Author: Web Site Administrator

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  June 2, 2014

Union County, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is pleased to announce that Union County has been awarded two federal grants totaling $600,000 to assess brownfield sites in seven Union County municipalities. The grants are from the U.S. EPA Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup (ARC) fund.

“These two grants will help give our communities an opportunity to put abandoned industrial and commercial properties back into circulation, where they can create new jobs, enable future growth and make positive contributions to our economy and our quality of life,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “I want to thank our municipal partners for contributing to a successful grant application process.”

Union County formed a coalition with the Union County Alliance and the Boroughs of Garwood and Roselle and the Cities of Elizabeth, Linden, Plainfield, and Rahway to apply for the grants last year.

“Brownfields have become critical resources in Union County,” said Union County Alliance president and executive director Geoff Perselay. “This grant award will help make it possible to reclaim land for economic development to accommodate existing population densities and future population growth throughout Union County.”

Both of the grants come under the EPA Brownfields Hazardous Substances and Petroleum Assessment program. The funds will be used to conduct environmental assessments, and to support cleanup and community outreach in the seven Union County municipalities designated as coalition partners.

“This much-needed federal funding will make a big difference in our efforts to keep Union County moving forward,” says Freeholder, Christopher Hudak. “We are grateful to have the support of Senator Booker and Senator Menendez, towards initiatives that will stimulate economic growth, while protecting public health and the environment.”

A brownfield site is land that was once used for industrial purposes or some commercial uses that is idle or underused because of real or perceived environmental pollution. Often the land is contaminated by low concentrations of hazardous waste or pollution, and has the potential to be reused once the site has been reclaimed through EPA regulated protocols.

In 1999, Jersey Gardens – the largest outlet mall in New Jersey – opened on land that was once a Brownfield. To date, Jersey Gardens marks the most ambitious New Jersey Brownfield remediation project, turning the former landfill into land suitable for retail use.

A more recent example of reclamation is Snyder Avenue Park in Berkeley Heights. This popular multi-use County park opened in 2010, on land that was once an abandoned fuel depot.

With funding from a prior US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assessment grant, the County was able to prepare a Brownfield Inventory in December 1999, based on the NJDEP known contaminated sites list and confirmed via a windshield survey. The Brownfield community-wide hazardous substances grant funds will be used to conduct 12 Phase I and five Phase II environmental site assessments. Petroleum grant funds will be used to conduct 12 Phase I and seven Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds of both types also will be used to inventory sites and support cleanup planning and community outreach activities.

The Brownfields grant application was prepared by Brownfield Redevelopment Solutions based in Manasquan, NJ.

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For more information on any Union County press release, please contact Sebastian D’Elia, Communications Director for the County of Union, or a designee listed at the top of this press release. Please join the County of Union online at www.ucnj.org, on Facebook atwww.ucnj.org/facebook, and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/countyofunionnj.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 30, 2014

Union County Sheriff’s Officers and Union County Corrections Officers join the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey in Elizabeth. The Torch Run is a statewide campaign coordinated and managed by all divisions of law enforcement officers and officials from throughout the state. For more information, visit www.njtorchrun.org. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 30, 2014

Union County Freeholder Sergio Granados (standing left) and Elizabeth Councilman Carlos Cedeno spoke with guests at the Elizabeth Office on Aging Senior Prom held at the O’Donnell Dempsey Senior Center in Elizabeth. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

Union County Sheriff’s Officers and Union County Corrections Officers join the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics New Jersey in Elizabeth. The Torch Run is a statewide campaign coordinated and managed by all divisions of law enforcement officers and officials from throughout the state. For more information, visit www.njtorchrun.org. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 29, 2014

(From left) Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak and Freeholders Bette Jane Kowalski, Linda Carter and Vernell Wright welcomed Jill Johnson (C), Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership, to the second annual Union County Women Mean Business (UCWMB) Summit at the Clubhouse at the Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth. Johnson delivered the keynote address at the event that was aimed at helping women business owners and managers develop skills that meet the challenges of the new millennium. UCWMB is an initiative of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 29, 2014

Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak (3rd R) and Freeholders Sergio Granados (L), Linda Carter (4th R) and Vernell Wright (2nd R) spoke with (from 2nd L) teachers Doreen Babis, Rachel Bollaro, Stephanie Philippakos, Assistant Superintendent Ed Grande, teacher Diane Spagnoli and Superintendent Kenneth Knops of the Clark Public School District at the Union County Teacher Recognition Breakfast at Kean University in Union.  (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 29, 2014

The State of New Jersey has issued the necessary permits to move forward with the construction of a new dam at Lake Surprise in the Watchung Reservation, the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announced today.

Fish will be removed from the lake on Thursday and Friday, May 29th and 30th, with the actual draining of the lake expected to get underway in early June.

“The County’s Engineering Department regularly reviews the conditions of all dams in the county,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “It’s a very old structure and it needs rebuild and repair.”

Work on the new dam is expected to take a year to complete, but may take longer, depending upon weather conditions.  However, county officials are hopeful that the lake will only be out of commission for one summer.

The Lake Surprise project will involve replacing the dam to meet modern dam safety standards. While upgrades have been made to the dam over the years, the dam’s earthen core dates back to 1845.

The areas that will be affected during the construction period are the dam itself and the road from the lower loop parking lot leading to the dam, which will be used by contractors. Workers will be on site from 7:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Ritacco Construction Company Inc. of Belleville, New Jersey was awarded a $3,608,000 contract for the Lake Surprise Dam rehabilitation.

With work being started this summer, it should only affect this summer season. Downstream communities will not be affected by the draining of the lake.

Draining is necessary to assure the safety of the workers who are rebuilding the dam, and it may also have another benefit, by killing off some of the vegetation clogging the lake, according to County officials.

The project will also include improvements to the dam at Seeley’s Pond, which is downstream from Lake Surprise, on the western border of the Watchung Reservation.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 29, 2014

CRANFORD, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders will sponsor a Household Special Waste Collection event on Saturday, June 7, so Union County residents can get rid of outdated or unwanted household chemicals, mercury thermostats, propane tanks, and automobile tires in an environmentally safe manner. The household hazardous waste collection will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Union County College campus, 1033 Springfield Avenue in Cranford, opposite Nomahegan Park.

Residents of Union County are eligible to participate at no cost. Pre-registration is not required for this special Saturday collection.

“The special household waste recycling program for Union County residents is particularly important as we become more aware of the need for proper disposal of hazardous items that are found around the home,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak. “The result of our effort is safer homes and a cleaner environment for our families and our neighbors.”

All that residents need to do is drive to the site with their household special waste, propane tanks, automobile tires, and mercury thermostats. Workers at the site will unload the vehicles.

“Household special waste” includes oil-based paint and varnish, antifreeze, aerosol cans, pool chemicals, corrosives, pesticides, herbicides, solvents, thinners, fire extinguishers, motor oil and oil filters, gasoline, batteries, thermostats, fluorescent bulbs (unbroken), blood pressure devices, and mercury switches. Only materials in original or labeled containers will be accepted. No containers larger than five gallons will be accepted.

Latex (water-based) paint and empty cans will not be accepted. They should be disposed of in with the regular garbage. Leftover latex paint can be air-dried or, to hasten the drying process, kitty litter and/or newspaper can be added to hasten the drying.

“This is a great opportunity to recycle up to eight tires and dispose of old chemical containers that are cluttering up the basement or the garage, or taking up space under the kitchen sink,” said Chairman Hudak, liaison to the Union County Solid Waste Advisory Board. “Our homes become safer once they are rid of hazardous and combustible waste.”

There is a limit of eight automobile tires (without rims) per household. This is a household recycling event. No businesses, please.

A complete list of the materials that will be accepted on June 7 is available at the Union County Bureau of Recycling and Planning web site:www.ucnj.org/recycle

The household hazardous waste collection will be held rain or shine, for Union County residents only and not for businesses. Proof of Union County residency is required. For more information, please call the Recycling Hotline at (908) 654-9889.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 27, 2014

Union County Freeholders Sergio Granados (L), Alexander Mirabella (2nd R) and Vernell Wright joined Robert Jeans (C) of the Kenilworth Veterans Center and VFW 2230 and Jim Daly of VFW Post 355 at the Graceland Cemetery in Kenilworth where volunteers placed American flags on the graves of veterans in honor of Memorial Day. The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders supplied more than 30,000 flags to mark veterans’ graves throughout Union County. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)