Representative Mikie Sherrill Visits Chatham Landfill

CHATHAM, NJ - U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill along with EPA Regional Director Peter Lopez and NJDEP Commissioner Catherine McCabe toured the Rolling Knolls Superfund site in Chatham Tuesday to check in on cleanup efforts.

The Rolling Knolls landfill site is a portion of the nearly 200-acre site was used primarily as a municipal landfill for just over 30 years. The landfill operated from the early 1930's to 1968 and received waste from various parties, including household garbage, construction and demolition debris, industrial waste, septic waste and scrap metal.

Established in 1980, the federal Superfund program helps the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to clean up some of the most heavily polluted and contaminated sites across the country. And almost four decades later, the program is still "essential" to New Jersey's 11th District, its Congressional representative says.

Sherrill visited Superfund sites in Chatham Township, Rockaway Township, Rockaway Borough and Fairfield.Pointing out that New Jersey has more Superfund sites than any other state in the nation, Sherrill said clean-up is "essential" for the health and well-being of residents in the 11th District.

"This tour brought together federal, state, and local officials so we can better coordinate on the particular issues at each site and understand the environmental and health impact on our communities," Sherrill said.

The first-year congresswoman requested more funding in March for the Superfund program from the House Appropriations Committee, and in June, voted for a $55 million increase over current funding levels for the program.

Last week's visits were the second Superfund site tour for Sherrill since she took her seat in January. In February, she toured the Mansfield Trail Dump in Byram, Sussex County.

Superfund cleanups have had bipartisan support in the 11th District for years. The Democratic legislator's Republican predecessor, recently retired Rodney Frelinghuysen, also made regular visits to Superfund sites within the district.

After initial investigations, EPA placed the site on the Superfund program’s National Priorities List in September 2003. A Superfund site is any land in the United States that has been contaminated by hazardous waste and identified by the EPA as a candidate for cleanup because it poses a risk to human health and/or the environment.

This post contains reporting by Eric Kiefer.

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