National Grid’s Remediation Contractor continued with site mobilization and preparation activities, which included the delivery of construction materials, temporary fabric enclosure structural components, steel sheet piles for the DNAPL migration barrier wall and temporary shoring of remedial excavations, as well as additional construction equipment and supplies. Site preparation activities also included the continued installation of the construction support trailers and utility connections, demolition of surface concrete in area of the former electrical substation, site clearing and chipping of vegetation, construction of a decontamination shelter for site personnel, and construction/maintenance of parking areas for site workers and visitors. Pre-characterization activities continued and included the tracking of soil characterization analytical results, soil profiles and coordination with the planned off-site disposal facilities. Odor and dust suppression activities were conducted as necessary. National Grid’s consulting engineer continued to monitor the site activities with community air monitoring program (CAMP) equipment.

A New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Public Meeting was held on December 18, 2008 at Public School 225. NYSDEC presented additional information regarding the nature and extent of the contamination that exists at the Rockaway Park Manufactured Gas Plant site and responded to questions and comments from the community,

CAMP data is reviewed and compared to specific NYSDEC/NYSDOH approved criteria, known as “Action Limits.” As a result of this evaluation process, site conditions are categorized into two categories, “Operational Condition” and “Action Condition.” The “Operational Condition” is applicable when the data is below the “Action Limits”, and means that normal operations can continue. The “Action Condition” occurs when one or more of the fifteen minute average measurements for Dust (PM10), Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC), Naphthalene or Odor Intensity are greater than the background or upwind measurement by the specified “Action Limits.” Reaching an Action Level requires corrective action or stopping work until the condition is addressed or abates. During the period from December 15, 2008 through December 19, 2008, six portable CAMP locations were in-use and measured TVOC and PM10. Fifteen-minute averages for TVOC and PM10 data remained in Operational Condition. No elevated readings for TVOC or PM10 were reporting during the weekly monitoring period. Weekly Reports of the CAMP data can be found as a separate tab in the Weekly Report Archive section.

For the weeks of December 22, 2008 through January 2, 2009, limited activity will be conducted at the site and will consist of periodic site inspections and general housekeeping, monitoring well sampling, and baseline (background) noise and vibration monitoring. For the week of January 5, 2009 through January 9, 2009, additional deliveries are scheduled for construction materials, steel sheet piles for DNAPL migration barrier wall and temporary shoring of remedial excavation, and delivery of the temporary fabric enclosure structural components. In addition, utility connections for construction support trailers (i.e., electric, phone, cable, and water) are scheduled for completion as is the installation of electrical service and lines along perimeter fence associated with the fixed-base air monitoring stations for the CAMP. Construction of the Personnel Decontamination Shelter, demolition of surface concrete at former electrical substation area of the site, pre-characterization activities, coordination with disposal facilities and preparations to initiate the perimeter cut and cap activities will continue at the site. Odor and dust suppression activities will be conducted as necessary. National Grid’s consulting engineer will continue to monitor the site activities with CAMP equipment.