Johns Manville update

Just got a notice in the mail updating us on what they've found in recent readings. Short version, nitrate in groundwater, but below drinking levels. Already called the guy listed in the letter and will get a more complete report. How far below drinking levels? Perhaps we'll know soon. Here are scanned-in copies of the mailing

Updates

First, I visited the Winslow Township building last week to get the pets licensed, and ran into township administrator James Gallagher. He told me nothing has been heard from NJ DEP or Manville re: the first set of readings at the monitoring wells last fall.
Meanwhile, here's a photo of a visitor Tuesday, March 23, 2010:

Ammonia testing: The home edition

For what it's worth, the home-testing kit we have for a fish tank shows 0 parts per million (ppm) in a test today, December 9, 2009, at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time.

Update on well monitoring: testing for ammonia groundwater contamination

I spoke today for nearly a quarter hour with Matthew Gordon, an official from URS, the engineering firm, who told me they have been contracted by Johns Manville to check for possible ammonia groundwater contamination. Soil contamination was discovered near the main facilities after equipment was moved. Via NJDEP requirements, Manville is exploring to see whether the ammonia has contaminated the groundwater.
He told me the wells are about 30 feet deep and are all over the site, stretching out to the perimeter of the property (which I've been told is about 100 acres). From what he told me, it seems water has been tested once so far. Results usually come about 4 weeks after samples, and are examined first by URS, then by Manville and then by the Winslow Township. DEP officials also are involved in this process. He told me that adjacent property owners would be notified as necessary (Editor's note: Why not let us in from the very start, instead of having us track down the information, Manville?)
He did not have specifics about the duration of this testing process, but because it was not a one-time measurement, they put in the permanent wells. Hmmm.
As for what ultimately happens to this property (sale? who knows?), he was not party to any of these discussions.
It also was valuable to learn that, while production has stopped at the plant - because the housing crisis has resulted in a drop in the need for insulation - the plant, in fact, remains in operation with what amounts to a skeleton crew, for other, non-production purposes. The term he used was that workers were "furloughed."
More news, as we discover it. It seems it would be a good idea to touch base with township health and environmental officials, plus the NJDEP.

Worker arrives to measure water levels

This is a photo of a worker at P-14, measuring water level at the well on Johns Manville site. She told me she works for a company called URS, which, upon exploration, I found is a global engineering company.

Penbryn Lake, Wildlife and Management map

Here is a link to the state wildlife map....It shows the overall Penbryn area.

Photos of monitoring wells on Manville site, just off Penbryn Road

Here are photos taken of newly found monitoring wells of some sort. The top two are of the well numbered P-14; the bottom two are of P-13.