Despite Drownings, Deaths, Hundreds Pack Heritage Minerals Site; 221 Citations Issued: PD

MANCHESTER, NJ — It is 7,000 acres of forested land in the middle of the Pine Barrens, its only blemishes the remains of mining operations that shut down nearly 40 years ago.

The property, which includes Crystal Lake, a massive aquifer-fed body of water at the center of created by the mining operation, is a persistent draw for off-road adventurers and for those looking for relief from the summer heat.

For Manchester Township officials, however, the property is a persistent sore spot, because of the multiple deaths that have happened and the complaints of residents frustrated by the noise coming from trespassers in the form of all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes and loud parties by the lake.

Over the weekend, Manchester police responded with a crackdown that resulted in 221 citations, Manchester Capt. Vincent Manco said Monday.

The three-day operation — Friday, Saturday and Sunday — was a direct response to noise and parking complaints from residents in the adjoining neighborhoods of Suncrest Village, Pine Acres Manor, Summit Park, and Leisure Village West, Manco said.

Police found hundreds of people trespassing at the former Heritage Minerals site, Manco said; the citations included municipal ordinance violations, criminal violations and motor vehicle-related violations. The overwhelming majority of those police charged were from North Jersey, Manco said, with some from Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York. Only a few were from Ocean County, he said.

"Quality of life issues for Manchester residents and public safety have been and will remain the focus of the Manchester Police Department as it continues to address the issues involving Heritage Minerals," Manchester Police Chief Robert Dolan said.

Manchester police have been faced with the issues for years.

The property, which sits along Route 70, was originally owned and operated by ASARCO (American Smelting and Refining Company), which mined the site for minerals including uranium and thorium. It was later sold to Heritage Minerals, which processed some of the mining remains for zircon and titanium oxide, according to documents from the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Mining ceased in the early 1980s.

Because of the size of the site, there are multiple ways people can get onto the property illegally, including access points in Berkeley, Lakehurst and Toms River in addition to Manchester, Manco said.

The property currently is owned by Hovsons and is marked with dozens of "No Trespassing" signs. Parts are fenced, but the fencing hasn't been a deterrent for those who want to go off-roading at the site.

Because of the nature of the mining operations, however, the site is filled with dangers, particularly the area of the lake. Unlike the banks of a naturally occurring lake, which have layers of hard dirt that creates a firm surface, the banks of Crystal Lake and the smaller lakes within ASARCO have soft, sandy sides that give way easily and quickly change from relatively shallow water to drop-offs of 60 feet in a matter of a few feet. The largest lake is estimated at as much as 300 feet deep.

In addition, because the water is from underground aquifers — the Cohansey aquifer is nearby — the lake water is extremely cold, which can lead to muscle cramping and can cause swimmers to tire much more quickly. The mineral levels of the water also reduce a person's ability to float in it.

There have been at least six drownings,including a Cliffside Park man who died a year ago while trying to swim at the lake. A Plainfield man drowned in July 2020, and the Manchester community mourned one of its own, 17-year-old Manchester student Denasia Davis, in 2015.

It's not just the drownings, however. Manchester police have been called to multiple ATV crashes at the site over the years, including a fatal crash in December 2020. Stephen McGuire, 44, of Howell, is still awaiting trial on vehicular homicide charges in that crash, which killed James Grover, 62, of Howell. Authorities say McGuire was intoxicated when he crashed an ATV into the lake at the Heritage Minerals site. Grover and three kids were passengers at the time of the crash. McGuire and the children escaped, but Grover and the ATV did not resurface, authorities said.

Manchester police have cracked down in the past, seizing ATVs and arresting people on trespassing charges, and Manco said police will continue to enforce the "No Trespassing" at the site.

The police department issued a reminder, saying: "The Manchester Township Police Department would like to remind the public that the Heritage Minerals or 'ASARCO' site is private property. It is closed for recreational and/or other use and it is a criminal offense to enter or remain on the property."

Trespassers are subject to hefty fines and penalties up to and including incarceration for being on the property, police said.