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Pinelands Commission approves Manchester Township plan to soil‑cap landfill; staff required additional species surveys
Summary
Commission approved Manchester Township’s proposal to cap about 30 acres of landfill with permeable soil; staff required multiple years of snake surveys after a young northern pine snake was detected and tracked offsite, and the applicant will use part of the capped area for future solar.
The Pinelands Commission on July 11 approved Manchester Township’s public development application to soil‑cap an existing landfill on an approximately 30‑acre site.
Ernest Deeman, supervising environmental specialist and project manager for the application, described the plan to close the landfill with a permeable soil cap: most areas will receive 18 inches of fill and 6 inches of topsoil, while the area intended for relocation of recycling services and a salt storage shed will be covered with 2 feet of fill and 1 foot of crushed aggregate. Staff noted the applicant plans that part of the capped landfill could be used for a solar facility in the future and that, if solar is pursued, ballast‑mounted panels (not penetrative foundations) would typically be required.
Deeman said surveys required under commission rules found a single young northern pine snake located about 375 feet east of the landfill; that snake was released and subsequently tracked offsite where it hibernated about 4,000 feet away. Based on habitat and survey results, staff required a second full‑year on‑site snake study; that second year of study reportedly found no snakes. Staff concluded the project would meet CMP standards and recommended approval.
A public comment from the Manchester mayor was received in support of the application. The commission voted to approve the application during the meeting.
Next steps: staff will monitor permitting conditions and any future solar application for ballast‑only installation methods if the applicant pursues solar on the capped areas.
