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GARDEN STATE ENVIRONEWS 001003B

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Phil Reynolds

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Oct 4, 2000, 1:31:19 AM10/4/00

001003B

GARDEN STATE ENVIRONEWS

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
** Section B - Part 2 of 2 **

001003A
<*> VERNON: SAVE OUR MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT (S.O.M.E.)
<*> EDISON: FINAL CLEANUP PLAN FOR CIC SUPERFUND SITE
<*> MANVILLE: CLEANUP PLAN FOR CREOSOTE SUPERFUND SITE
<*> SAYREVILLE: CLEANUP PLAN FOR HORSESHOE RD SUPERFUND SITE
<*> SCIENTISTS TRACK DIOXIN FROM U.S. TO ARCTIC

001003B
<*> NJDEP CONTRACT TO PROTECT UPPER DELAWARE AREA WATERSHED
<*> AGENCY SEEKS TO PREVENT SUBSIDY OF CORPORATE SPRAWL
<*> EDISON: CREW CLEARS LAND AT OAK TREE POND
<*> JEFFERSON: GOLF COURSE WORK DRAWS NO BIDS
<*> MARTINS CREEK POWER PLANT EXPANSION - OCT 4
<*> WEST MILFORD COUNCIL MEETING - OCT 4
<*> THOUSANDS TO MEET ON PESTICIDES - NY - OCT 14

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NJDEP CONTRACT TO PROTECT UPPER DELAWARE AREA WATERSHED

Date: 03 Oct 2000
From: David Cox {DC...@dep.state.nj.us}

DEP AWARDS CONTRACT TO RESOURCE CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL TO
PROTECT UPPER DELAWARE AREA WATERSHED

Oct. 2, 2000

Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Shinn
today awarded a $400,000 contract to the North Jersey Resource
Conservation and Development Council to develop a comprehensive
management plan for the Upper Delaware watershed.

The council will receive $400,000 for the two-year contract and a
total of $600,000 over four years to complete the watershed plan for
the area, which covers 52 municipalities in Warren, Hunterdon, Morris
and Sussex counties.

"Working together in partnership, we will produce a plan for this
area that will protect and enhance the Delaware River and its
tributaries from Montague in Sussex County to Pohatcong Township in
Warren County," Shinn said.

Commissioner Shinn presented a $144,000 advance check to Caroline
Armstrong, chair of the North Jersey Resource Conservation and
Development Council, along the Pequest River at the Pequest Trout
Hatchery in Oxford Township (Warren).

The Upper Delaware watershed, known as Area 1 in the state's
watershed management program, covers 1,072 square miles from Clove
Brook in the north to the Musconetcong River in the south. It includes
the Pohatcong Creek, Lopatcong Creek, Paulins Kill River, Delawanna
Creek, Flat Brook, Shimmers Brook, Van Campens Brook, Buckhorn Creek
and Beaver Brook.

DEP had divided the state into 20 watershed management areas and DEP
is establishing similar partnerships in the other areas for plans to
be developed to protect all of New Jersey's waterways.

The NJRC&D Council will work with county planning boards,
municipalities, the Delaware River Basin Commission, watershed
associations and other agencies to establish an executive committee.
The executive committee will seek input from other local groups and
interested citizens in developing the plan. Task committees will be
formed for public outreach and other technical and support work. Upon
completion of a draft plan, DEP will seek formal public comment and
review prior to adoption. (map of area attached)

* * *

Contact: Loretta O'Donnell or Amy Collings
(609) 984-1795 or 292-2994

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AGENCY SEEKS TO PREVENT SUBSIDY OF CORPORATE SPRAWL

Date: 001003
From: "Dennis W. Schvejda" {dsch...@igc.org}

AGENCY SEEKS TO PREVENT SUBSIDY OF CORPORATE SPRAWL IN JERSEY

By Dunstan Mcnichol, Staff Writer, Star-Ledger, 10/03/00

Large-scale corporate developments that eat up open space the state
wants to preserve would not be eligible for certain taxpayer
subsidies, under a proposal floated yesterday by the state's Economic
Development Authority.

The authority plans to offer "structured financing" only to companies
that are building in locations that comply with the State Plan, a
voluntary blueprint designed to steer growth and development away from
the state's dwindling open spaces.

"The bottom line in terms of this proposal is that the state is not
going to pay for sprawl," said Laura Otterbourg, spokeswoman for Gov.
Christie Whitman.

In the past, EDA's structured financing has provided millions of
dollars in tax savings to some of the state's largest corporate
developments, including MSNBC's studios in Secaucus and a Barnes &
Noble distribution center in Jamesburg.

One of the state's most controversial corporate developments, a 3
million-square-foot office complex Merrill Lynch is building on former
farmland in Hopewell Township near Trenton, saved about $13 million in
state sales taxes through a structured finance arrangement.

The EDA, which has helped line up more than $14 billion in financing
for various New Jersey companies, offers structured financing to major
corporate developments that include at least 400 employees. The
financing offers companies relief from sales taxes and other costs by
arranging for state funding to cover the cost of computer equipment or
other major corporate expenses.

Caren Franzini, executive director of the EDA, said the agency has
always steered financial assistance to projects that comply with the
development priorities included in the state plan.

"It is formalizing a process that's already in existence," she said
of the notice published yesterday.

But the proposed regulations mark the first time the state has
specifically made compliance with the State Plan a written condition
of qualifying for state aid.

The plan, adopted in 1992, divides the state's landscape into five
categories and attempts to steer new development away from the most
rural and environmentally sensitive regions of the state.

Since compliance with the plan is voluntary, it has so far been
largely ineffective as a tool to limit suburban sprawl and the loss of
open space.

Recently, Whitman has highlighted open space preservation and
enforcement of the State Plan as priorities of the waning years of her
administration.

She has attempted to tie approvals for sewer extensions into the
State Plan's development priorities and has encouraged state agencies
to incorporate the plan into their policy decisions.

At a speech in Princeton this spring, Whitman suggested the Merrill
Lynch project would not pass muster under her new restrictions on
development. Through the structured finance assistance and an array of
state subsidies, the company received a total of about $150 million in
development incentives.

Art Maurice, a vice president of the New Jersey Business and Industry
Association, declined to comment in depth on the proposal because he
had not had a chance to review it. But he said it appeared the EDA's
proposal runs counter to the state Legislature's rejection of earlier
attempts to tie road building money and other state funds to
compliance with the State Plan.

Environmentalists, who have been critical of many of Whitman's
development initiatives, welcomed the EDA proposal.

"It's a small step in the right direction," said Dave Pringle,
lobbyist for the New Jersey Environmental Federation. "A significant
step in the right direction would be to put the same restrictions on
the billions of dollars in state money that are not covered by the
EDA."

Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Chapter of the Sierra Club
and a frequent critic of Whitman's environmental policies, was equally
reserved.

"Government is sometimes the biggest promoter of sprawl," he said. "I
hope this means the money will be going to Camden and Clifton and
Edison and not to the destruction of our farm fields."

* * *

Dunstan McNichol covers state government issues. He can be reached at
dmcn...@starledger.com or (609) 989-0341.
(C) 2000 The Star-Ledger

# # #

Dennis W. Schvejda
Conservation Chair
NJ Chapter Sierra Club
Visit our web site... http://sierraactivist.org
Subscribe to our mailing list...
http://SierraActivistUpdate.listbot.com/
or send a message to: SierraActivistU...@listbot.com

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EDISON: CREW CLEARS LAND AT OAK TREE POND

Date: 001003
From: "Dennis W. Schvejda" {dsch...@igc.org}

CREW CLEARS LAND AT OAK TREE POND AS STUNNED PROTESTERS LOOK ON

By Nina Rizzo, Staff Writer, Home News Tribune, 10/03/00

Edison - While protesters watched in disbelief, a demolition crew
last night tore down trees at the Oak Tree Pond property to make way
for a strip mall.

Developer Jack Morris was granted a tree-removal permit in March, but
waited less than a week after the council voted against condemning the
land before clearing the land.

Edgewood Properties of Piscataway, a demolition company hired by
Morris, began leveling the wooded area about 5 p.m. A crew of 12 was
expected to work until 10 p.m., when the township's noise ordinance
would force them to quit work.

A Jack Morris construction manager, who would identify himself only
as Gary, said his company chose to work at night because it would meet
"the least resistance by the town."

He added, "It was the quickest and easiest way."

About two dozen protesters watched as six earthmovers rolled over the
property, snapping tree trunks like pencils.

"It's devastating," said Cynthia Spiegel, a member of Save The Oak
Tree Pond, commonly known as STOP. She watched from the Krauszer's
parking lot across the street with several other group members. "Some
of the other women left. They were crying. They couldn't take it. This
is a horrible nightmare."

"I am stunned these guys are demolishing the site at night," said
Walter Stochel, an organizer for STOP.

Bob Spiegel, Cynthia's husband and another STOP organizer, blamed
Mayor George A. Spadoro for allowing the project to proceed.

"This shows Mayor Spadoro's commitment to open space," he said. "The
only green he cares about is money."

Spadoro could not be reached for comment last night.

Sudhanshu Prasad of Marion Street said he used to bring his two
children, ages 5 and 11, to the site to enjoy nature. He said there is
no place like this nearby.

"This is a travesty. It's an outrage the way they're doing this,"
Prasad said.

He believes township officials should have considered the
environmental and historical attributes of the site before putting it
in the hands of a developer.

On Wednesday, the Township Council voted 4-2 not to use $4.8 million
in state grants and local open-space money to buy the 6.2-acre site
for preservation purposes. Morris promised to contribute $50,000 to
Edison's open-space fund and make improvements at the pond site.

Councilman Peter Barnes, who voted to preserve the site, said he
checked to make sure the demolition crew had the correct permits and
violated no safety laws.

"I wish I could do more," Barnes said. "When you make up in the
morning, the damage will already be done."

None of the protesters was arrested, said Lt. Mel Vaticano.

* * *

# # #

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JEFFERSON: GOLF COURSE WORK DRAWS NO BIDS

Date: 001003
From: "Dennis W. Schvejda" {dsch...@igc.org}

By Lawrence Ragonese, Staff Writer, Star-Ledger, 10/03/00

A Morris County golf course project that already has been delayed by
environmental and engineering problems has encountered another
unexpected hurdle: Not one contractor bid on the project.

As a result, the $8.5 million to $13 million project, which has
already been delayed about a year, will be pushed back several months.
The Jefferson Township course may not open until the spring of 2003,
officials said.

"We hope to get work started by January, but that will all depend on
the winter weather," said county Park Commission member Jack Kelly,
who is the commission's liaison on this project.

"If we can award the contract by the end of the year, maybe we can
keep it on time."

The commission put out a request for bids in June, giving contractors
10 weeks to study the county's plans and enter a competition to build
what the county hopes will be a championship quality 18-hole course
off Berkshire Valley Road, along the Rockaway River.

When that failed to generate a bid, however, the county was forced
last week to advertise the project to lure contractors for the
lucrative job.

"Contractors told us they were too busy with private enterprise
projects to entertain any public work at this time," explained Robert
Vogel, deputy engineering chief for the commission. "One contractor
said he was too busy putting together 18 other bids and just couldn't
get to our job."

So the bidding is being opened up again, though only companies with
some experience in golf course projects will be considered, Kelly
said.

Specifications for the project were made available yesterday at park
commission offices for inspection by potential bidders, with bids due
for submission by Nov. 13.

Park officials originally planned a spring 2002 course opening, but
that date was pushed back to the fall. The price tag increased by an
estimated $4 million, due to environmental difficulties.

Federal and state environmental agencies refused to allow the county
to fill in more than a half-dozen man-made sediment pits dug by the
owners of an abandoned quarry, where the golf course will be built,
park system engineer Jeffrey Biggs said.

The pits, used to filter water before it runs into the Rockaway
River, were declared federally protected open waters so the commission
was required to build around them.

The course was redesigned, requiring construction of four holes and
part of a fifth on the hillside above the quarry, mandating the need
for quite a bit of excavation, tree clearing and blasting work.

But some environmentalists argued against disturbing the forest,
saying it went against the spirit of preserving the North Jersey
Highlands and would disturb the habitat of the endangered Indiana bat,
issues that took several months to resolve.

County officials have long been committed to building a golf course
in Jefferson, as part of a pledge to spend some of its parks and
recreation dollars on the northwest sector of the county.

* * *

Lawrence Ragonese is a reporter in the Morris County bureau. He can
be reached at lrag...@starledger.com or at (973) 539-7910.
(C) 2000 The Star-Ledger

# # #

MARTINS CREEK POWER PLANT EXPANSION - OCT 4

Date: 2 Oct 2000
From: "Bill Rosebrock" {bill...@fast.net}

In December 1999, the Warren County Environmental Commission and the
Harmony Township Environmental Commission called for a moratorium on
any new, expanded or modified air emission permits issued by the New
Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), the
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) or the
United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), until Warren
County's air quality, which currently fails to meet the standards set
by the Clean Air Act, is brought into compliance, and that no new or
modified permits be issued that would in any way continue to degrade
Warren County's air quality.

The Martins Creek coal-fired plant contributes heavily to the burden
of Sulfur Dioxide and Mercury in our air.

This Wednesday, October 4, 2000, there will be a public hearing
regarding PP&L's application to add a gas-fired burner to its Martin's
Creek power plant in Lower Mt. Bethel Township, Northampton County,
PA. This expansion would entail the purchase of additional "pollution
credits."

Directions to Lower Mt. Bethel: From Easton, Rt 611 North 4 miles +/-
to Stop in village of Martins Creek. Turn Right, and the municipal
building is 3/4-mile on Left.

NOTE: In July, PP&L announced the highest level of earnings in the
company's history. For the first half of 2000, the company reported an
earnings increase of more than 40 percent from 1999.

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WEST MILFORD COUNCIL MEETING - OCT 4

Date: 03 Oct 2000
From: bob...@nac.net

Greetings Everyone,

I received an out of the blue phone call this afternoon from our WM
Planning Board Chairman Michael Tfank. He indicated that tomorrow
night will be a Council meeting everyone will want to attend. Since
the agenda was not yet completed, he wanted to give me a heads-up. All
he said to me was that a number of ordinances will be discussed that
will be very enlightening to us all. He mentioned the areas of COAH,
Zoning, and Water to be some of the many issues involved. He also
mentioned that the future of West Milford will be charted by these
ordinances. So let's all please attend. I wish I could tell you more,
but he did not want to get into detail with me on the phone. He just
asked asked if I would get the word out.

Date: Wednesday, October 4th , 2000

Time: 7:30 pm The meeting will probably last until at least 10:00pm or
beyond.

Where: West Milford Town Hall, 1480 Union Valley Road, West Milford

On the Agenda: Town Council Meeting Public Hearing on Ordinance Change
for Idylease Development. This is the meeting for the Council to
change the Zoning. We expect some opposition to the change, so we need
supporters. Anyone who wants to speak in support of the change will be
allowed to. We are supported in our position by an outside consultants
report.

Additional Topics: Smart Growth Grant. Introduction of ordinances for
COAH, Zoning Water, etc...

I hope you can all attend. Please feel free to forward this to
everyone you feel may be interested in West Milford's future and our
"Quality of Life."Regards,

Bob Szuszkowski
West Milford 2000
PO Box 315
Newfoundland, NJ 07435
Phone: 697-1436

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THOUSANDS TO MEET ON PESTICIDES - NY - OCT 14

Date: 02 Oct 2000
From: Joyce Shepard {cact...@jps.net}

[Forward]

From: Jay Feldman
Beyond Pesticides
National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides

DO YOU WANT TO CO-SPONSOR New York City Forum For Alternatives to
Pesticides

WHAT: We would like you to join with us as a cosponsor (no charge) for
one of the largest events ever in the New York City region to stop
widespread use of pesticides and adopt sensible alternative practices
and policies that are safe for people and the environment. This will
be an educational forum free and open to the public.

WHEN: October 14, 2000, from 2:30 - 6:00 pm

WHERE: Riverside Church in New York City (located near Columbia
University in Manhattan's Upper West Side and covers a two-block area
extending between Riverside Drive and Claremont Avenue and 120th
Street to 122nd Street)

WHO WILL BE SPEAKING: Ralph Nader will be speaking. Others invited
include Theo Colborn (author, Our Stolen Future), Lucy Waletsky, M.D.
(author), Deborah Wallace, (ecologist, Consumers' Union), Rodrick
Wallace (epidemiologist, Columbia University), Dwight Welch (EPA), New
York City elected officials, and others.

RESPOND BY TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3 TO BE LISTED ON POSTERS/ADVERTISEMENTS.
Phone: 202-543-5450 email: jke...@beyondpesticides.org fax:
202-543-4791 mail: 701 E Street, SE, #200, Washington, DC 20003

# # #

Joyce Shepard, CSW
Citizens' Action Committee for Change
E-Mail: Cact...@jps.net
Telephone: 718-279-2069
Facsimile: 718-279-3281

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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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