ATT 2Ciii Draft Staff Report.pdf

D R A F T[Type here] [Type

3/25/2025

STAFF REPORT

DEWATERING

In the matter of NAVAL WEAPON STATION EARLE - CULVERT REPAIRS

Water Allocation Application No. 1393D, to temporarily divert water from 13 proposed wells and 8 dewatering trenches in the following Municipalities and County:

Tinton Falls Borough Middletown Twp.

Monmouth

In compliance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 58:1A-1 et seq., NAVAL WEAPON STATION EARLE - CULVERT REPAIRS, 2 Crowne Pt Ct, Cincinnati, New Jersey, 45241, filed an application with the Department of Environmental Protection on September 30, 2024 for approval of plans to temporarily divert a maximum of 24.18 million gallons of water during any month (mgm) at a maximum rate of 810 gallons per minute (gpm) from 13 proposed wells, 60 to 83 feet deep, screened in the Red Bank Formation Shrewsbury Member and 8 proposed trenches 6 to 8 feet deep and 3 to 4 feet wide. The wells and the trenches are located in Middletown Twp. and Tinton Falls Borough.

Diversion is for the purpose of temporary dewatering for Swimming River Culvert Repairs.

Diversion is not in the Delaware River Basin or Pinelands.

Public notice was required as this is an application for a new diversion.

No objections were filed upon the notice published on ___________________, in _________________________. {name of newspaper}

A hearing was required (by the Department) (pursuant to public objection received by the Department).

Background/Findings of Fact

1. This permit is required as dewatering will continue for approximately seven months. It is anticipated that dewatering will begin in February 2026, and continue until June 2026.

2. The diversion is to include 13 wells 60 feet to 83 feet deep and 8 trenches 6 to 8 feet deep and 4 by 4 feet wide. The trenches will be used to dewater residual water from inside the coffer dam to be installed during construction activities.

3. According to the applicant's Engineering Report, ground water is encountered at the site from 6 to 7 feet below grade.

4. The ground surface elevation at the site varies from -5.9 feet to 33.6 feet relative to sea level.

5. The applicant indicated that dewatering is expected to occur to a depth of 2 feet below the bottom of the work area. The technical report indicates that dewatering will occur at 10 feet below the static water level, which equates to 16 to 17 feet below grade.

6. The total length of the project is approximately 225 linear feet. The maximum length of open trench will be 200 linear feet. The average diversion is estimated to be 360 gpm (per phase). No estimation of the amount of water per linear foot of open trench was provided.

7. The applicant's estimate of the quantity of water to be diverted monthly is based upon pumping capacity and time.

8. Other sub-surface diversions within a one quarter mile radius include 17 private domestic wells and

10 irrigation wells. Records indicate that the wells range in depth from 30 feet to 247 feet. However, only 6 wells appear to be completed within the Red Bank Sand Formation.

9. Public water supply wells within a one-mile radius include the following:

Well Owner

No. of Wells

Depth (feet)

Aquifer

Capacity (gpm)

Distance (miles)

NJ American Water 3 655-669 Upper PRM 1,100 0.40-1.65

10. According to the applicant there are no landfills or other potential pollution sites known to be located within a one-quarter mile radius of the dewatering activity.

11. Water will be discharged to Swimming River. The discharge will be measured by pump hours and capacity.

12. The dewatering activity is not located in the Pinelands.

13. Although the impact on wetlands was not discussed, it appears that freshwater wetlands may exist within the radius of influence of the diversion. However, the applicant indicated that none of the diversion sources will be constructed in wetlands. The applicant indicated that Freshwater Wetlands applications were filed with the Department. FHA and CV permits have been approved. The Bureau of Freshwater Wetlands has been notified of the proposed diversion.

Staff Analysis

1. The monthly allocation was based upon estimates contained in the application and accompanying the

Engineer’s Report.

2. Issuance of this permit at the recommended rates will allow for the safe and proper construction of the culverts to provide the necessary repairs. Historically the Department has viewed local governmental approval of a project as signifying that it is in the public interest. Once all necessary local approvals are granted, the proposed diversion will be considered to be in the public interest in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:19-2.3(g)1.

3. Based upon the expected maximum withdrawal rate, the characteristics for an unconfined aquifer, and the limits of dewatering, the zone of influence is expected to be relatively small. Although the applicant did not provide calculations for a radius of influence, it indicated that lowering the groundwater level elevations in the Red Bank Sand should not affect dry season flow in the Swimming River or other surface water bodies. Analytical groundwater flow modeling results showed a small cone of depression imposed by the four pumping wells consistent with the relatively low transmissivity of the Red Bank Sand and unconfined hydrological conditions. In addition to the small cone of depression, the relatively short time required for dewatering and rehabilitating the culverts should also minimize the system’s influence on surface water flows and elevations.

Therefore, construction dewatering conducted at the project site should not influence local water users whose wells are screened in the Red Bank Sand or the flow in the Swimming River.

Given this and the fact that the diversion is temporary in nature and most of the adjacent wells are screened at depths greater than the depth of the dewatering and are located relatively far from the proposed dewatering activities, the diversion is just and equitable to other water users in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:19-2.3(g)2.

4. As the diversion is temporary in nature, it is not expected to exceed the long-term natural replenishment of ground water in the area or adversely affect any river or stream in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:19-2.3(g)3.

5. The diversion is not expected to contribute to the spread of groundwater pollution, as there are no known contaminated sites located within one quarter of a mile from the dewatering activities.

6. The permittee shall obtain a well drilling permit for all proposed wells used in the dewatering operations, prior to drilling the wells. A well permit application for each well should be filed with the Well Permitting Section of the Bureau of Water Allocation and Well Permitting by a New Jersey licensed driller prior to construction, and the Water Allocation Section should be notified about filing. The wells shall not be constructed until the well permits are approved.

7. A modification of the temporary dewatering permit will be required once the wells are installed. In order for the wells to be added through a minor modification, every well must meet replacement well criteria in relation to the proposed location, depth, pumping capacity, and aquifer. If any well does not meet replacement criteria a major modification will be required.

8. The access agreements must be signed and in place prior to any activity taking place on the site (e.g., well construction, dewatering, etc.).

Recommendations

Issuance of the permit is recommended with an expiration date of December 31, 2030, subject to the attached Permit Requirements:

Date: ____________________ Ovidiu M. Petriman, Geologist 3 Bureau of Water Allocation & Well Permitting