Rolling Knolls Landfill
| Rolling Knolls Landfill | |
|---|---|
| Superfund site | |
| Geography | |
| Township | Chatham Township |
| County | Morris County |
| State | New Jersey |
Rolling Knolls Landfill Location of site in Morris County | |
| Information | |
| CERCLIS ID | NJD980505192 |
| Contaminants | Arsenic, lead, mercury, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pesticides, phthalates, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), freon compounds, dioxin and furans |
| Responsible parties | Private and public ownership: various responsible parties |
| Progress | |
| Proposed | April 30, 2003 |
| Listed | September 29, 2003 |
| List of Superfund sites | |
The Rolling Knolls Landfill is a 170 acre landfill and Superfund site located in the Green Village section of Chatham Township in New Jersey. It is bordered on two sides by the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, and was formerly known as Miele's Dump, after owner Robert Miele. It is currently primarily owned by the Miele family trust.[1]
Background
The Landfill is notable for being identified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a Superfund site. It was operated as a municipal landfill from the early 1930s until December 1968, during which time it handled municipal solid waste, as well as construction and demolition debris from neighboring communities.[2][3][4]
"According to the EPA's Web site, soil samples collected in 1999 showed levels of metals, phthalates, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that were above regulation norms.[5]
Mercury and PCB releases were also observed in a surface water and sediment sample taken from a portion of the landfill located within the Great Swamp Wildlife Refuge, according to the EPA. Testing also showed "actual contamination of a terrestrial sensitive environment," and indicated potential exposure of nearby residents, the EPA says.
Cleanup
As of 2022, the EPA has submitted plans for remediation, but no cleanup has started at the site.[6][7] In 2026, a member of the Miele family expressed interest in developing the site, despite cleanup costs potentially reaching tens of millions of dollars.[8]
See also
References
- ^ Westhoven, William. "Morris County has 10 Superfund sites. One threatens the Great Swamp". Daily Record. Retrieved 2026-02-01.
- ^ Faszczewski, Bob (10 August 2012). "Controversy Surrounds Rolling Knolls Landfill in Chatham Close to 10 Years After Federal Government Placed it on Superfund Cleanup List". TAPinto. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ "ROLLING KNOLLS LF Site Profile". cumulis.epa.gov. US EPA. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ "Public Health Assessment for Rolling Knolls Landfill" (PDF). NJ Department of Health. Consumer, Environmental and Occupational Health Service. 5 July 2006. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ "Rolling Knolls Landfill discussed tonight". Daily Record. 7 June 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ Westhoven, William. "'Chicken or egg?' Nonprofit will take Superfund site if EPA agrees to remediate it". Daily Record. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ Westhoven, William (18 February 2022). "Citizen group presses EPA for aggressive cleanup of toxic Superfund landfill in Chatham". Daily Record. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ Thorpe, Valerie (2021-11-17). "Rolling Knolls Landfill - What Will Become of It?". GSWA. Retrieved 2026-02-01.