Dear Editor:
From what I understand, some scientists say that the DEP’s allowable limit for chromium-6 on residential properties is 240 times too high and for homes, schools and businesses 20 times too high. I always thought residential properties and homes are the same but GRACO, the National Resources Defense Council and the Interfaith Community Organization, may see things the average James doesn’t. This lot of nothingness has been a mess of garbage and a health hazard for many years. The Attorney General has stepped in and PPG, the responsible party has agreed to be held accountable for cleaning up the site at its own expense with no expense to Jersey City taxpayers.
How I see it is that there is no standard. You can never set the bar too high for protecting human life. However, if the project on 900 Garfield is not underway, this land risks lying vacant for another 20 years causing the most harm to all.
PPG is willing to spend more than $200 million on this chromium clean up. Where else are you going to find $200 million in 2009? If you consider cost, you can determine that $200 million times 20 equals $4 billion or $200 million times 240 equals $48 billion. Good luck with finding a company in the world willing to shell out that kind of money in this day and age. The $200 million can produce much needed jobs and contracts for Jersey City residents and businesses. The cleanup is good for the local economy as well as quality of life. In an area that was once ignored, this can become another thriving community because of the potential it holds due to the nearby Light Rail Station.
I often hear people complain that there is not enough affordable and mixed use housing. I fear that if the cleanup doesn’t begin, that it will be a missed moment in time to capitalize on ratables, revenue and ultimately economic opportunity.
Everyone has concerns about health risks which is why only if the cleanup begins, can it be done right! The longer you wait, the more pedestrians become exposed. It should have been done in 1989. It should be done immediately.
Regular scheduled meetings with civilian input, the most stringent instructions on the planet, expert supervision and decision? That works. Sure beats lengthy litigation. If a judge makes guidelines even tougher and the law states that PPG must comply, that’s cool too. The best news is that the cleanup will be conducted under a court order already. PPG and NJDEP are taking action.
With strict oversight by the people that know the cleanup process best and a five year goal, a green light is the best signal for final settlement.
James Francis Waddleton