Bill Text: NJ SR31 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges DEP to require Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation to remove barrels of chemical waste from contaminated site in Dover Township, Ocean County.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-08 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee [SR31 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-SR31-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator ANDREW R. CIESLA
District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Urges DEP to require Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation to remove barrels of chemical waste from contaminated site in Dover Township, Ocean County.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution urging the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to require Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation to remove drums of chemical waste disposed in the company's landfill at its chemical plant in Dover Township, Ocean County.
Whereas, In 1952, Ciba-Geigy Corporation opened its 1,400 acre facility in Dover Township, Ocean County where it manufactured synthetic organic dyes, epoxy resin additives and pigments; and
Whereas, Chemical waste was disposed on the site in lined landfills, unlined landfills, lagoons, and other disposal sites; and
Whereas, Ciba-Geigy's plant in Dover Township was placed on the federal Superfund list in 1983 due to the presence of widespread soil and water contamination on the property; and
Whereas, In 1992, two former Ceiba-Geigy Corporation executives and the company admitted to illegally disposing of chemical wastes at the two landfills on the property; and
Whereas, In September 2001, a formal agreement was reached where Ciba-Geigy agreed to pay approximately $92 million to clean up 10 acres of property that is believed to be the source of groundwater pollution caused by a chemical plume emanating from the property; and
Whereas, In 2004 over 47,000 drums of chemical waste were removed from the unlined landfill on the property; and
Whereas, The lined landfill, which operated from 1977 to 1982, was never licensed to accept hazardous wastes, yet officials estimate that there are over 35,000 drums of waste remaining in the landfill at the site; and
Whereas, In 2003, Dover Township filed suit against Ciba-Geigy's successor, Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation, to force the company to remove the remaining drums of waste from the lined landfill; and
Whereas, In 2005, the Department of Environmental Protection requested that Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation remove the hazardous waste in the lined landfill because the landfill and its liner are nearing the end of their 30-year design limit, and because of concerns that the chemicals will leak from the drums and damage the liner; and
Whereas, Testing of groundwater monitoring wells by experts retained by Dover Township pursuant to a court order issued as a part of the township's lawsuit show that several hazardous substances, including known carcinogens, are present in the groundwater under and around the landfill; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection is urged to require the Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation to remove the drums of chemical waste that were disposed in the company's landfill at its chemical plant in Dover Township, Ocean County.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary thereof, shall be transmitted to the Commissioner of Environmental Protection.
STATEMENT
This resolution would urge the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to require the Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation to remove drums of chemical waste that were disposed in the company's landfill at its chemical plant in Dover Township, Ocean County.
In 1952, Ciba-Geigy Corporation opened its facility in Dover Township, Ocean County. Chemical wastes were disposed on the property in lagoons, an unlined landfill, a lined landfill and in other disposal sites on the property. The property in Dover Township was placed on the federal Superfund list in 1983 due to the presence of cancer causing chemicals on the property. The company's disposal practices on the property have caused extensive groundwater contamination. In 1992, two former Ciba-Geigy Corporation executives and the company admitted to illegally disposing of chemical wastes at the two landfills on the property. In 2004, over 47,000 drums of chemical waste were removed from the unlined landfill on the property. However, the lined landfill, which operated from 1977 to 1982, and which was never licensed to accept hazardous wastes, still contains over 35,000 drums of waste. In 2003, Dover Township filed suit against Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation to force the company to remove the remaining drums of waste from the lined landfill. In 2005, the Department of Environmental Protection requested that the company remove the hazardous waste in the lined landfill because the landfill and its liner are nearing the end of their 30-year design limit. Moreover, the department was concerned that the chemicals buried in drums in the lined landfill will leak and damage the liner. Recent testing of groundwater monitoring wells by experts retained by Dover Township pursuant to a court order issued as a part of the township's lawsuit show that several hazardous substances, including known carcinogens, are present in the groundwater under and around the landfill.
