Potentially Toxic Soil Found Near Montclair Elementary School

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Montclair workers have found a large quantity of potentially hazardous soil near Edgemont School along Edgemont Road which may require remediation, town officials say.

During the Montclair Township Council meeting on Aug. 9, township engineer Kim Craft and contractors Victor and Angela Stanziale told attendees that a project to widen the street in front of the school to create a drop-off zone has turned up a large amount of potentially toxic ash.

The project’s contractors stated that they plan to test the soil for toxicity levels to determine if it must be shipped to a landfill in Pennsylvania, a contingency that would add around $20,000 to the project’s total cost.

The Stanziales said that they anticipate the project should be complete by Aug. 31, six days before school begins for the new year.

2nd Ward Councilwoman Robin Schlager, who lives near the school, expressed concern about the storage method of the excavated soil, which was kept under a tarp in front of the school. The contractors replied that the soil is “well-covered” and protected from from human, animal, or weather contact.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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