Spruce Run Creek dumping by Eastern Concrete

[Lard Almighty]

Anyone who lives close by should grab a water sample as close to the discharge point as possible and keep it refrigerated. This company has an NJPDES permit (PI #46545), which means they have to monitor their discharges and submit the data to the state. If they are in violation of the permit, they face fines if they do not correct it. I noticed that one of the parameters they must monitor is total suspended solids. Judging by the color of Spruce Run Creek, they are likely in violation of that parameter at least. Keeping a water sample for future evidence may help should any legal action be taken against the quarry.

If it's any consolation, I would doubt there are any chemical parameters contaminating the water, with the possible exception of a few naturally-occurring metals.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Hookmanski!

[tycomps]

Originally Posted by Lard Almighty

Anyone who lives close by should grab a water sample as close to the discharge point as possible and keep it refrigerated. This company has an NJPDES permit (PI #46545), which means they have to monitor their discharges and submit the data to the state. If they are in violation of the permit, they face fines if they do not correct it. I noticed that one of the parameters they must monitor is total suspended solids. Judging by the color of Spruce Run Creek, they are likely in violation of that parameter at least. Keeping a water sample for future evidence may help should any legal action be taken against the quarry.

If it's any consolation, I would doubt there are any chemical parameters contaminating the water, with the possible exception of a few naturally-occurring metals.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Hookmanski!

Does a New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit allow discharge to water supply feeds? Also I don't see a pipe at the point of the discharge in the video so I'm assuming they ran a line to the creek? Is this something they were allowed to do by the permit? Was this a regular activity?

[Lard Almighty]

Originally Posted by tycomps

Does a New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit allow discharge to water supply feeds? Also I don't see a pipe at the point of the discharge in the video so I'm assuming they ran a line to the creek? Is this something they were allowed to do by the permit? Was this a regular activity?

All good questions. The specifics of the permit were not available online. If you want that information, you would need to request a copy of the original NJPDES permit application and approval from the DEP via an OPRA request.

[Jigman13]

I work for nj.com. can I help?

[FASTEDDIE29]

Jigman, do what you can do please! This makes me want to liveline the owner of Eastern Concretes family dog! You know, take a family pet, cut it's legs off and spray paint it black so it looks like a baby seal! I'm hungry, need shark steaks...........

[Hookmanski]

Originally Posted by Jigman13

I work for nj.com. can I help?

A write up on this would be pretty fantastic. I know the DEP is involved, as well as Raritan Headwaters Association. I spoke to a quarry employee who admitted to me that they were the ones pumping in the waste water. She also told me they are cooperating fully with the DEP to get everything cleaned up.

I think a story on this could be a really powerful tool to make sure they are held accountable for their actions. I would like to see them donate money to local organizations to help with cleanup efforts, re-stocking, and future preservation of this beautiful creek.

[Randyb]

Originally Posted by Lard Almighty

Anyone who lives close by should grab a water sample as close to the discharge point as possible and keep it refrigerated. This company has an NJPDES permit (PI #46545), which means they have to monitor their discharges and submit the data to the state. If they are in violation of the permit, they face fines if they do not correct it. I noticed that one of the parameters they must monitor is total suspended solids. Judging by the color of Spruce Run Creek, they are likely in violation of that parameter at least. Keeping a water sample for future evidence may help should any legal action be taken against the quarry.

If it's any consolation, I would doubt there are any chemical parameters contaminating the water, with the possible exception of a few naturally-occurring metals.




Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Hookmanski!

My girlfriends family ownes the property on the corner of van syckel and 635 it has a stream running through the property, it is private property but I'm more then willing to grab a sample for you guys

[tycomps]

Originally Posted by Hookmanski

I would like to see them donate money to local organizations to help with cleanup efforts, re-stocking, and future preservation of this beautiful creek.

what would you say the distance of the sediment affected stretch is?

when I first read "dumping by Eastern Concrete" I imagined a pile of debris that could be removed and properly disposed of but the coating shown in the video seems like it would require an 'Exxon Valdez' style wash and scrub job.

[Hookmanski]

Originally Posted by tycomps

what would you say the distance of the sediment affected stretch is?

when I first read "dumping by Eastern Concrete" I imagined a pile of debris that could be removed and properly disposed of but the coating shown in the video seems like it would require an 'Exxon Valdez' style wash and scrub job.

The distance from where the waste was pumped in to where the creek empties into the reservoir is about 1.7 miles.

[Jigman13]

Submitted this link and info to a number of staff writers at nj.com. We'll see if it gets picked up...