Berkeley Officials Stand With Toms River In Ciba-Geigy Settlement

BERKELEY, NJ — Berkeley Township officials are taking a stand against a proposed settlement by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection that would turn 1,000 acres of the former Ciba-Geigy site in Toms River into a nature preserve.

The proposal, first announced in early December, has drawn controversy from Toms River officials and residents alike, who criticized a lack of transparency and input from township officials. Read more: Ciba-Geigy Proposal Blasted On Lack Of Toms River Input, Transparency

At a recent Berkeley Township Council meeting, officials introduced a resolution formally supporting Toms River in asking for stricter penalties against chemical company BASF.

The site was purchased by BASF in 2008, and all remedial activities are currently BASF's responsibility under EPA's oversight, an EPA update from Jan. 17 notes.

"This doesn't affect Berkeley directly," said Business Administrator John Camera. "But the Township of Toms River was very upset with all the costs that they feel they've had to incur and will continue to incur because of the damage that Ciba-Geigy did."

Camera said that Toms River officials asked if neighboring towns would consider passing a resolution supporting them, saying that the penalty should be stronger against Ciba-Geigy.

Toms River Mayor Maurice Hill and the Township Council, along with state Sen. James Holzapfel and Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and John Catalano of the 10th District, the Ocean County Board of Commissioners and the Greater Toms River Chamber of Commerce have spoken out in opposition to the settlement.

Previous coverage:

• Ciba-Geigy Site Settlement Would Preserve 1,000 Acres As Open Space
• Ciba-Geigy Settlement Can't Overlook Cancer Cluster: Toms River Mayor
• Speak Out On Ciba-Geigy Proposal At Meeting, Toms River Council Urges

Information about the ongoing EPA-led remediation at the Ciba-Geigy site can read here.

Read more about the Ciba-Geigy site:

• Reflections On 'Chemical Town'
• Book Explores Toms River's Toxic History With Industrial Pollution
• Ciba-Geigy Corp. Proposes Multimillion-Dollar Settlement

This article contains additional reporting by Karen Wall.