Particioatine Oreanizations Alliince for a Living Ocein Clean Ocean Action u'ww.CleanOceanAction.org AmeriL-ui Liitorsi Sodrty Arttim-KUiCoiliiion Asbury Pirk Flsluag Club Bayberry Garden Club. Baysho.'e Regioaal Wtterehed Council n Main Office CH South Jersey Office B»yihore Sail waier Fiy rodders Belford Seafood Co-cp l8 Hartshorne Drive, Suite 2 Telephone: 609-729-9262 / Bclmir Fishing Club Highlands, NJ 07732-0505 732-272-2197 • B cncstb The Sea Telephone: 732-872-0111 [email protected] Bergen S»ve the Wstcrshed Acticai Network Berticity ShorcjHotncownrrsCrvit: Ajsociaioa Ocean Advocacy Fa.x: 732-872-8041 Cape M«y Eovirofimeoiii Commisaon [email protected] Ccatrd Jeney Aoglen Since. 1984 Citizens Conservaiion Council of Oi;ean Coumy ClewAirCwiipMgn.NY Cotlilion Againa Tcccicj Coalllion for Pe»ce & Juaice/UnfJug Stlem 153519 Co»a'Alliance . June 22, 2009 Ccsstal Jersey PstTd Head Club Cotamunicaijon Worker J of Americi, Local 1034 Conca-ned Businesses ci COA • Concerned Citizens of Bcnsoobursi Concemed Ciiircni of COA Docket Coordinator Headqilarters ^ ConconedCirizcni of Moni>\^ Concemed Student I »nd Educaors of COA US Environmental Protection Agency ' Ej3era MoomoiihChaml^rof Cominerce FiiherJsIdaiidCoaserviacy ' Fiihcrmcn's Cooscrwrtion Asiocisiion,NJ Chsfter CERCLA Docket office Fwhcrojsn": Conservation Asaiciajoii,NY Chsflcr Fishrraicii"s Dock Cooftr>ti\t, PL Pieuutt Mail Code 5305T - / ' Friends of Huid Beich St»teP»rk Friends of Uteny Stae Pirk,NJ Friends of t he Bcar
Shark Research InaktXe involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income Shark River Cleanup Coalition Shark River Suti Anglers with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, ShCTrAdvenloreCi^ ^em Club, NJ Shore Chapter •-' Snen of Charily, Maris Stella regulations, arid policies" is carried out during this Superfimd remediation process. " - Sons cf Irelandcf Monmoulh Cou:3y Soro^mia Ctob o! Cap« May Couay - SouthJeireyDiveClub • Soiih Moomc-iai Board of Reahors Stiica HaadTuna Club We also request that the USEPA: Strsthmere Filling tc Environmenial Club Surfers' Environmoiit) A iliann- Surfrider Fouadaicai, Jersey Shore Chapter TACK I, MA Terri Nova Garden Ciub . • Complete the investigation' and remediation of the beach, jetty, sea wall and contaminated Three Harbors Gariea Ciub Uaiiuian Universalis Cong.-egition/Monm. Cnty. sediments through the emergency removal branch.
Unhtd Bo«men of NY/r4], Village Ganlen Club Volunteer Friends of B oat er^ NJ • Document the full extent of contamination in the region, as lead particles may have been WATERiPntlT Womeo'j Club ci Brick TovniHp transported by rain and runoff as well as the movement of water and sediments due to Women's Ciub of Eeypcit Woiaen's Club ci Long Branch' Wctncn's Club o; Merchantville currents and tides. Remediate any additional contaminated areas that are identified in a Women'f Club of SpringLake Women Gardeners of Ridgewood timely manner.^ ~ - 2cn Society • Maintain an USEPA office on-site and conduct an expedited and consistent outreach campaign to the Raritan Bayfront communities and Raritan Bay users across the region. • ^ Immediately establish a Community Advisory Group (CAG) that includes representation from all affected groups and individuals, including fishermen, boaters, communities, advocacy groups, and residents along the entire Raritan Bayfront. • Produce a detailed fact sheet and set up an 'ftp' file-sharingsit e to publicly upload documents and information as soon as they are available. • Produce fact sheets in several languages and actively and aggressively inform the public, fishermen and boaters of all of USEPA's facts, data, restrictions, and plans. Distribute to all regional marinas, bait shops, and stores in the Raritan Bayshore area. r. • Conduct extensive bioaccumulation testing on worms, clams, crabs, and fish, especially the fish being consumed by subsistence fisherman, from the aflfected regions and determine health risks - and ecological criteria. , . \ -. ' . ^ - • Include a portion of the El Paso Energy site on River Drive/Industrial Avenue in the Keasbey section in Woodbridge, NJ as a portion ofthe Hartman's pond on site is constmcted ofthe same slag material '•/-.' • Include any additional slag sites located in the Raritan Bay complex found in the course of the investigation - '
The fact that this contamination has been well known and ignored for years is scandalous. It has resulted in years of public and aquatic life exposure with untold adverse impacts. Furthermore, this site is an environmental and public health tragedy. The contamination has further restricted beach and waterfront access and has likely decreased real estate values, fishing activities, tourism, and recreational usage ofthe shore. Until it is fully cleaned up, the contamination has a severe negative impact on the economy ofthe Raritan Bayshore community and businesses. As such, the USEPA must do everything it possibly can to assign the right team to this site and expedite the investigation and cleanup of all slag ahd slag-related contamination and ensure environmental justice for the affected region. \
Sincerely,
Cynthia Zipf Executive Director ,
Joseph Reynolds Co-Chair, Bayshore Regional Watershed Council
cc: President Barack Obama Senator Frank Lautenberg < V Senator Robert Menedez Congressman Frank Pallone Govemor Jon Corzine US EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson US EPA Commimity Coordinator Pat Seppi