Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Asphalt Plant in Millville?

Its now Tuesday morning and I just read  a letter from Matt Blake in the News of Cumberland County that the Millville City Commission will be meeting. On the agenda is a first reading of an ordinance amending its land use regulations to allow asphalt production plants as a conditional use within the General Industry Zone (I-1). It will reduce the buffer from 200 feet to 75 feet from nearby properties.
I am concerned about this since in the letter to the Editor Mr. Blake states
AROWAK Paving seeks to develop an 80-acre tract of undeveloped forest on Gorton Road, northeast of Route 55 in the Millville Industrial Park. The site is nearly surrounded by a Nature Conservancy Preserve and the state’s Menantico Ponds Wildlife Management Area. It is also within about 800 feet of the National Wild & Scenic River, Menantico Creek.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states, “Asphalt processing facilities are major sources of hazardous air pollutants such as formaldehyde, hexane, phenol, polycyclic organic matter and toluene. Exposures to these air toxins may cause cancer, central nervous system problems, liver damage, respiratory problems and skin irritation.”
More needs to be known about this proposal. As far as I know this issue has not come in front of the Zoning nor Planning Board. I suppose this is because AROWAK wants the ordenence changed

I plan to be there, and should should you!!
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