Published in the Asbury Park Press
By LAWRENCE MEEGAN
CORRESPONDENT
DOVER TOWNSHIP -- A state permit allowing landfill cell 3 at the old Ciba-Geigy site on Route 37 to continue operating was renewed on June 28, and ownership transferred to Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corp. But the Township Committee didn't find out until after it happened.
Was that wrong?
Not according to Sukhdev Bhalla, chief of the Bureau of Landfill and Recycling, a branch of
the state Department of Environmental Protection. He spoke at a special meeting held by the DEP at the municipal building last night, scheduled after Dover Township Committee members complained about being kept out of the renewal process.
The DEP does not require a public hearing when a landfill permit is renewed, altered or transferred, Bhalla said.
Township Committeeman John M. Furey said residents should have been aware of what happened.
"Regardless of what's required, the DEP needs to be more sensitive to the needs of Dover Township," he said. "We need to let the residents of Dover know what is going on out there and not have to speculate."
Bhalla acknowledged Furey's point, saying the DEP took note of that concern.
Bruce W. Anderson, director of Toxic Environment Affects Children's Health, a citizens group, questioned the condition of the drums buried in the landfill.
Bhalla said the landfill is surrounded by monitoring wells that show the drums to be intact and not leaking.
Peter Hibbard, a member of Ocean County Citizens for Clean Water, which was formed in response to pollution at the Ciba site, said his group now has a good working relationship with Ciba-Geigy's successor, Ciba Speciality Chemicals Corp.
Kenneth J. Dupuis, site manager for Ciba, said Hibbard's remarks were "an indication of how far the relationship has come and the credibility that Ciba has established in the community. These people have a mission, and that's to clean up that site."
Dupuis said Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corp. resulted from the merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz Corp. in 1996. The new corporation, Novartis, formed the new chemical division, which has the responsibility of maintaining the landfill.
The landfill permit comes up for renewal every five years. Nelson Hausman, section chief for the Bureau of Landfill and Recycling, estimated that the landfill will be filled to capacity within two years. At that time, the three cells will be sealed and monitored for leakage.
Hibbard said he was disappointed with the turnout last night -- about five people attended -- but added that the Dover committee's periodic meetings with the federal Environmental Protection Agency are also poorly attended.
"Where are the educators?" he asked. "Where are the county officials?"
Published on December 6, 2001
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