Full Notification

The City of Hoboken is aware that residents have noticed a strong odor coming from the former Sunoco site at the corner of 13th Street and Willow Avenue, where environmental remediation work is currently underway as part of the property's private redevelopment. 

In response, the City of Hoboken Health Division, Hoboken Fire Department, Hoboken Office of Emergency Management, the Hudson Regional Health Commission, and a Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) overseeing the project on behalf of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) have all visited the site and air quality testing has been conducted. 

The results of those tests showed that air quality levels remain within acceptable standards. Based on the testing conducted and information provided by the Licensed Site Remediation Professional, the odor is not considered hazardous and does not pose a risk to public health or safety. 

Excavated soils will be stockpiled on site today  with additional plastic sheeting before they are removed for disposal by the end of this week. Removal of the stockpile may result in additional odors.  

Throughout the remediation process, the LSRP is conducting  continuous air monitoring using specialized equipment in real time along the site perimeter and in areas most likely to be affected by odors.  

To help curtail the odor, soil stockpiles are being covered with plastic sheeting when not actively being moved, contaminated soils are transported off-site for disposal as quickly as possible, and excavated areas are backfilled to minimize emissions. 

If monitoring detects sustained elevated readings above established action levels, work will be immediately paused and additional odor-control measures will be implemented, including covering exposed soils and conducting further air monitoring until conditions return to acceptable levels. 

While the odor has been deemed nonhazardous, the City is actively working with the property owner, environmental professionals, and regulators to ensure that conditions continue to be monitored, the odor is reduced, and the remediation work is completed as quickly and safely as possible. 

Remediation activities are expected to continue in phases this summer. At this time, no additional work is anticipated next week, but soil removal from the site will occur in stages off and on throughout the summer.  

The City will require the developer and LSRP to provide a weekly schedule look ahead which will be added to www.hobokennj.gov/construction to help keep the community updated on scheduled work and monitoring measures.  

Those with odor complaints can contact the Hudson Regional Health Commission at 201-223-1133 or the NJDEP toll-free number to report environmental emergencies and non-emergencies with any concerns at 1-877-WARN-DEP.