Old gas leak may require new monitoring well

The Sparta Council recently authorized the signing of a license agreement with Exxon/Mobil, which will allow the gas corporation to install a monitoring well on a small parcel of township property located between Center Street and Woodport Road. The well is part of a mitigation plan to monitor the area’s groundwater for any pollutants related to an earlier gas leak at the Exxon Station on Route 181 more than two years ago. The gas leak first was reported on January 6, 2004 when station attendants noticed gas odors coming from the pump area, following an upgrade to the station’s pump islands, according to David Rubin, hazardous site mitigation specialist for the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The DEP was called in to investigate the matter. To satisfy DEP regulations, part of Exxon/Mobil’s mitigation and remediation plan included the installation of two monitoring wells at the site, within a downgrade position of the tanks, said Rubin. An initial report on the first well revealed there was product in the well, and subsequent reports showed continued product in that well, according to Rubin, so a second well was installed farther down grade. The latest report from the second well, based on a sampling earlier in March, showed that contaminants associated with gasoline were present. However, the report did not reveal any product present. “The DEP just received and reviewed the groundwater report,” said Rubin. In the report Exxon proposes the installation of two additional wells, but no response has been made by the DEP as yet. “The DEP may agree, or may require more … as many as are necessary.” It appears that Exxon is being proactive in the matter in requesting a license agreement with the township for use of its property for placement of one of its two proposed wells. Wells similar to those proposed by Exxon/Mobil are currently in place at Station Park, installed approximately 15-20 years ago when the area was deemed a Hazardous Waste Superfund site. “The wells were installed as part of the overall cleanup process to monitor soil and groundwater, under the control of NJDEP,” said Town Engineer Charlie Ryan. Given the number of years the wells have been in use at Station Park, council members expressed some concern over the undetermined length of time the new Exxon/Mobil well will be in place at Center Street and Woodport Road. The contract with Exxon/Mobil does not provide a date when the well might be removed, but simply states it will remain in use “for the duration of the required activity.” Despite the unknowns surrounding the mitigation project, council members agreed that approving the agreement was in everybody’s best interest. The Exxon station remains open for business.