www.aggregateresearch.com - Latest industry news on Aggregates, Asphalt, Cement, Concrete and more. Riverdale, New Jersey residents and borough officials will square off again with representatives of the local quarry Tilcon at the Wednesday, August 26 meeting of the governing body.
This meeting will be a continuation of the discussion to renew the quarry’s six-year operational license amidst residents’ complaints about damage to their homes from blasting.
The borough last met with Tilcon representatives in May. Residents and the Borough Council presented a variety of requests geared to improve the quality of life for neighbors of the quarry and protect the municipality from quarry operations.
In the past, dust, truck traffic, and blasting have been the main concerns year-round. These issues still remain on the table, but this year residents of the nearby condominium complex, The Grande at Riverdale off Route 23, said that the blasting is causing damage to their homes. They have requested that Tilcon offer a property protection plan.
Residents of The Grande also asked that a photographic survey of all the buildings be completed, that blasting be limited to between 10 am and 2pm, and that the company provide a 24-hour and a two-hour blasting notice. Furthermore residents would like the quarry to consider modifying the blasting intensity to reduce the alleged property damage and cut down on the sway or movement they experience.
The governing body is concerned about reclamation of the property once quarrying operations have ended.
According to Tilcon attorney Brian Montag, the quarry has 14 years left on its lease with the property owner and 6-7 million more tons to quarry. Montag said the economy will determine how fast the stone can be quarried.
The borough also requested that Tilcon increase its reclamation bond from $2.1 million to $15.9 million.
Borough Engineer Darmofalski said that this increase would cover the cost of removing the more than 290,000 tons of asphalt millings currently on the site. The engineer said this additional cost would cover the borough in case Tilcon decided to one day leave the site, forcing the municipality to bear any cleanup costs.
The governing body is waiting for feedback from Tilcon regarding these requests.