of an agreement reached in August between Gulf + Western and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

The effluent, consisting of a sulfuric acid along with iron, aluminum, chromium, zinc, and other suspended and dissolved solids, has been released into the Delaware River at the rate of up to I I million gallons per day ever since the plant began operating more than 40 years ago. \”It\’s been going on for so long that in the area of the plume (which stretches for about a mile downriver) you don\’t have anything alive at all,\” said Arnold Schiffman, director of DEP\’s Division of Water Resources. \”The pollutants interfere with the use of the river in terms of fish and other organisms, and they make the river murky and turbid,\” Schiffman said.

Under the terms of Gulf + Western\’s agreement with the DEP, the company will have 57 months to bring its effluent in line with state and regional water quality standards by neutralizing most of the acid contained in the effluent and by treating it to remove other pollutants.

A byproduct of the acid-neutralization process,- gypsum, may be marketed by Gulf + Western to cement and wallboard manufacturers, as stipulated in the \”consent order\” signed between the company and the DEP. The Gloucester City plant will produce nearly six times as much gypsum as it does titanium dioxide (a pigment used in paints and other products), and it may even adopt gypsum as its primary product with titanium dioxide as the byproduct.

According to New Jersey officials, no other plants in the U.S. which produce gypsum as a byproduct of acid neutralization processes have taken the extra step of converting the gypsum into a marketable form.

\”Gulf + Western has a branch involved in the cement industry, so we have access to the necessary technical expertise,\” said company spokesperson -Gordon Smith. \”We just need to solve the problem of working with cement companies to commercialize the gypsum, but we\’re very hopeful that this can be done.\”

The company will spend an estimated $34 million to clean up the Gloucester City effluent, and it has also agreed to pay $500,000 for improvements to the Gloucester City water system, including a new municipal well.

New Jersey also last month became one of the first states in the U.S. to establish an autonomous agency to oversee the locating of hazardous waste disposal sites. Under legislation signed by New Jersey governor Brendan Byrne, the state Hazardous Waste Facilities Siting Commission-consisting of three state or local officials \’ three industry representatives, and three environmental or public interest group representatives-will have responsibility for selecting appropriate sites for disposal of hazardous wastes, licensing their users, and drawing up a state-wide hazardous waste disposal plan reflecting the need for such sites.

Sierra Club spokesperson Diane Graves, who was involved in drafting the state law setting up the commission, expressed satisfaction with the outcome. \”Overall, the provisions we wanted in it, for involving local people in the whole process, including the siting process, are there,\” she said. \”The chemical industry and hazardous waste industry grumbled, but they recognized that if they wanted (waste disposal) sites they\’d have to go along\” with citizens\’ and environmentalists\’ proposals for setting up the siting procedure.

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