Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital, Morris Plains, NJ
Under the direction of the New Jersey Division of Building and Construction (NJDBC) Boswell performed a wide range of professional environmental engineering and surveying services at Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital (GPPH). The GPPH site is an expansive 900-acre facility located in Morris Plains New Jersey. The facility, operational since 1876 contains well over 50 structures in various stages of physical and structural deterioration.
Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)
Drum Disposal Area
As the lead consultant for the project’s environmental investigation, it was Boswell’s responsibility to define existing environmental conditions and separate the entire 900-acre complex and 50+ buildings into individual areas of environmental concern (AOC). Boswell performed a thorough due diligence investigation in accordance with the ASTM-1527 Standards including a thorough review of historical resources such as Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, aerial photographs, federal, state and local government file records and an extensive facility inspection.
A brief listing of deleterious environment conditions encountered included:
- 55-gallon drums of unidentified waste
- underground storage tanks (UST)
- former manufactured gas plant (MGP)
- polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contaminated transformers
Boswell’s inspection team also included AHERA certified asbestos inspectors who
performed a limited survey of the site’s buildings. Additionally we utilized
x-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy to gauge the amount of lead based paint
found within the buildings. Following the surveys
Boswell estimated the
quantities of hazardous materials present and presented the State with an order
of magnitude remediation cost.
Surveying
During the Phase I PA, Boswell prepared a complete boundary and topographical survey for this 900-acre facility. Due to the property’s size, the topography survey was generated by “flying the site.” Using the topographical survey and global positioning we then completed the boundary survey including all metes and bounds.
Geophysical/Utility Survey
During the site’s survey Boswell and our subcontractors also performed a geophysical survey utilizing electromagnetic instrumentation, and ground penetrating radar (GPR) at many of the site’s buildings. The survey was a complex endeavor since both functioning and abandoned utility lines used throughout the site’s 125-year history were encountered. Through field verification and ground truthing, Boswell ascertained each of the existing utilities (water, sewer, electrical, etc.) and verified their status. Upon completion of the geophysical survey, all utility lines were incorporated into the site’s survey.
Phase II Site Investigation
Following completion of the project’s Phase I PA Boswell performed a comprehensive Phase II Site Investigation (SI) at Greystone’s former manufactured gas plant (MGP). The investigation located several underground wastewater storage tanks as well as significant coal tar contamination over the MGP’s grounds. During the investigation Geoprobe soil borings were advanced throughout the site and soil samples retrieved for laboratory analysis. At several of the boring locations groundwater samples were collected using temporary passively placed narrow diameter (PPND) well points. Additionally, once the UST’s locations were verified, wastewater samples were collected from the tanks through compromises in their structural integrity. The MGP site was completely forgotten by Greystone officials who dismissed the notion that any contamination would be found at this now overgrown and dilapidated facility.
Close-up view of soil’s coal tar contamination in sampling core
Excavation of process piping adjacent to the Gas House