Marchers Announce Rally Opposing Ciba-Geigy Deal In Toms River

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Save Barnegat Bay and Silverton Farms are joining forces to host a "Pep Rally for the River" to continue the fight against a state settlement over the Ciba-Geigy Superfund site.

The rally is set for Sunday, Nov. 12 at Silverton Farms, 1520 Silverton Road, Toms River.

The pep rally was part of the message Save Barnegat Bay volunteers delivered Tuesday evening as they marched in the Toms River Fire Company 1 Halloween Parade, pushing barrels of "toxic" goo while dressed in hazmat suits.

The group carried signs as well, saying "When the DEP backs big business, Ocean County is left to clean up our home on our own" and "When chemical corps win, small towns lose. Tell the DEP to back our bay not big business."

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection announced its finalized settlement with BASF, the international firm that owns the former Ciba-Giegy property, on Aug. 16, after months of arguments from Toms River that the proposal did nothing to address the damage suffered by the town and its residents.

The Ciba-Geigy property off Oak Ridge Parkway was deemed a Superfund site in the 1980s because of the level of contamination at the site from chemical manufacturing that went on unchecked for years.

Toms River officials have said the town was excluded from any meaningful input on the settlement while having borne significant costs over the years, including a multimillion-dollar tax appeal that BASF ultimately won.

Save Barnegat Bay and Toms River have filed an appeal asking New Jersey's Appellate Court to overturn the settlement, calling it "a sweetheart deal" that violates the New Jersey Constitution along with the Spill Compensation and Control Act and Toms River zoning ordinances.

The "Pep Rally for the River", set for noon to 5 p.m. on Nov. 12, is a fundraiser to continue to support Save Barnegat Bay in its ongoing efforts to appeal the settlement.

"It will be an afternoon of live music, food, drinks, games, and a chance to meet our expert team," Save Barnegat Bay said in its announcement. Questions can be directed to outreach@savebarnegatbay.org