Township Funding for Environmental Management Services Landfill Questioned

Gloucester Township Council approved a resolution on first reading that authorizes various improvements to Blackwood Lake Dame and allows for a portion of the costs of closure, remediation and related activities with respect to the Gloucester Environmental Management Services Landfill at its meeting Monday night at the municipal complex.

The ordinance allocates $1,690,110 and authorizes the township to borrow $1,609,620 for the improvements, and to provide for the costs of closure, remediation and related activity with respect

The Township noted that specific details on the Blackwood Lake Dam project are available in the Township Clerk’s Office.

However, one resident expressed concern that a $1.26 million cash call from Gloucester Township to the Gloucester Environmental Management Services Landfill requested in 2010 and filled in 2011 was unaccounted for.

She said the Township should consider that before putting more money into the project. She also said she’d like to see more transparency in the process.

The latest payment for this project is about $851,000 from the Township toward a $2.5 million total.

A trust to cap and close the landfill was established in the 1970’s due to contamination risks. and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is tasked with the project.

The landfill covers 60 acres in the township, and although it is zoned for industrial purposes, the surrounding area is zoned residential.

The site is closed and fenced off, and is maintained by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, which will often make cash calls on the entities involved for help with various aspects of the site.

Gloucester Township is one of 16 entities involved, and its contributions make up 34 percent of the total cost of a 30-year remediation project.

While the Township doesn’t have autonomous jurisdiction over the project, Council said it would investigate what happened to the previous funding, Business Administrator Tom Cardis said following the meeting.