GARDEN STATE ENVIRONEWS 000120
Phil Reynolds
GARDEN STATE ENVIRONEWS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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<*> SAYREVILLE SUPERFUND CLEANUP EXTENDED
<*> CIBA CLEANUP TALK PROVES PERPLEXING
<*> A VICTORY FOR DEER
<*> DREDGING HEARINGS AND THE PORT AUTHORITY - JAN 24
<*> HIGHLANDS STATE PLAN MEETING - JAN 26
<*> GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT - FEB 18-21
<*> PLANNING SESSION FOR GENETIC ENGINEERING CONF - FEB 20
<*> GARDEN STATE ENVIRONEWS 000115 - ERROR IN ZIP CODE
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SAYREVILLE SUPERFUND CLEANUP EXTENDED
Date: 000120
From: http://www.nj.com/njcommunities/ledger/middlesex/
By Argelio Dumenigo, Staff Writer, Star-Ledger, 01/20/00
Contamination cleanup at the Horseshoe Road Superfund site in
Sayreville will continue for at least five more years, according to
officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
During a meeting last night at the Sayreville Senior Center to get
public input on a plan to remove several dilapidated buildings from
the 17-acre site on the Raritan River, EPA officials told impatient
residents that the remediation process still has to address
contaminated soil and groundwater.
"We are doing this as fast as we can," said John Osolin, the project
manager for the Horseshoe Road site. "(The site) poses a risk, and
we're addressing it. It takes time, and it takes planning."
But for the dozen of residents in the audience, many of whom live
near the site, the EPA has not moved fast enough nor done enough in
addressing issues they want to see tackled, including testing soil
around nearby houses, preventing further contamination of the river
and blocking trespassers.
"We all have to live in close proximity to this," said Janet Frank,
whose home on Stegiel Place is one of 47 houses a half mile away from
the site. "You feel confident, but you don't have to roll around on
your lawn with your children like I do."
John Prince, the EPA's Central New Jersey section chief, told Frank
and others that the agency will check if soil samples have been taken
from the residential area since the EPA took over the project in 1985
and will also consider taking new samples.
Since 1985, the EPA and the state have removed more than 3,000 drums,
cleaned up dioxin and mercury spills, disposed of materials found in
tanks and vats and excavated soil from the Horseshoe Road site.
The plan discussed last night calls for the demolition and disposal
of buildings and structures, the removal of surface debris, the
recycling of metal, brick and concrete and the decontamination of
concrete slabs on the site.
If approved, the plan is expected to begin at the end of the year and
cost $1.4 million.
It will take 13 months to complete. The project set the stage for
more long-term cleanup work at the site, EPA officials said.
The Superfund site had been home to the former Horseshoe Road drum
dump, the Sayreville pesticide dump and the Atlantic Development
facility, a roof materials manufacturer. Both dumps operated illegally
until the early 1980s, EPA officials said.
The three properties were grouped together by the EPA and named to
the Superfund list in 1995 for cleanup. New Jersey has 114 Superfund
sites, the most of any state in the nation.
The Atlantic Resources facility -- a precious metals recovery
facility -- is not considered part of the Superfund site, but the EPA
also will work on that area.
Soil tests conducted in 1989 revealed volatile organic compounds,
heavy metals, pesticides, dioxins and PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl).
At the meeting, Robert Spiegel, executive director of the Edison
Wetlands Association, described the site as a "toxic nightmare" and
probably the worst area of contamination along the Raritan River,
which in recent years has seen considerable improvement.
Spiegel and Bill Schultz, the Raritan Riverkeeper, said there has not
been enough done to address the contamination that continues to go
into the river.
Spiegel suggested that the project be turned over the Army Corps of
Engineers to speed the cleanup process.
"I'm happy to hear that the buildings are being taken down because
kids frequent the area," Spiegel said. "But the pace of this cleanup
is too slow . . . this action does not go far enough.
The proposed plan is available for public review at the Sayreville
Public Library in the Parlin section.
Written comments can be sent until Feb. 2. They should be addressed
to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, John Osolin, remedial
project manager, 290 Broadway, 19th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10007-1866.
(C) 1999 The Star-Ledger
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CIBA CLEANUP TALK PROVES PERPLEXING
Date: 000120
From: http://www.injersey.com/app/ocean/
By Jean Mikle, Toms River Bureau, Asbury Park Press, 1/20/00
Toms River -- Nearly 90 minutes into last night's public meeting on
cleanup options for the former Ciba-Geigy Corp. Superfund site, it
appeared that some members of the audience were more confused than
when the session started.
The meeting was scheduled by the federal Environmental Protection
Agency to discuss the seven alternatives for cleaning up contamination
at about 21 potential sources of pollution at the site off Route 37.
But the meeting often disintegrated into lengthy question-and-answer
periods between members of the audience and EPA officials, often
focusing on how a thermal desorption unit would operate. Thermal
desorption, which involves heating soils to temperatures of 500 to
1,200 degrees Fahrenheit to vaporize and remove contaminants, is one
of the options being considered for use at the Ciba site.
It is also the option that has caused the most controversy.
"For one of our alternatives, thermal treatment, we've gotten a lot
of negative feedback from the community," said Romona Pezzella, the
EPA's remedial project manager for the Ciba site.
EPA officials have consistently stressed that the agency is not
leaning toward any particular technology and has made no decision
about whether thermal desorption will even be used at Ciba.
"I think no matter which alternative we choose here, it will be
better than what we have now," said Peter L. Hibbard, of Ocean County
Citizens for Clean Water. Hibbard said last night's meeting frequently
became bogged down reviewing points that had been discussed many times
before.
He suggested the EPA prepare a fact sheet for the next Ciba meeting
documenting what has already been accomplished at Ciba to give people
valuable background.
A draft feasibility study released by Ciba in early September said
thermal desorption could be the most technically feasible option for
cleaning up pollution at the Ciba site. EPA officials have said
repeatedly, however, that more than one technology is likely to be
used to clean the source areas at Ciba, since there are many different
types of contaminants there.
The Rev. Scott Minnich of Dover asked the EPA to consider choosing a
cleanup method or methods that would have "the least impact on the
community." Minnich was one of several residents to ask EPA to
consider doing a risk assessment that would calculate the risks to the
community of various Ciba cleanup options.
"Each one of the alternatives would pose a somewhat different risk to
the community," he said.
Pezzella said the EPA does not plan to do a risk assessment for the
treatment options at Ciba because studies the agency has done of
treatment operations at other Superfund sites indicate that the risks
at Ciba would be "well below EPA's acceptable risk levels." Pezzella
said the short duration of the cleanup operation at Ciba makes any
risks to the community very low.
Linda Gillick, who chairs the Citizens Action Committee on Childhood
Cancer Cluster, said residents will demand a lot of information about
what is being released from the stack of any thermal desorption unit
placed at the Ciba site.
"You'd better have data, to tell us what's coming out of that stack,"
Gillick said.
# # #
Jean Mikle: (732) 557-5729
Published on January 20, 2000
Copyright 1997-2000 IN Jersey
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A VICTORY FOR DEER
Date: 20 Jan 2000
From: Bowma...@aol.com
On 1/18/2000 Governor Whitman, on advice of counsel, vetoed
A.2926-S.1768.
This bill would have set up the Fish and Game Council as an
unconstitutional, unelected legislative body with a mission to
exterminate the deer anywhere in the state where deer damage to farm
crops could possibly be a problem. To this end the Fish and Game
Council would be free to arrogate any existing state laws to which it
objected, and make new laws if the situation seemed to require it.
This bill would have promoted community based deer management programs
(CBDMPS) as the universal solution to the problem.
A CBDMP is nothing more than wholesale random killing of deer in the
targeted areas. This type of plan was originally introduced to reduce
the number of deer in public parks and wilderness areas, and it has
been implemented in a handful of locations. No CBDMP has ever worked.
Deer are too prolific, and targeted populations are capable of
restocking themselves as rapidly as the hunters can kill them. The
killing goes on, and the deer keep coming back. A.2926 would have
replicated this type of failed measure in all farming areas of the
state.
Mercer County Deer Alliance will continue to promote nonlethal and
safe alternatives that are actually effective in solving human-deer
problems.
Thanks to everyone who spoke out against A.2926-S.1768.
# # #
Nancy Bowman
Mercer County Deer Alliance
PO Box 1261
Princeton NJ 08542-1261
Tel: 609-443-3120
Fax: 609-443-3820
Email: Bowma...@aol.com
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DREDGING HEARINGS AND THE PORT AUTHORITY - JAN 24
Date: 20 Jan 2000
From: Savt...@aol.com
Hi Gang,
Looks like we have a fight on our hands. We were able to intercept a
copy of a fax that the Port Authority sent out.
# # #
Dredging Fax
Public Meeting on Dredging Permit - January 24, 2000
Industry Support is Essential!
You may have read in the papers about a recent dispute over two
dredging projects, one in Brooklyn, the other at the Castle Astoria
oil facility in Queens. At stake is the ability for the Port of New
York and New Jersey to continue to take clean, uncontaminated dredged
material to the ocean for use as a cap at the former Mud Dump site,
which has been redesignated as the Historic Area Remediation Site
(HARS).
A specific objection has been raised regarding the dredge permit for
the Brooklyn Marine Terminal - a project that has already been
completed! Objections have been raised over inadequate notice for the
project (even though the Corps sent out over 360 public notices) and
that the material is not suitable for ocean disposal (even though test
show that the material is well within established federal guidelines).
In response, the Corps has taken the unusual step of re-opening the
public comment period on the Brooklyn permit and has scheduled a
public hearing on the permit for: Monday, January 24, 2000 at Fort
Monmouth, NJ from 2:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M. to last speaker
What you can do to help:
First, if at all possible, please ATTEND THE PUBLIC HEARING. At a
similar hearing in Fort Monmouth last fall on the Castle Astoria
project over 1,000 people attended, but only the Port Authority and
Castle Astoria spoke in favor of the permit. We need broad support not
only for the Brooklyn Marine Terminal permit, but for the broader
principle of continuing placement of suitable material at the HARS.
Second, WRITE LETTERS. Letters to the Army Corps and copying
congressional offices and the two Governors are important too. Also,
letters to the editor in response to stories in their papers is very
helpful as well.
WHAT WE'RE DOING:
The Port Authority will continue discussions with the elected
officials, various interest groups and Army Corps to address these
issues and concerns. We will also make a presention at the public
hearing on the permit for the Brooklyn Marine Terminal. To assist you
to provide additional background information and fact sheets. Those
materials will be coming to you separately over the next several days.
If you have any questions or need additional information immediately,
please contact Dan Maynard at 212-435-7855 or you can email him at
dmaynardpanynj.gov.
January 7, 2000
# # #
This meeting a very important! The future of our ocean is a stake!
The Port is rallying it's troops. Everyone must attend this hearing if
we our going to stop the Corps. For more information call Clean Ocean
Action at: 732-872-0111
Jim Kelly
Save the Bay
50 Washington Avenue
Keansburg, NJ 07734
732-787-5591
Fax 732-787-5591
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HIGHLANDS STATE PLAN MEETING - JAN 26
Date: 20 Jan 2000
From: wi...@njconservation.org (NJCF-Wilma)
On Wednesday, January 26 from 6:30 to 9:00 PM, the State Planning
Commission will be considering their recommendations for the
Highlands.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR AS MANY FOLKS AS POSSIBLE TO ATTEND!!!
The meeting will be held at the Pequest Fish Hatchery on Rt. 46,
Liberty Township, Warren County. The meeting room is very large -
holds several hundred people. We need to make a strong showing!!
We need to reiterate that the Highlands is a special place, and that
it needs special consideration. Consider making a brief statement
about what your special corner or feature of the Highlands means, and
how it is threatened.
The focus of the Plan Development Committee, which is holding the
meeting, will be to hear comments on a staff report that has been
prepared.
Stay tuned for further information on that report, and for directions
on how to get to the meeting. But for now --
HOLD THAT DATE!!! AND MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND.
Thanks, Wilma Frey, The Highlands Coalition, 908-234-1225
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GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT - FEB 18-21
Date: 20 Jan 2000
From: "COOK, Valerie" {VC...@AUDUBON.ORG}
COUNT ONE, COUNT ALL!
FAMILIES, COMMUNITY GROUPS, INDIVIDUALS ASKED TO "LOG ON"
FOR GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT 2000
Audubon and Cornell Lab Ask Everyone to
Put Their Bird Sightings on the Map
Ford Motor Company and Wild Birds Unlimited to Sponsor Event
Ithaca, NY January 20 - At the turn of the last century, the
Passenger Pigeon had become extinct in the wild and very few people
even knew. It's too late for the Passenger Pigeon, but it may not be
too late for North American birds that are currently showing
population declines. The National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab
of Ornithology have made it easy to help these birds and to help
ensure common birds stay common. They are asking everyone,
continent-wide, to take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count,
February 18-21, 2000.
Through Great Backyard Bird Count 2000, families, classrooms,
community groups, and individuals of all ages and skill levels can
help scientists document the abundance and distribution of North
America's bird populations at the start of the first spring migration
of the new millennium.
Participants count the numbers and kinds of birds seen in their
backyards, local parks, schoolyards, or other areas during any or all
of the four count days. All sightings are entered via the Internet at
BirdSource http://www.birdsource.org an interactive, state-of-the-art
web site developed by the Cornell Lab and National Audubon. Results,
in the form of colorful maps and charts, are available at the web site
for all to view as quickly as reports arrive over the Internet.
The online nature of the count, combined with widespread citizen
participation, assists scientists in both the short- and long-term.
"By participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count, people from
subtropical Florida and Hawaii to Arctic Canada and Alaska will help
us understand better the effects of changing weather and landscape on
our birds' abundance and distribution patterns," says Dr. Frank Gill,
senior vice president for science at National Audubon.
Last year, some 42,000 participants saw large numbers of American
Robins wintering farther north than usual. Further research suggested
a correlation between robin distribution and absence of snow. For
example, in the northern peninsula of Michigan, snow cover exceeded 24
inches, and a lone robin was reported. In central and southern parts
of the state, where snow cover was five inches or less, robins were
everywhere. The data entry forms at the GBBC web site will ask
participants to provide information about snow cover in their area.
How shifts in distribution tie in with large-scale weather patterns,
such as El Niño, La Niña, and global warming, has yet to be
determined.
Cornell Lab and Audubon researchers emphasize that every observation
of every bird seen is important, no matter how common the species.
Chickadees, jays, doves, even the ubiquitous starling and House
Sparrow-the GBBC is collecting sightings of them all. It fact, the
most common birds often demonstrate the most important patterns.
"Many birds that are now rare or showing population declines were
once common. The Passenger Pigeon, for example, used to occur in
flocks of thousands and now they're extinct. Red-headed Woodpeckers
have already disappeared from much of the northeastern U.S. and are
declining throughout their range," says Dr. John Fitzpatrick, director
of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "How tragic it would be for the
world to learn that the Red-headed Woodpecker, once a household name
in many areas, had joined the likes of the Carolina Parakeet, the
Great Auk, and other extinct species. The Great Backyard Bird Count
may yield more data about the current strongholds of the Red-headed
Woodpecker, data that may be used to help implement conservation
measures before it's too late."
Participants also can help follow up on an emerging conservation
success story. "In light of the proposed removal of the Bald Eagle
from the list of Endangered and Threatened species, we encourage
birders this year to pay special attention to this national symbol,"
said Gill. "American and Canadian citizens alike can help scientists
monitor the health and abundance of this once-endangered bird with an
immediacy and breadth never before possible." Thanks to support from
Ford Motor Company and Wild Birds Unlimited, exclusive sponsors of the
GBBC, the web site features special pages that provide information
about Bald Eagles, including how to distinguish them from
similar-looking species.
In addition to the eagle feature, the GBBC web site provides
educational materials ideal for families, Youth groups, and
classrooms. There is a "Let's Talk About Birds" vocabulary section, a
"Bird-brained Bibliography" of reference books, and a "How to
Birdwatch" introduction to birding. Tips on feeding birds are also
provided, and kids will enjoy watching as their postal code appears on
the animated map showing reports. Kids of all ages will also enjoy
voting for their favorite bird!
"Birding is the fastest-growing outdoor recreation, with some 60
million people now participating," says Fitzpatrick. "If each one of
them can spend just 15 minutes noting the birds they see during GBBC,
even if only while sipping their morning coffee, eating lunch, or
taking a relaxing stroll, imagine the kind of snapshot of North
American winter bird distribution this would create."
To participate, tally the highest number of each species seen at one
time (so as not to count the same birds more than once). Then log on
to BirdSource http://www.birdsource.org and click on the "Great
Backyard Bird Count" button. Directions are provided at the site.
Participation in the count is free, and no registration is necessary.
Those without Internet access should try their local library, nature
center, other community group, or call Wild Birds Unlimited toll-free
at (800) 326-4928 to find out if the franchise nearest you enters
customers' reports. For more information, including how to coordinate
efforts to enter reports for those who aren't online, call the Cornell
Lab (800) 843-BIRD (2473) or write them at Cornell Lab of
Ornithology/GBBC, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY 14850.
# # #
Editors - Photographs are available upon request.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a membership institution
interpreting and conserving the earth's biological diversity through
research, education, and citizen science focused on birds.
Founded in 1905 and supported by 550,000 members in 530 chapters
throughout the Americas, the National Audubon Society conserves and
restores natural ecosystems, focusing on birds and other wildlife for
the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity.
Media Contact:
John Bianchi jbia...@audubon.org
212/979-3026
Kara Grobert kgro...@audubon.org
212/979-3026
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PLANNING SESSION FOR GENETIC ENGINEERING CONF - FEB 20
Date: 20 Jan 2000
From: "Green Party of New Jersey" {njgr...@hotmail.com}
1-20-00
Planning session for Fall 2000 Northeast-Mid Atlantic conference on
Biotechnology in New Brunswick -
When: Sunday, Feb 20, 1999 4:00 PM.
Where: 447 Parker Ave., Hackensack, NJ 07601
NJ Genetic Engineering Response Network, 201-487-3748
Many Thanks!
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GARDEN STATE ENVIRONEWS 000115 - ERROR IN ZIP CODE
Date: 20 Jan 2000
From: "Matt Visco" {MATT...@prodigy.net}
Please note that in the Camp Glen Grey article the ZIP code for
writing to Governor Whitman was incorrect.
Governor Christine Todd Whitman
State House
125 West State Street
CN-001
Trenton, NJ 07625
It should be 08625
Matt Visco
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Back issues of the Garden State EnviroNews are available at
http://www.gsenet.org/library/11gsn/11gsn.htm
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