Published in the Asbury Park Press
By LYNN DUCEY
TOMS RIVER BUREAU
TOMS RIVER -- Residents last night wanted assurances from officials the Ciba Superfund site will not present any surprises to future homeowners in the area.
At a meeting at the Dover Township municipal building held to discuss a plan to remove buried drums and treat contaminated soil at the site, federal Environmental Protection Agency representatives said about 250 to 300 acres of the 1,350 acres of the Ciba property would contain deed restrictions after crews leave.
Residents said they were concerned that, 20 or 30 years from now, unsuspecting homeowners would discover their homes were built on or near a Superfund site. That discovery could prevent the home from being resold and pose questions about the long-term health effects of living so close to a once-contaminated area.
Romona Pezzella, project manager, said deed restrictions would bar homes and excavation or underground work because of the continued, but low level, presence of contaminants.
The remaining acreage would not have the limitations and once again be subject to local zoning laws, she said.
"That's something that could be incredibly bad for the homeowner," said Clare Rutz, a member of the Dover Township Planning Board.
Rutz noted that people quickly forget and, with so many people moving to Ocean County, new residents may not know about the history of the property off Route 37 west.
Herbert J. Germann, here, suggested that the company donate the land as a forest preserve.
But Doug Hefferin, Ciba vice president for remediation sites, said the time when environmental crews sign off on the property is a long way off.
Before doing anything with the property, Hefferin said, the company's "sense is that we would have a dialogue with the community."
Published on June 16, 2000
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