Former NJ Asbestos Plant Site Returns As Diamond in Rough
Monday, August 17th, 2009A developer broke ground this month on new recreational fields for Berkeley Heights, New Jersey on 13 acres once contaminated with asbestos and oil spills.
The township of Berkeley Heights and Union County purchased the property for $13 million in 2004 to preserve it as open space and multi-use recreational fields. But before the public could use it, it required decontamination, The Star-Ledger reported.
American Asbestos had operated plant on the site until 1952, then Shaw Plastics and Barry Fuels, a petroleum products distributor, had operations there. New Jersey environmental officials with the Department of Environmental Protection said American Asbestos apparently used asbestos to fill low-lying areas of site.
Nearly 42,000 tons of contaminated soil was removed from the land and shipped to out-of-state facilities, paving the way for the current project. The cleanup — initially projected to cost $1 million — cost $6.5 million, which was paid by Robbinsbrook, LLC, the site developer that sold the land to the township and the county.
In June, Union County leaders authorized a $3.8 million contract with Applied Landscape Technologies of Montville, New Jersey for development of the property.
“In this age of environmental awareness, it is fitting that a former plastics factory and a former fuel depot are making for a beautiful new park,” said Alexander Mirabella, chairman of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
