NJ DEP Will Start Testing Soil, Groundwater Outside The Keyport Landfill

KEYPORT, NJ — Starting Aug. 17, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection will begin testing the soil and groundwater in certain Keyport and Union Beach neighborhoods near the former Aeromarine landfill.

The NJ DEP just made this announcement Tuesday.

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Starting next week, Keyport and Union Beach residents should expect to see a large piece of machinery known as a geoprobe that will be in certain neighborhoods collecting the samples. It looks like a large oil drill.

For the past several months, the state of New Jersey has been doing testing at the Keyport Sanitary Landfill at the Aeromarine Industrial Park, in response to more than 400 documented cases of cancer in residents who live or lived near the landfill.

However, up until now, the state did not test in neighborhoods around the landfill. It was only testing the soil and groundwater inside the industrial park itself.

"During the week of August 17, DEP will collect soil-gas and groundwater samples in public rights of way in neighborhoods in Keyport and Union Beach in the vicinity of the Keyport Landfill," the NJ DEP announced here Tuesday.

The soil and groundwater samples will be tested for volatile organic compounds.

At least 16 sampling sites have been selected, 13 in Keyport and 3 in Union Beach. The NJ DEP did not list which streets.

The state may add additional test areas "as appropriate," the DEP said here this week.

"The purpose of the sampling is to determine if there is any ground water or soil gas contamination that could cause a vapor intrusion issue and create a pathway for human exposure to vapors inside of homes or other structures," said the state.

As recently as last Friday, this area's congressman, Frank Pallone, Jr., called on the federal Environmental Protection Agency to start testing soil and groundwater near the landfill, not just limited to inside it.

The NJ DEP said their plan to test the land outside has been "under development for several weeks."

It is now a total of nearly 400 cancer cases reported in Keyport, and residents fear they are linked to the former landfill.

For updates on other aspects of the ongoing investigation – including surface water and groundwater sampling as well as results of independent environmental investigations, visit the DEP's Keyport microsite.

EPA Should Test Soil, Groundwater In Keyport Neighborhoods, Congressman Says (August 7)