NJDEP - Page 6 of 7 - THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG.

Posted on April 2, 2020April 1, 2020 by James — 1 Comment

Orchard School Soil Remediation Update

April 1, 2020

Dear Ridgewood School Community,

Yesterday, I received a Letter of Health Consultation (LHC) from the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) addressing health concerns related to possible exposure from contaminated fill at the Orchard Elementary School. As you may recall, we had been in consultation with the NJDOH to schedule a public meeting; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a public meeting is no longer an option. Please click here to view a copy of the NJDOH Letter of Health Consultation (LHC). The conclusion of the 11-page document is as follows:

Continue reading Orchard School Soil Remediation Update

Posted on March 18, 2020March 29, 2020 by James — 1 Comment

NJ State Parks and Forests Open for Walking, Hiking, Banjo Playing and Biking

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, During this time, state parks and forests will continue to be open to the public for hiking and other passive recreation. Community health is crucial right now and exercising (walking, hiking, and biking) while observing social distancing practices can help ensure public health.

Continue reading NJ State Parks and Forests Open for Walking, Hiking, Banjo Playing and Biking

Posted on March 4, 2020March 20, 2020 by James — 1 Comment

Dr. Fishbein provided an update on the soil remediation project at Orchard School

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, in the continuing saga of better late than never, Dr. Fishbein provided an update on the soil remediation project. A letter was sent to the community on February 28, 2020. The district received a second-opinion letter from LAN Associates LSRP Gerrit Visscher stating that they were in agreement with the Remedial Action Workplan that was submitted by WSP and approved by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The necessary soil permits have been submitted, and public bidding will begin in March. Dr. Fishbein contacted the New Jersey Department of Health to again request a date for the public meeting. Click here to view the presentation.

Posted on February 26, 2020February 25, 2020 by James — 2 Comments

Dr. Fishbein Updates the Orchard Soil Remediation

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Dr. Fishbein presented an update on the Orchard Elementary School soil remediation project. A letter was emailed to the district community on February 14, 2020, prior to the February recess. The Remedial Action Workplan (RAW) was submitted to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), and we received the NJDEP Alternative Remedy Approval. All of the documents associated with this project can be found on the Public Information page of the district website. To access this section of the website, please click here.

Dr. Fishbein shared that he has continued to make a weekly request to the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) for a date and time for the public meeting, but he was unable to secure a date yesterday. Dr. Fishbein hopes to schedule this meeting as soon as possible. This week, soil permits will be submitted to the Village of Ridgewood, Bergen County, and the NJDEP. Finally, the district is preparing to begin public bidding during March. Click here to view the presentation.

Posted on February 12, 2020February 11, 2020 by James — 4 Comments

Dr. Fishbein Provided an Update on the Soil Remediation Project at Orchard School

the staff of the Ridgewood bog

Ridgewood NJ, Dr. Fishbein provided an update on the soil remediation project. A letter was sent on February 7, 2020 to update the community on steps that have been taken since the last communication. Dr. Fishbein shared that NJDEP signage has been installed in three locations on the Orchard property. As a precautionary measure and to alleviate some concerns, additional mulch was installed on the playground.

Historic soil testing reports and other documentation was added to the dedicated page on the website. Dr. Fishbein has requested an earlier meeting date from the New Jersey Department of Health; however, at this time, he doesn’t have confirmation of the exact date and time of that public meeting. The district has consulted with an LSRP from LAN Associates, as well as a third recommended LSRP. The NJDEP deadline for completion of the remediation project is February 2021; however, the work must be done during the summer months. Click here to view the presentation.

Posted on February 8, 2020February 8, 2020 by James — 2 Comments

Orchard Elementary School Soil Remediation Plan Update

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, the Ridgewood Board of Education sent out and email addressing the latest updates concerning the status of Orchard School fields soil contamination .

Continue reading Orchard Elementary School Soil Remediation Plan Update

Posted on February 6, 2020February 5, 2020 by James — 3 Comments

Amazing three-year-long period the NJDEP has never visited (to my knowledge) the site during the “discharge activities”

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Derek Michalski

Upper Saddle River NJ, Wednesday January 29, 2020, twenty seven days after January 3, 2020 discharge/pumping/overflow (or whatever terminology you want to use describing releasing millions of gallons of brown water per week into Pleasant Brook/SaddleRiver) and 4 days after filing consecutive complaint with NJDEP Mr. Roy Otto representing Bergen County Soil Conversation representative visited the site on a clear sunny day. When I asked him why they never show up while Toll Brothers discharges the mud a/k/a “colloidal clay” he couldn’t answer and referred me to his bosses. To be honest I don’t suspect any foul play on his part but it is laughable that in three-year-long period they never visited (to my knowledge) the site during the “discharge activities”. He also advised me to send him any pics of pumping since he wasn’t present during any such activities. I connected him with Lisa Rozner from CBS who was eyewitness of such illegal in my opinion activities. Perhaps I am wrong and perhaps all major developers in the state of NJ hoist their 5 inch fire hoses and pump stormwater into neighbors’ ponds. Perhaps. That’s New Jersey for you. And to those officials who still live under the rock please refresh your memory and please watch Lisa’s program again: https://www.google.com/…/23/bergen-county-brown-streams/amp/

Posted on January 5, 2020January 5, 2020 by James — 3 Comments

ENVIRONMENT & HOME VALUES: Does drinking water quality affect house prices?

file photo by Derek Michalski

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Upper Saddle River NJ, ENVIRONMENT & HOME VALUES: Does drinking water quality affect house prices? GreenUSR home values are still in decline. How about air pollution and other forms of environmental impact (100 acres tree removal, etc.). Perhaps it is time to study the following concept?

Continue reading ENVIRONMENT & HOME VALUES: Does drinking water quality affect house prices?

Posted on September 26, 2019September 25, 2019 by James — 2 Comments

Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club,”We have a crisis in New Jersey when it comes to drinking water and crumbling infrastructure”

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, Today the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee will continue to take testimony from invited guests concerning the administration of the “Water Quality Accountability Act.” The 2017 law imposes certain testing, reporting, management, and infrastructure investment requirements on water purveyors. The law sets a limit of three violations before mitigation must be done. It also states that every water purveyor must implement an asset management plan designed to inspect, maintain, repair, and renew its infrastructure, as well as a cyber security plan. Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club released the following statement:

Posted on August 31, 2019August 31, 2019 by James — Leave a comment

Apple Ridge Stop Work Order Lifted by Upper Saddle River

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Upper Saddle River NJ, On August 28, 2019 the following email was sent to Toll Brother by Boswell Engineering lifting the Stop Work Order on that portion located in Upper Saddle River.

Please allow this email to summarize the chronology of this project since the issuance of a Stop Work Orders for this project on July 23, 2019. This email will also rescind the Stop Work Order issued on July 23, 2019 subject to the terms noted below.

Posted on August 13, 2019August 13, 2019 by James — 5 Comments

New Jersey Officials Continue to Drop the Ball on Newark’s Water Problems

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Newark NJ, after spending the better part of the last 2 years attacking everything that is “Trump”, New Jersey officials failed to take any action to fix Newark’s water problems . Several other New Jersey cities are currently facing a similar fate.

But in a joint statement issued Sunday afternoon, Gov. Phil Murphy and Mayor Ras Baraka said safe drinking water was critically important and called on the federal government to help.

The EPA tested and found high levels of lead with filters in two residences in Newark. The agency strongly encouraged the city of Newark to take immediate action. DEP Commissioner McCabe responded to EPA that, “EPA has not offered any support in providing bottled water to the city or in distributing that bottled water. Given the concerns EPA has here, we hope that EPA will offer assistance promptly.”

Posted on May 17, 2019June 27, 2021 by James — 1 Comment

New Jersey Sierra Club : DEP Must Hold Public Hearing on Ringwood Superfund Settlement

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the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ringwood NJ, The New Jersey Sierra Club sent a letter to DEP Commissioner Catherine McCabe requesting a public hearing for the Consent Decree regarding cleanup of the Ford Superfund site in Ringwood. The letter also asked to extend the public comment period from 60 to 120 days. NJSC noted the complexity of the site and the public interest in the issues involved in making the requests. The EPA recently struck a $21 million settlement with the Ford Motor Company and Ringwood on a plan to cap hazardous materials on the site. (See NJSC letter to DEP attached)

Posted on March 26, 2019March 26, 2019 by James — Leave a comment

NJDEP Goes after 5 Chemical Companies for Millions of Dollars Due to Contamination

Its all about the money while local polluters are ignored NJDEP goes after deep pockets .

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Trenton NJ, Clean Water Aciton praised NJDEP announcement today identifying 5 chemical companies — Solvay, DuPont, Dow DuPont, Chemours and 3M — as “responsible for extensive contamination and directing them to fund millions of dollars in assessment and cleanup efforts” (see NJDEP release embedded below).

Posted on February 19, 2019February 18, 2019 by James — 1 Comment

Reader says ,”Mayor of Saddle River has no interest in protecting our (Drinking)wells”

“I live along the River in Saddle River and have been complaining to our Mayor and Administrator about this for over 1 year now. Al Kurpis the Mayor of Saddle River has no interest in protecting our wells. He has done nothing to help protect the residents of Saddle River’s who live along the river, He actually told Upper Saddle River Residents he was too busy with the Town Election in 2018 to get involved, to reach out after June and to date has done nothing to keep the residents water safe in our town. In fact in the last few years he was working on a plan to sell our Water to Suez…Crazy Idea that was, thank goodness we had a few council members who saw the potential impact of that on our town. The DEP actually permitted this project allowing them to pump the contaminated water into the Pleasant Brook which flows into The Saddle River…Someone at the DEP needs their heads examined. “

Posted on December 11, 2018January 20, 2019 by James — 8 Comments

Village of Ridgewood Kings Pond NJDEP Permit Application Plans

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Kings Pond Park, including the associated Gypsy Pond Park, is a public, municipal park spanning close to the entire length of Goffle Brook through the village of Ridgewood in Bergen County, New Jersey. It is the second largest wildscape in the village of Ridgewood and one of the larger wooded areas along the lower Bergen-Passaic border.

Kings Pond NJDEP Permit Application Plans https://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/engineering/projects/kingspond/18035KingsPondNJDEPPermAppPlans.pdf

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