Photo: contaminated piles at Scientific Glass site in Sept. 2006





Also look at photos on: www.geocities.com/thirdriverbank/news1.html



In spite of recent attempts to meet DEP requirements, the coverings over the contaminated debris piles on the SGA site are regularly breached as this photo shows.

 

After repeated calls to the township Board of Health (the department which is supposed to protect the health of the community) we finally saw better covers on the piles, but, apparently still not strong enough.



Follows are the comments made to the town council on 9/5/2006: (http://www.bloomfieldtwpnj.com/agenda_minutes.htm)

    Nick Joanow stated that he brought with him a letter that was sent to Bloomfield Health Director Trevor Weigle on August 11, 2006, and he would like to read it for the record, and it read as follows:
    “The remedial action work plan of July 2005 for the Scientific Glass site stated that the pulverized mountains of foundation debris must be covered by 6 milligram polyethylene sheen, and to date, this mandate has not been consistently adhered to by Boswell Engineering.”
    Mr. Joanow stated that he contacted Mr. Nicosia at the Board of Health regarding this matter in February, and again in April 2006, and after both of his complaints, Boswell Engineering partially covered some of the debris piles, but the covers were soon destroyed by the weather, and no further attempts were made to fix the deficiency.  He stated that unfortunately the problem persists and homeowners surrounding the site are concerned for our health and safety.  He stated that on August 5, 2006, he left a message on Mr. Nicosia’s voice mail regarding the exposed debris piles, and has not received a response, nor have the piles been covered. 
     He stated that while he is very concerned that Boswell is not following the procedures clearly laid out in the law, he is concerned that the piles of debris continue to remain on site, even while the developer has been remediating the site for six years.  He would like a return call and a follow-up letter explaining what steps are being taken to ensure the surrounding neighbors of the Scientific Glass site can feel confidents that the procedures set up to protect their health by the NJ DEP are being adhered to consistently. 
      He stated that it is his understanding that it is the responsibility of the Board of Health to enforce the remedial action work plan agreed to by the developer, and it is also his understanding that based on State Regulations NJAC8:52 that the ten essential public health services that it is incumbent upon the Health Department to enforce the laws and regulations that protect and ensure our safety.  He said that the DEP, upon review of the debris piles, stated that contamination is present in the debris piles in excess of the DEP’s criteria.  He stated that this was dated July 7, 2006, which was prior to the pulverization of those debris piles, which added dust and debris into the air.  He stated that we pleaded through an environmental clinic with Rutgers University to have the foundations tested, but this was unfortunately ignored.  He stated that he is highly suspicious that what is called “dust litigation” is a garden hose over a one hundred by one hundred foot area, which is atrocious, and upon further constant badgering; we finally got to the point where a connection was made to the hydrant.
         He stated that it amounts to is that the safety and health of member of this community have been ignored in terms of dollars and cents.  He stated that the DEP stated that it is cheaper to recycle and pulverize on site at approximately $5.00 per ton, versus $70.00 to remove, so the whole emphasis here by Boswell is economics, and certainly not the safety of our residents.  He stated that we have created a long paper trail of documented evidence regarding the abuses and neglectful behaviors on this site in terms of the remediation. 
        He stated that we are asking for protection as residents, and if the Board of Health and the members of this governing body, cannot protect our safety, then why govern it.  He stated that these pile sat on this site for months uncovered, and it is mandated that they be covered.  He stated that the residents need help to enforce the remediation that is being conducted on this site, and the local boards are our first line of defense, so please help the residents, thank you.                                   
    At this time, Mayor McCarthy asked Ms. Palagano to make sure Mr. Weigle has this letter, and please get a response for the Council, thank you.  "