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Paulsboro, New Jersey

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History
Timeline

Project Timeline

The Paulsboro Marine Terminal, up and running since 2017, is expanding with a second phase of construction

  • World War I
  • Petroleum fuels and chemical storage tanks were built on the Site to support the war effort.
  • 1929
  • Patterson Oil expanded and developed the terminal.
  • 1954
  • Eastern Gas & Fuels assumed operations and completed expansion of the terminal.
  • 1960
  • Sinclair Refining Company purchased and began operating the terminal.
  • 1969
  • BP purchased the terminal.
  • 1979
  • The first environmental assessment and remediation activities were conducted at the terminal site, including recovery of spilled petroleum products from below ground.
  • 1991
  • BP constructed and began operation of a Groundwater Treatment Plant to aid with the remediation efforts.
  • 1992
  • Specialty chemical storage and distribution activities were completely phased out of terminal operations.
  • 1994
  • Environmental assessment activities were expanded.
  • 1996
  • BP ceased petroleum fuel storage and distribution operations, then ending all remaining terminal operations.
  • 1997
  • The first soil vapor extraction remediation system was installed.
  • 1998
  • BP completed the first phase of demolition of the terminal, which included removal of a number of tanks, piping and other terminal infrastructure.
  • 1999
  • The groundwater extraction system was overhauled and computerized.

    Working with the oversight of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), BP completed a required site-wide preliminary environmental assessment to identify all potential areas of concern (AOCs).

  • 2001
  • Soil and groundwater investigations were expanded to ensure site-wide coverage following NJDEP approval of the Preliminary Assessment Report. Offsite deep groundwater investigations continued.
  • 2001-2002
  • Remediation activities were expanded with the upgrade of the existing soil vapor extraction system and the addition of two new soil vapor extraction remediation systems. Also, a new product recovery system was added to aid cleanup efforts.

    BP voluntarily began sampling Borough of Paulsboro water supply wells and a NJDOT well, along with a sentinel "early-warning" monitoring well network.
  • 2002-2003
  • BP co-funded a study examining the best potential uses for the former terminal site and adjacent properties. The result was a recommendation to use the properties as a commercial port.
  • 2003
  • BP completed construction of a solar plant on an unused third-party landfill, which began supplying up to 10% of the electric power needed to operate the environmental remediation systems at the Site.
  • 2003-2004
  • The second phase of demolition of the terminal was completed by BP. This saw the removal of all remaining tanks and piping, and a number of buildings and other infrastructure. This important step made way for additional environmental remediation activities and for future redevelopment. BP successfully recycled the majority of demolition materials.
  • 2005
  • BP leased virtually all of the former terminal property to the Borough of Paulsboro for $1 per year. The lease, which extends for 90 years, contemplates the Borough's redevelopment of the Site, including building of the new Paulsboro Marine Terminal. An agreement reached by Gloucester County and the New Jersey Department of Transportation would help finance and build an overpass from I-295 to the planned port.

    BP completed the required Site Investigation (SI) phase of environmental assessments (investigation of potential areas of concern).

    Remediation system expansions included the addition of two new groundwater extraction wells and expansion of the product recovery system well network. New wells were added to the soil vapor extraction systems, and air sparging was initiated.

    BP conducted excavation and removal of impacted soils from several areas of the Site.

  • 2006
  • The Borough of Paulsboro and the South Jersey Port Corporation (SJPC) formally signed agreements in 2006 to create a deepwater port at the Site.
  • 2007
  • The Gloucester County Improvement Authority (GCIA) approved bonds to fund engineering, environmental permitting and other pre-construction activities for the port.

    BP completed a Final Remedial Investigation Report (RIR), the final NJDEP-required step in the environmental investigation phase of the Site and the basis for final cleanup decisions.
  • 2008
  • BP representatives held a public meeting in Paulsboro to present the findings of the Final RIR that documented more than 25 years of environmental investigations at the Site.

    The NJDEP approved BP's Remedial Action Selection Report that provides the master plan of methods to be used to complete cleanup at the Site.
  • 2009
  • State and local leaders and representatives of BP broke ground for the new Paulsboro Marine Terminal. Site preparation work for construction of the Port began.

    Beginning in 2008 and continuing through early 2010, NJDEP approved all 13 of BP's Remedial Action Workplans (RAW) that laid out exactly how the final cleanup activities would be conducted across the Site. Operation, monitoring and maintenance of existing remediation systems continued.

    NJDEP established a Groundwater Classification Exception Area (CEA), ensuring appropriate use and monitoring of groundwater while the Site is being remediated.
  • 2010
  • BP completed excavation and removal of impacted soil, closure of former storm water basins, and capping of several areas as specified in the NJDEP-approved RAWs. BP also moved its office off-site, further clearing the way for the GCIA to proceed with site preparation, including demolition, filling and grading work which continued at a steady pace.
  • 2011

  • Environmental cleanup and Port site development continued in simultaneous coordinated effort. GCIA completed filling and grading in several areas, including those where BP had conducted soil remediation in 2010.

    GCIA also initiated installation of a new storm water drainage and sewer system for the Port, constructed new marine dock infrastructure, and initiated river dredging for future ship access to the Port.

    Concurrently, BP installed over 160 new remediation wells and started the installation of underground piping to connect the wells to new and existing remediation equipment.

    BP also enrolled in the NJDEP's Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) program.

  • 2012
  • New BP remediation systems installed and started in 2012.
  • 2013

  • BP implemented injection of nutrients to enhance natural biological cleanup processes.

    Port infrastructure construction continued, including a bridge over Mantua Creek to better link the port to Interstate 295.

  • 2014

  • BP implemented injection of chemical oxidants to supplement the primary cleanup actions in the Remediation Management Unit (RMU) 1C area.

    BP completed major overhaul of key components of the Groundwater Treatment Plant.

    Port infrastructure construction continues.

  • 2015
  • BP's continues safe operation of the remediation systems while port construction continues with the building of docks, rail and other site improvements.
  • 2016
  • BP's continued focus remained on safely running the remediation systems to have maximum effect on site cleanup. The Air Sparge/Soil Vapor Extraction (AS/SVE) and the Dual Phase Extraction (DPE) systems met their cleanup goals and were shut down. The RMU 1F area remediation system also met its goal and was redirected to support the ongoing cleanup in the RMU 1C area. The Port's tenant prepared to start receiving steel plates by ship and distributing them by rail.
  • 2017
  • BP focused on remediation in the RMU1C area (the remaining area of active remediation), in addition to operating the Groundwater Treatment Plant. The Paulsboro Marine Terminal opened for business and the first ship docked with a load of steel in March 2017.
  • 2018
  • BP continued active remediation in the RMU 1C area and operation of the Groundwater Treatment Plant. The port initiated construction of new ship docks and a landscaped sound barrier system along Mantua Avenue.
  • 2019
  • BP continues to focus on safely integrating its work with the expanding port. Phase 2 of the port construction, comprising 2,700 feet of additional ship docks, is under way. Sound barrier construction continues. BP is preparing to submit Remedial Action permits to the NJDEP as the remediation systems complete their job, and the project enters a period of monitoring the natural attenuation process.

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