TOMS RIVER, NJ – The state of New Jersey is moving forward with their plan to turn 1,050 acres of the toxic Ciba-Geigy Superfund site responsible for a reported cancer cluster into a public park. The New Jersey DEP recently hosted a poster meeting to show residents their plan for the future, but that plan doesn’t include listening to the residents or local officials.
A lawsuit initiated by former Toms River Mayor Maurice Hill and Save Barnegat Bay is still ongoing against the state to prevent the project, but the state doesn’t seem phased by the lawsuit.
The state recently launched a website that details the project with timelines and information about the planned amenities at this new park, sitting atop one of New Jersey’s most notorious federal Superfund sites. That plan also calls for the current owner, BASF, to keep 200 acres to sell and develop for housing and commercial use.
Local officials and residents have been kept at an arms length during the entire process.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and BASF Corp finalized a settlement agreement regarding the restoration of natural resources at the Ciba-Geigy Superfund Site in Toms River, Ocean County. This landmark settlement mandates BASF to preserve around 1,000 acres of land to protect groundwater resources indefinitely, addressing historical damage caused by the chemical manufacturing operations of Ciba-Geigy.
To further address ecological damages, BASF is tasked with designing and implementing nine restoration projects across 375 acres of the preserved land. These projects, shaped by community input, aim to enhance public engagement with and awareness of natural resources through the development of an environmental education center, walkways, and interpretative aids.
Following extensive public involvement, including a public comment period and a session in Toms River, the NJDEP introduced several revisions to the agreement.
However, those who requested that BASF pays for damages caused by the Superfund site have been largely ignored.
Enhancements include an increased contribution from BASF to the DEP’s Office of Natural Resource Restoration, additional land designated for conservation, extended funding for project maintenance, and a stipulation that BASF remains responsible for the restoration efforts until potentially transferred with DEP approval.
The Ciba-Geigy Superfund Site, a 1,255-acre tract where chemical production occurred from 1952 until 1996, has been under remediation to mitigate hazardous substance discharges. BASF, which acquired the site during these efforts, will continue its mandated remediation work independent of the settlement’s natural resource restoration commitments.
