Though they have remained somewhat silent on the matter up until now, it appears Kearny’s representatives in the U.S. House are starting to get a clearer picture of the crisis at the Keegan Landfill.
That’s because today, Tuesday, May 7, U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-9) and Albio Sires (D-08) sent a letter to Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to inquire about the actions the DEP is taking to address health hazards and noxious odors at the Keegan Landfill in Kearny.
The letter requests a staff briefing from DEP about the potential health hazards at the site.
“Given the proximity of this site to residential and recreational areas, all possible measures must be undertaken to protect the public against any possible negative health impacts, including prolonged exposure to hydrogen sulfide,” the letter states. “To address our constituents’ numerous concerns, we request your staff brief our offices about the state’s plan for addressing issues at the Keegan Landfill in Kearny”
The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA), which owns the site, was fined on March 1, 2019 because of a violation of the federal Air Pollution Control Act. This law prohibits the emission of hydrogen sulfide in concentration levels greater than 30 parts per billion over a 30 minute-period. Since NJSEA was fined, hydrogen sulfide levels above 30 parts per billion have persisted at Keegan Landfill.
The letter continues, “public health must be the top priority for the future of the Keegan Landfill. To that end we hope the DEP is coordinating closely with the New Jersey Department of Health to address all public health concerns. We look forward to our offices being briefed about the actions DEP is taking to remove health hazards and noxious odors at the Keegan Landfill in Kearny.”
The letter is listed here:
May 7, 2019
Catherine R. McCabe
Commissioner
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
401 E. State St.
7th Floor, East Wing
P.O. Box 402
Trenton, NJ 08625-0402
Dear Commissioner McCabe:
We write to inquire about the actions the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is taking to address health hazards and noxious odors at the Keegan Landfill in Kearny, New Jersey. Given the proximity of this site to residential and recreational areas, all possible measures must be undertaken to protect the public against any possible negative health impacts, including prolonged exposure to hydrogen sulfide. To address our constituents’ numerous concerns, we request your staff brief our offices about the state’s plan for addressing issues at the Keegan Landfill in Kearny.
We understand the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) was fined on March 1, 2019 because of a violation of the federal Air Pollution Control Act, which prohibits the emission of hydrogen sulfide in concentration levels greater than 30 parts per billion over a 30 minute-period. We have been informed that hydrogen sulfide levels above 30 parts per billion has persisted at Keegan Landfill. These levels are unacceptable, especially if there is a possibility that an infraction may affect the health and safety of citizens.
Additionally, we understand DEP has entered an Administrative Order on Consent with NJSEA to develop an action plan for addressing odor violations. This plan has included the installation of continuous air monitoring equipment. We are encouraged by news of cooperation between DEP and NJSEA and urge both parties to work quickly to address possible removal of materials causing the prevalence of hydrogen sulfide to ensure our constituents’ quality of life.
Public health must be the top priority for the future of the Keegan Landfill. To that end we hope the DEP is coordinating closely with the New Jersey Department of Health to address all public health concerns. We look forward to our offices being briefed about the actions DEP is taking to remove health hazards and noxious odors at the Keegan Landfill in Kearny.
Thank you very much for your attention to our request.
Sincerely,
U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell Jr. & Albio Sires
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Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, a place where he has served on and off since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on Facebook Live, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to West Hudson to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.