The Highlands Act was enacted in 2004 with a stated primary purpose of safeguarding the precious freshwater supply for millions of New Jersey residents.
The legislation governs the 800,000-acre Highlands Region, which "is a vital source of drinking water for more than half of New Jersey’s families," the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection says on its website, "yielding approximately 379 million gallons of water daily."
So it is extremely puzzling that the state DEP is not more concerned and responsive regarding possible contamination from a large-scale dirt dumping operation in Vernon, which lies within the Highlands Region.
Despite pleas from local, state and federal officials, the DEP is satisfied that, despite photographic proof to the contrary, the reported dumping that has been estimated at over 75 feet high has "de minimis (minimal) amounts of brick and block in the fill and possible traces of asphalt."
That assessment contradicts the observations of neighbors and several officials including U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who had requested the DEP "to consider the solid waste I have seen with my own eyes."
In August, Gottheimer urged the DEP to conduct core sampling and laboratory testing of the dirt pile on Silver Spruce Drive to make sure any runoff does not pose a risk to nearby wells and groundwater.
Earlier this month, results of an independent laboratory’s test of groundwater believed by a neighbor to be seeping from the site onto his own property and into nearby wetlands showed levels of lead more than 15 times greater than the limit allowed by the DEP.
If the sightings and photographs of metal piping, rebar, chunks of asphalt and concrete block are not enough to suggest that the fill is not as clean as the DEP would have us believe — the DEP went as far as to say it was "clear" (to them, at least) that the material was not construction or demolition wastes — then surely elevated levels of lead in runoff presumably from the site would spur the DEP into action.
Given the focus and intent on protecting the source of drinking water for more than 5.4 million people, it is prudent, even pressing, that the DEP conduct more extensive testing, not only of this site, but of other questionable dumping sites, before any or more contamination of the water occurs.
As Vernon Mayor Harry Shortway wrote in a letter to the editor published here where he implored the county and state for help in investigating and halting the suspected dangerous activity, "Stop it now or drink it later."