Dive Brief:
- The federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) will start a public health assessment for substances released by the Fenimore landfill.
- According to the Roxbury Register, the assessment will include testing hydrogen sulfide and other gases that may be found at the Roxbury Township, N.J. site. The ATSDR sent a letter to the DEP which stated that the emissions may impact the health of the community.
- Studies could get underway in six weeks, as reported by reps from the ATSDR in the article by New Jersey Hills.
Dive Insight:
The president of Roxbury Environmental Action Coalition (REACT) told the Roxbury Register the cooperation the public received from the state Department of Health and DEP was "minimal." The vice-president of REACT said that many in the community are having health issues due to gasses from the landfill and had nowhere to go to address these problems.
The landfill has been the subject of a stream of complaints from local residents because of the strong odor coming from the landfill. In January 2013, the Fenimore landfill was closed temporarily, following health issues prompted by concern for children at a nearby school. An evacuation plan was created in June of 2013, following increased levels of fumes being emitted into the air from the landfill.
