Schedler Berm Mystery Solved: Was the Ridgewood Removal a DEP Mandate? Here’s the Chemical Truth

Net Result of Removal of Toxic Schedler Berm is a larger playing field

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

The Schedler Berm: A Tale of Chemical Contamination in Ridgewood

Ridgewood N J, The removal of the large berm at the Schedler property in Ridgewood, NJ, has been a topic of intense local discussion. Was this costly and visible project simply to make room for a larger athletic field, as some residents believe? Or was the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJ DEP) involved due to environmental concerns?

The answer, straight from a top state official, sheds crucial light on the necessity of the removal project.

Tom Farrell, CHMM, Chief of the Bureau of Solid Waste Compliance & Enforcement (BSWC&E) for the State of New Jersey, confirmed that the removal was, in fact, driven by chemical contamination found within the imported fill material.

Why the Berm Had to Go: The DEP’s Official Stance

When asked directly whether the berm’s removal was a DEP requirement, Mr. Farrell explained his bureau’s role is to ensure that imported fill material does not meet the definition of solid waste as defined by NJAC 7:26-1.6.

This definition has two distinct triggers:

1. Visual Trigger: Looking for visible debris (like asphalt chunks or construction waste).

2. Chemical Trigger: Detecting unsafe levels of chemical contaminants in samples.

Mr. Farrell stated that while the berm looked relatively clean visually (very little material that would visually trigger the definition of solid waste), the chemical analysis told a different story:

“Several samples have depicted that it has chemically triggered the definition of solid waste.“

The Village’s Choice: Minimize or Remove All?

The presence of solid waste meant that the Village of Ridgewood, as the responsible party, faced a decision regarding the cleanup:

• Option 1 (Delineate): Spend time and money on extensive additional sampling to precisely map and minimize the contaminated areas, removing only those sections. This carries the risk of leaving small, undetected contaminated pockets.

• Option 2 (Full Removal): Forgo the expense and uncertainty of delineation and remove the entire berm to ensure all contamination is eliminated.

Mr. Farrell noted that the Village of Ridgewood chose the latter option.

While the final result allows for a larger field, the environmental trigger was the reason for the extensive, mandated excavation. The berm was chemically compromised, and the decision to remove it entirely was the most certain path to regulatory compliance and environmental safety.

It confirms that the underlying issue forcing the major construction was environmental protection under DEP guidelines, the net Result being space for a larger  Schedler field sports complex.

The bigger story remains is who signed off on the toxic soil and will they be help accountable ?

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