Public Comment On Ciba-Geigy Proposal In Toms River Extended

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has agreed to extend the public comment period on its controversial proposed settlement with BASF on natural resources damages at the Ciba-Geigy property, officials announced Monday.

Save Barnegat Bay, which organized a forum on Jan. 25 to collect public comment from residents on the proposal to preserve 1,000 acres of the property, part of which is a Superfund site, as open space, and leave BASF with 250 acres it could develop, said it had received word from NJDEP officials that more time to comment would be announced.

"Please note the Department intends to extend the public notice-and-comment period again. The next available NJ Register for us to submit a proposal in time for publication is the March 6th edition of the NJ Register. A 30-day notice-and-comment period starting on March 6, 2023, will conclude on April 5, 2023," Save Barnegat Bay officials quoted NJDEP officials as saying.

The proposed natural resources damages settlement with the chemical corporation was announced Dec. 5, initially with a Jan. 6 deadline for public comment. But NJDEP officials extended it to Feb. 3 in response to an outcry over the fact that it had offered just 30 days instead of its standard 60 days for comment.

The proposal has been severely criticized because Toms River officials were not consulted or included in the negotiations on the settlement.

Toms River Mayor Maurice Hill said the settlement gives BASF the ability to make more money off the site, after already receiving $17 million from the township courtesy of a property tax appeal because the company successfully argued the Superfund status made the property worthless.

Read more: Ciba-Geigy Proposal Blasted On Lack Of Toms River Input, Transparency

Save Barnegat Bay now is lobbying NJDEP to hold public meetings to collect comment and answer residents questions about the settlement. Those interested can sign their petition.