Bernards asks state to require more environmental testing at Millington Quarry

Posted via MyCentralJersey.com:

A consultant's report to the state filed on behalf of the township calls for additional and more stringent testing of soil and water at the Millington Quarry, and cites elevated levels of arsenic in a pond on the property.

But an attorney for the quarry said in a written response issued Thursday Feb. 4, that the amount of arsenic reported in a drainage pond on the quarry property is only slightly above state standards, and may be naturally occurring.

A state Department of Environmental Protection spokesman said Monday Feb. 8, that the state is awaiting a formal report dated Jan. 26 from the township's consultant, Icon Engineering.

"The report would have to be reviewed after it is received," Larry Hanja, DEP spokesman said in an e-mail on Monday. "The department would most likely then issue a written response to the report," he said.

Hanja also said in the e-mail he was could not comment on the supposed arsenic levels.

Mayor Scott Spitzer said the township wants more in-depth testing of the entire site. The 190-acre quarrying operation off Stone House Road is eventually planned for redevelopment as a residential neighborhood, but the DEP first requires that any potential contamination be cleaned up.

Icon's report also criticized the quarry's testing procedures, and said the presence of concrete, brick and other building debris indicates a portion of the fill, brought in during past years to fill in quarried areas, came from demolition sites.

Concerns about possible contamination in the soil being trucked in led to a lawsuit by the township against the quarry owner and operator. As a result, additional soil has not been brought in during the past year.

In the meantime, the quarry owner and its operator, Tilcon New York, entered into an agreement with the DEP to test soil and water at the Stone House Road facility, and to provide samples to Icon Engineering for testing.

"Results of all sampling are being provided on a preliminary basis to the NJDEP," quarry attorney Mark Morgan said Thursday.

Morgan said the quarry will work with the DEP to perform any remediation plan for cleaning up quarry property, if the state requires it.

Morgan also said the quarry owner and operator believe that arsenic is naturally occurring in soils and groundwater in the area, although the quarry intends to investigate and analyze that further.

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