Second private well affected. Results from dozens of other Oxford Twp. sites due this week.

A second private well has tested positive for excessive levels of arsenic contamination while two residential wells have tested negative.

These results were forwarded to township officials by residents who paid for private well testing, Mayor Alex Lazorisak said. Some residents tested their wells after officials announced soil on land targeted for ball fields on Mount Pisgah Avenue was contaminated.

Two residential wells on Upper Denmark Road have shown arsenic levels 32 and 16 times higher than the state's allowable limit for drinking water. But downtown businesses, a Mount Pisgah Avenue well and a Zulauf Lane well have tested negative.

The township is awaiting the results of 100 well samples, which officials hope will be ready by week's end. The results are being plotted on a map of the township's water resources to help to determine the next step.

The state Department of Environmental Protection last week withdrew $575,000 of funding for a portion of the ball field land citing lack of work on the project and arsenic soil contamination.

Lazorisak explained the DEP wanted the township to deed its open space to the state to receive the money and did not mention contamination.

"We sent a letter saying if that's the deal then we don't want the money," Lazorisak said.

When township officials discovered the arsenic contamination in 2004, they were told it came from a natural source. But a 2005 memorandum from the New Jersey Geological Survey states further testing revealed it was manmade.

Township engineer Mike Finelli said he's searched his office twice and does not have the 2005 memorandum. Finelli said he was surprised the township never received a copy of the survey's report.

"We never saw that report, which is interesting," Lazorisak said. "The bottom line is so far everyone is pointing the finger."

Lazorisak pointed out the townships' soil tests and the New Jersey Geological Survey tests were done prior to any fill being put on the property by the township.

Finelli, who has since reviewed a copy of the 2005 memo, said it did not suggest any remediation steps or come to any conclusions.

There are three typical remediation methods -- a clean soil cap, excavation or blending clean soil to get below contamination limits -- Finelli said, noting this was not his area of expertise.

The DEP never issued the township a violation over the contamination or laid out required remediation, he said.

"I understand some of the residents are understandably upset, but the township officials were never really alerted or advised of any urgency relative to this," Finelli said.

Reporter Sara K. Satullo can be reached at 908-475-2174 or by e-mail at ssatullo@express-times.com.

Source