N.J. Admin. Code § 7:1J-3.8

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 19, October 7, 2024

Section 7:1J-3.8 - Most probable pollution migration zone

(a) The most probable pollution migration zone is the volumetric extent of ground water for which the Department determines under (b) below that, within the remediation period (as defined below), it is most probable that concentrations of one or more hazardous substances in ground water will exceed the applicable contaminant standard for any such hazardous substances. The remediation period shall be the three years after delineation of the Spill Fund Claims Area, unless the Department determines, in its best professional judgment based upon the particular circumstances of the aquifer contamination, that the remediation of the aquifer contamination will not be completed within three years. In such event, the remediation period shall be the time the Department estimates for the completion of the remediation, in its best professional judgment based upon the particular circumstances of the aquifer contamination.

(b) The delineation of the most probable pollution migration zone is based upon the most probable ground water flow directions, and the most probable pollutant transport rate, for each hazardous substance present in the ground water. In delineating the most probable pollution migration zone, the Department will consider factors including, without limitation, ground water elevations, the location and distribution of pumping wells, the distribution and concentration of pollutants in affected wells, topography, and geology.

(c) The Department shall calculate the most probable pollutant transport rate pursuant to the following formula:

Data in image

(d) The most probable pollutant transport rate (expressed in feet per day), multiplied by the remediation period (expressed in days), yields the migration distance. The migration distance, projected along the most probable ground water flow directions from the currently known extent of ground water pollution (that is, the leading edge of the plume), yields the most probable pollution migration zone.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:1J-3.8