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State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 2007

Contact: Elaine Makatura  (609) 292-2994
Lawrence Hajna (609) 984-1795

ASBESTOS REMOVAL PAVES WAY FOR BERKELEY HEIGHTS
 RECREATION  COMPLEX

(07/49) TRENTON - Under the oversight of the Department of Environmental Protection, a developer has completed the removal of 42,000 tons of asbestos-contaminated soils from industrial properties in Berkeley Heights, clearing the way for development of a new recreation complex for the community, DEP Commissioner Lisa P. Jackson announced today.

“The DEP was instrumental in focusing the developer and local officials on cleanup strategies for this site, thereby facilitating the complete removal of contaminated materials,” Commissioner Jackson said. “As a result, local residents will benefit by getting a first-rate community center on land that had been unproductive.”

Site developer Robbinsbrook LLC recently completed the $6.5 million project, removing soil contaminated with asbestos and petroleum hydrocarbons from the former Shaw Plastics and Barry Fuel properties on Snyder Avenue. The materials were disposed in out-of-state landfills.
Using DEP guidelines, the developer also determined that about half the materials from demolished buildings were contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons and required landfill disposal.

Until 1952, American Asbestos operated a plant at the site of what would become Shaw Plastics. It is believed that American Asbestos used asbestos to fill in low-lying areas.  In addition, numerous spills occurred over the years at the site of Barry Fuel, a petroleum products distributor.

As a result of the completion of the cleanup, the DEP has issued a no further action determination certifying that the site meets the department’s unrestricted use criteria. Berkeley Heights and Union County plan to develop the 18-acre property with sports fields, a community center, and a park.

A previous developer initially planned a residential development for the property. As a result,  case managers from DEP’s Site Remediation Program worked closely with the developer and local officials to ensure the properties would be cleaned up to the unrestricted use standard. This remained the department’s goal even when township voters decided in a subsequent referendum that they did not want residences on the property.

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Last Updated: December 12, 2007