Contaminants extend field closure Officials stress that only one of two fields has been affected BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer Woodbridge Township officials announced the tentative closure of the Pocheck Field No. 2, a baseball and softball practice field, in Iselin last week due to tainted fill material found on the field. The field, which is located behind the Route 35 ShopRite in Woodbridge, had already been closed for reconstruction, which started last fall. The reconstruction included grading and leveling the entire outfield area. The field was being reconstructed as a practice field for the Woodbridge High School baseball and softball teams. "We are extremely disturbed to find out that the fill material placed at this field and only this field is less than clean," said Mayor John E. McCormac, who added that the township has already begun the process necessary to safely remove the tainted fill material from the field. Township officials stressed that Pocheck Field No. 1 was not impacted by the work on Field No. 2. The mayor said the township attorney initiated a review after fill material believed to be clean and free of contaminants tested positive for low levels of chlordane. According to the Federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry [ATSDR] Web site, chlordane is a manufactured chemical that was used as a pesticide in the United States from 1948 to 1988. Because of concern about damage to the environment and harm to human health, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all uses of chlordane in 1983 except to control termites. In 1988, the EPA banned all uses. The township Department of Public Works was actively monitoring the reconstruction project at the field when it was learned that questionable fill material had been used to level the right field playing surface. The township engaged its environmental consultant, Birdsall Engineering Inc., based in Eatontown, to conduct immediate tests of the fill material. "Our primary mission is to make certain that there is no public health concern and to get the tainted fill removed as quickly as possible," said McCormac. This is the second recreational area that has been closed down because of contamination issues. McCormac announced the temporary closing of the 1.9-acre Fifth District Park, which is owned by the township and is adjacent to the former General Dynamics property, in Avenel, on June 11, 2007, as a precautionary measure after preliminary tests on the soil around the exterior of the park showed compounds of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), semi-volatile organic compounds, and heavy metals including arsenic and lead. Remediation of the park started in late January and early February, and was recently completed. The work was shared by General Dynamics and Electric Boat, and Birdsall Engineering. Township officials said the last part of the remediation for the Fifth District Park is to place clean fill at the site and install new grass and new playground equipment. They hope the park will be open by May 31.