Published in the Asbury Park Press
By JEAN MIKLE
TOMS RIVER BUREAU
TOMS RIVER -- Dover Township Committeeman John F. Russo Jr. said he will not support acquisition of uncontaminated land at the former Ciba-Geigy Corp. Superfund site for recreational use.
"I don't think it's a good idea," Russo said at Tuesday night's committee caucus meeting. "There are plenty of other places in town that would be better."
Russo said many residents believe the entire Ciba tract -- nearly 1,400 acres -- is contaminated. The company's manufacturing operations happened on about 200 to 300 acres of land, and much of the rest of the property has remained untouched.
But he said residents' perceptions of the contamination at Ciba make it an unsuitable place to put fields. He also said he fears that in the future, it may be discovered that there is contamination on land the township is considering for recreational use.
In January, acting Gov. John O. Bennett, R-Monmouth, signed a law setting aside $15 million in state Green Acres funds for the purchase of up to 750 acres of unpolluted land at the Ciba site, now owned by Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corp.
The company last fall signed an agreement with the federal Environmental Protection Agency on the method to be used to clean up contaminated sites on the property. Ciba is expected to pay about $92 million for the site cleanup.
Last week, a majority of Township Committee members agreed to ask the township's professional staff to begin preparing plans for recreational use of the unpolluted portions of the Ciba site.
The vote was greeted enthusiastically by an audience of coaches and recreation officials, who have complained for years that Dover does not have enough playing space for the thousands of children involved in recreational sports.
Russo said the township is already moving ahead with plans to add more fields, including working with the Toms River Regional school district to develop a recreation complex in the Pleasant Plains area.
Published in the Asbury Park Press 6/07/02
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