by Teresa Edmond - Staff Writer - June 11, 2008

RINGWOOD - The Soil Conservation District has concluded that there’s no need to worry about storm water running off Sludge Hill and seeping into the surrounding area in Upper Ringwood.

Sludge Hill, a mishmash of dirt, garbage and toxic waste piled up at the end of Van Dunk Lane, has been of great rainwater control concern in the Upper Ringwood Superfund site, where Ford Motor Co. dumped toxic paint sludge around 40 years ago.

With the impact of rainwater, many residents felt the toxic sludge could run off Sludge Hill and seep into other parts of Upper Ringwood and its vicinity, which includes the Wanaque Reservoir.

Director Gary Van Olden of the Soil Conservation District addressed a letter to Arcadis Inc., the company Ford hired to clean up the Superfund site, about the Soil Conservation District’s Sludge Hill investigation. The letter states that the Soil Conservation District “finds that soil erosion and sediment controls are adequate and well maintained at… remedial locations.”

Richard Chapin, an independent engineer the Edison Wetlands Association (EWA) hired as Superfund site technical advisor, was one of the people who addressed concerns about the potential contamination of the rainwater runoff at the May 27 community advisory group meeting.

After learning of the investigation, Chapin said he has faith in the Soil Conservation District’s inspection.

“Usually the (Soil Conservation District) is good about these things,” he said.

According to EWA Executive Director Robert Spiegel, his environmental group and the federal Environmental Protection Agency will go to the Sludge Hill area in two weeks to check out whether the storm water management could be compromised by intense rainfall. The only thing visible at Sludge Hill right now, Spiegel said, is the silt fencing around the pile. Plastic sheets have been placed over piles of dirt in that area as well.

Copyright 2008 Suburban Trends