DESCRIPTION
The former Bethlehem Loading property is located approximately three miles south of Mays Landing within the city of Estell Manor, in Atlantic County, New Jersey, and was operated by the Bethlehem Loading Company for the U.S. Army from 1918 to 1919, for munitions loading and storage operations. Munitions components were shipped to the property and assembled into high explosive (HE) shells. The property served as a temporary ordnance storage depot to store the supply of ordnance that remained after World War I. In 1919, loading operations ceased and the U.S. Government took control of the plant and changed the name to Mays Landing General Ordnance Depot, later acquiring the property in 1920, until the property was resold in 1922. The property is located within Congressional District NJ-02.
The following is a site-specific history of the munitions response site (MRS) associated with the Former Bethlehem Loading Plant:
The 155 mm and 8 inch Loading Plants MRS was comprised of two plant complex areas: Area B (155 mm Loading Plant) and Area C (8 inch Loading Plant) were used for loading munitions that were assembled into high explosive shells. There were assembly lines occupying multiple buildings. Area B of the MRS was comprised of three production rows, a barricaded TNT magazine, and various support buildings. Area C of the MRS consisted of four production rows, and three industrial buildings per row, for a total of 12 buildings, in addition to two smokeless powder magazines, located 1,500 feet south. Munitions associated with this MRS are large caliber munitions. According to the 2015 Site Inspection (SI) Report, no evidence of munitions and explosives of concern were identified. Analytical results of surface soil and ground water samples for munitions constituents (MC) indicate that TNT, found around the assembly line buildings, exceed human and ecological screening levels. The human health risk assessment screening identified TNT as a contaminant of potential concern in soil. The 2015 SI Report recommends that the former Bethlehem Loading property warrants further investigation into the nature and extent of MC in surface and subsurface soil.
AUTHORIZATION
A site inspection was completed in 2005 under the Defense Environmental Restoration – Formerly Used Defense Site (FUDS) Program.
STATUS (JULY 2019):
The 2015 SI Report recommends that the former Bethlehem Loading property warrants further investigation into the nature and extent of MC in surface and subsurface soil. Further investigation will be undertaken subject to the availability of funds.
PROJECT COST: Estimated Federal Cost (future): MMRP Remedial Investigation- $ 220,000
CONTACT
Gregory J. Goepfert, New York District Project Manager, 917-790-8235