Recent Reports

Elizabethtown Gas Co. Project Halted for Lack of Permits January 24, 2008 - Delaware Riverkeeper Network received a hotline report January 23rd about a new gas pipeline being laid in Hunterdon County, on the south side of Route 12, Kingwood Township and Borough of Frenchtown, NJ. The company began laying pipe into the right of way along the south side of Route 12 but it was reported that the pipeline seemed to be encroaching on several streams that crossed the highway. DRN staff investigated and discovered that the company had not secured any permits or approvals from NJDEP, despite the fact that the pipeline would need to cross several streams, all of which are Category 1 streams, requiring a 300 foot buffer (Lockatong Creek and 2 to 3 tributaries to Lockatong Creek, Little Nishisakawick and Nishisakawick Creeks). DRN reported the violation through the NJDEP hotline on January 23, case number 080123134253. DRN visited the site on January 24 and photographed land disturbance, vegetation removal, evidence of an attempt to auger under at least one of the streams (Lockatong Creek), substantial vegetation disturbance and excavation within 25 feet of the stream and lack of any erosion or sediment control measures. Land excavation was also evident within approximately 15 feet of another stream crossing. Silt and sediment runoff from one excavation to the creek was documented. A further report was filed with NJDEP enforcement division from the project site by DRN. NJDEP issued a stop work order on January 24. Elizabethtown Gas Co. will need to secure the proper stream crossing permits in order to resume construction of the pipeline. Since there is a 300 foot buffer on each side of each of the creeks that need to be crossed, it is likely that the company will be issued a Notice of Violation by NJDEP for soil and vegetation disturbance within the buffer area. The company had disturbed land and prepared it for excavation for at least 2 miles from the intersection of Rt. 519 and Rt. 12 at Baptistown and had illegally encroached on at least 2 streams. No disturbance to the west of Rt. 519, where the Nishisakawick and Little Nishisakawick creeks are located, had yet occurred. DRN also reported the lack of sediment controls to Hunterdon Conservation District, who is further investigating the implementation of the approved erosion and sediment control plan for the project. The gas pipeline is planned to deliver natural gas to the Kingwood Business Park, which is under construction on Route 12, and to Frenchtown Borough. According to a public presentation about the project, the pipeline originates at Magnesium Electron in Kingwood Township, is an 8-inch polyethylene pipe, and will be 50-60 psi.

Army Corps Spills Oil from Dredge Barge -- Dec 21, 2007 Approximately 3 am, Friday December 21, 2007, the Dredge MacFarland, while docked at Ft Mifflin, discharged between 291 and 500 gallons of diesel fuel oil. The oil was captured in a basin off of the Delaware River and held there. The Dredge MacFarland is owned and operated by the Army Corps of Engineers and is used to conduct dredging operations on the Delaware River. The spill occurred during an internal transfer of fuel and was said to result from equipment failure. As of DRN investigations this morning the area has been boomed off and no oil is being found outside of the booms or in the River. The Coast Guard and other emergency responders, including Philadelphia Fire HazMat, are on site.

PennDOT Shohola Stockpile site reveals years of buried waste The Delaware Riverkeeper Network received a hotline pollution report in October 2007 concerning a PennDOT stockpile site (Stockpile #6) Route 6, Shohola Township, Pike County, PA. The 9.65 acre site was leased by PennDOT for many years -3 to 4 decades- from the PA State Game Commission, who owns thousands of adjacent acres. The site was used to stockpile materials and equipment for use on the roadways. A report was received by a journalist that drums were buried there containing pollutants, which he reported to authorities and in his newspaper column. The report led to an agreement by PennDOT to “clean up” the site, which had been shut down with expiration of the lease. PADEP, the Pike County Conservation District, the PA Game Commission, and others were brought in to review the situation after PennDOT apparently began earthmoving at the site without approved plans or a permit. Since the area to be disturbed was less than 5 acres (about .1 acres under) PADEP did not require a NPDES permit. It was decided by the agencies that the only approval needed was for an erosion and sediment control plan from the Pike County Conservation District. The Pike County Conservation District (PCCD) oversaw the implementation of the plan they approved and quickly problems surfaced at the site. It became apparent that wetlands had been filled illegally in the past; the fill has to be removed and PCCD will direct mitigation of the wetlands that were destroyed (some fill was already removed but a large area of wetlands is still buried in fill). Soil samples were few and far between, unknown materials were being stacked up, pollutants were escaping on to the ground, which flows to the Shohola Creek, classified as a High Quality stream. DRN representatives visited the site on 10.29.07 and photographed piles of excavated drums, strong smelling contaminated soil, stockpiled waste, stained soil surfaces, and the ongoing excavations. Delaware Riverkeeper Network filed an environmental complaint with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on 10.24.07. In response, EPA representatives inspected the site on 11.01.07 and are now monitoring events at the site. DRN does not have confidence in PennDOT’s present work plan or the ongoing operations, especially considering the possibility that significant pollution has resulted from the illegal dumping and burying of waste on this PennDOT site for so many years. DRN is advocating for EPA oversight of all activities at the site, a reconsideration of how clean up is to proceed, more comprehensive soil and surface water sampling, groundwater sampling, and accurate characterization of what is being found at the site. The Shohola area where the PennDOT stockpile is located is a rural forested region with lakes, high quality streams, and lots of outdoor activities, about 14 miles from the Wild and Scenic Delaware River. The desecration of these public Game Lands by PennDOT is shameful. It is shocking to think that this natural amenity may end up being labeled a superfund site, ruined by the hands of a taxpayer-supported government agency. Until that time, the clean up begs for EPA, who can bring professional and experienced expertise to this environmental disaster.

Oil Spill on the Delaware -- Tigani Tanker -- Oct 10, 2007 On October 10, 2007 about 10:45 am, the oil tanker Tigani leaked more than 3,000 gallons of crude oil into the Delaware River - making it a "medium" size spill. The Tigani is an 809-foot, Malta-flagged tanker operated by Cardiff Marine Inc. The tanker was moored at the Citgo Asphalt facility in Paulsboro, New Jersey. This is the same site as the 2004 Athos I oil spill that leaked 265,000 gallons into the Delaware River. Protective booms were quickly deployed at the mouth of the Mantua and Woodbury Creeks to protect these sensitive areas. The coast guard was on site by noon time and clean up efforts began immediately. Skimmers cleaned up 2,300 gallons of the discharged oil. Cleanup crews collected oil-soaked debris. It is believed that the spill was caused by a leaking pipe in the scupper system. The scupper drains water from the deck of the ship and discharges it into the river. The scupper drain pipe on the Tigani passed through the ship's fuel tank. At some point the pipe leaked and oil from the fuel tank passed into the scupper drain pipe and was discharged out of the side of the tanker into the river. NJDEP is conducting a natural resource damages assessment. Clean up efforts were characterized by officials as successful. Two oil soaked birds were witnessed by the Delaware Riverkeeper during a review of the spill site.

Delaware River Chocolate Brown The Delaware River turned from crystal clear on June 24 at Belvidere, NJ to muddy brown, bank to bank, on Monday morning, June 26—and there was no storm. The river looked like the Mississippi from the upper reaches in New York State to Easton/Phillipsburg, over 100 miles of river. DRN notified the agencies in PA, NJ, and NY on Monday morning. By the end of the day, the explanation offered by New York Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) was that the June 19 horrific flash floods of the East Branch and the headwaters of streams in Delaware and Sullivan County caused runoff and muddy water and that the emergency clean up operations underway were contributing further muddy runoff. The reddish muddy condition of the river continues through the week. PADEP reported that they checked each major discharge and found no problems and that the Lehigh River was running clear. NYDEC reported that “stream cleaning” may cause muddy water off and on for a month. While DRN certainly understands the need for emergency removal of hazardous debris and the repair of bridges and roads, careful oversight is needed by NYDEC in permitting issued for the coming weeks of clean up. Further sediment pollution to the streams can be prevented during clean up and repair through proper management and practice. The Delaware Riverkeeper lodged complaints with NYDEC after the 2006 floods because there were incidents of bulldozing and other damaging activities in the affected streams long after the floods, causing further degradation and damaging the streams’ ability to contain flood flows in the future. DRN sent a letter on June 26 to NYDEC investigating the genesis of the flash flood in the Delaware River’s upper reaches in the New York Catskills June 19 and inquiring how NYDEC is planning to oversee and permit clean up efforts related to this recent flood.

Pollution Spill on Wickecheoke Creek The MEI lagoon spilled into the Wickecheoke Creek when a contractor was installing electrical conduit pipe and de-watered a lagoon, causing an unpermitted discharge of waste materials that were in the lagoon. Sampling of the Creek is being done, upstream and downstream, and at the D&R canal and the Delaware River. The discharge started Tuesday and was stopped Thursday (verified as contained by NJDEP Thurs., Dec, 21). A notice of violation was issued by NJDEP. The NJWSA and D&R Canal Commission have also been involved. MEI handles radioactive substances so radiological testing is being done in the creek, along with metals and other regulated substances. NJDEP says the water cloudiness has cleared.

Discharge to Brock Creek, Lower Makefield, PA A resident reported October 16, 2006 that he saw a white substance being discharged from a pipe on a construction site in Lower Makefield Township to drainage ditch. The white milky substance then flowed from the drainage way to a tributary of Brock Creek and then into Brock Creek where it was still visible on the bottom of the creek for a distance. The substance was not stuck to the sides of the creek or drainage ways but did seem heavier than the water in the stream. The active construction site is on the corner of Oxford Valley Road and Heacock Road and the pipe goes under Emerald Drive, traveling about 100 yards from the construction site. The resident was advised to report immediately to the Township offices. DRN reported to Bucks Conservation District. The inspector from the Conservation District is visiting the site to investigate and will be taking all necessary action. Updates will be posted here.

Raw Sewage Entering Darby Creek due to Cracked Sewer Lines During seasonal riparian buffer monitoring, a DRN volunteer monitor documented a cracked sewer line at John Bartrams Park, in Darby Township Delaware County, PA. DRN followed up with rain event monitoring in September to document the raw sewage discharge that flowed from three sewer caps into the Darby Creek. Not only does this discharge pollute the stream which is just downstream of a habitat improvement project implemented in 2003, it also poses a public health threat as park users walk along a path that is polluted by the effluent during rain events. DRN has filed a report with PA DEP and is awaiting follow-up. Update 10/3/06 -- Pennsylvania DEP investigated the reported sewage problem at Bartrams Park and added this location discovered by DRN into the DEP consent order addressed to Darby Borough. This area is one of other problem locations along the sewer line. DRN will be receiving a copy of the timeline and consent agreement between PA DEP and the Borough upon finalization.

Trees Cut Along the Delaware Causing Potential Hazard Initial Report: 9.15.06 A fisherman reported that he ran into trees and branches, some 20' long, in the Delaware River along the Pennsylvania shore at Tinicum Township, Bucks County. The trees were freshly cut from the riparian area and apparently thrown into the river. The trees and branches are scattered for about 1/4 mile downstream, are being caught up on an old mill impoundment and causing a shift in water flow patterns and posing a safety hazard. Update: 9.20.06 DRN investigated the site and took photos. Many very large trees were cut along the riverbank and some trees and branches were thrown into the water. On 9/15 DRN reported the situation to Tinicum Township and PA Fish and Boat Commission. As a result, Tinicum Township zoning officer investigated the site and will be issuing an enforcement action to the owner of Evermay B&B, 889 River Rd., Erwinna, the responsible party. The action violates the township's riparian protection regulations that restrict tree cutting along the water. The waterways patrolman from PA Fish and Boat is investigating the site and a report is forthcoming from the State. DRN will be advocating for remediation of the damage done (the Township --once proceedings are complete-- can require tree and vegetation planting, bank stabilization and riparian area repair; PA Fish and Boat have separate procedures to address violations of State regulations) and removal of the trees and branches from the river. Further reports will be posted here.