SEASIDE PARK, N.J. – The Borough of Seaside Park, the Seaside Park Historical Society and Save Barnegat Bay will host a public screening Tuesday evening of the documentary From Sea to Shining Sea, exploring the legacy of the former Ciba-Geigy chemical plant and its impact on Toms River and Barnegat Bay.
The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Seaside Park Council Chambers.
Organizers describe the documentary as a deeply personal look at the environmental contamination that affected generations of Jersey Shore families and continues to shape debates over cleanup and redevelopment of the former Superfund site.
A chemical giant that left a lasting legacy
The former Toms River Chemical Company, later known as Ciba-Geigy, began manufacturing dyes, plastics and industrial chemicals on a sprawling property west of Toms River in the early 1950s.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, decades of industrial operations resulted in contamination of groundwater, nearby streams and surrounding areas after chemical waste was disposed of in lagoons, buried on-site and released into the environment.
The contamination eventually reached municipal drinking water supplies, leading to the closure of several public wells, while additional pollution entered the Toms River and ultimately Barnegat Bay.
The site was added to the EPA’s National Priorities List as a Superfund site in 1983.
Research into elevated childhood cancer rates in Toms River drew national attention during the 1990s and 2000s. While scientific studies identified a childhood cancer cluster, researchers found evidence suggesting environmental exposures may have contributed to some cases but did not conclude that every illness could be directly attributed to contamination from the Ciba-Geigy site.
Cleanup continues as redevelopment debate grows
Although manufacturing operations ended decades ago, groundwater treatment and environmental remediation continue under EPA oversight.
More recently, debate has shifted toward a proposed Natural Resource Damage settlement between BASF, which acquired Ciba-Geigy’s assets, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
The proposed agreement would preserve roughly 1,000 acres as open space and an environmental education area while allowing BASF to retain approximately 200 acres considered suitable for future development.
Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick has voted against such measures and pledged to fight development proposals by the state, backed by his local opposition leaders to turn the once-deadly toxic site into a city.
“The residents of Toms River have suffered enough,” Rodrick said when the state, backed by local political leaders pushed the project initially.
The proposal has generated opposition from environmental organizations, including Save Barnegat Bay, which argues additional cleanup and long-term protections should occur before portions of the property are developed.
Supporters of the settlement have said the agreement would permanently preserve much of the site while providing public access to previously restricted land.
However, those supporters have been few and far between, limited to local stakeholders such as BASF itself and local political lobbyists who are being accused of getting ‘kickbacks’ for their support of the project.
Tuesday’s documentary screening comes as those discussions continue, offering residents an opportunity to revisit one of New Jersey’s most consequential environmental stories and its lasting impact on Ocean County.
Key Points
- Seaside Park will host a free screening of From Sea to Shining Sea on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
- The documentary examines the environmental legacy of the former Ciba-Geigy chemical plant in Toms River.
- Cleanup of the Superfund site continues as debate over future redevelopment remains ongoing.
FAQ
When is the documentary being shown?
Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 6:30 p.m.
Where is the event being held?
Seaside Park Council Chambers.
Who is hosting the event?
The Borough of Seaside Park, the Seaside Park Historical Society and Save Barnegat Bay.
Why is Ciba-Geigy significant?
The former chemical manufacturing facility became one of New Jersey’s largest Superfund cleanup sites after decades of environmental contamination.
Is cleanup still underway?
Yes. Groundwater treatment and long-term environmental monitoring continue under EPA oversight.
Source: Borough of Seaside Park, Save Barnegat Bay, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (https://www.epa.gov/superfund/ciba-geigy-corp), New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (https://dep.nj.gov)
