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Ridgewood reports 82% removal of Shedler berm; residents press for further testing and safety measures
Summary
The village manager said Northstar Environmental has removed about 82% of the berm at the Zubriski/Shedler site and that dust monitors have not reached action levels; residents asked about additional soil testing, guardrails and health risks as the site moves toward park development.
Village manager Keith told the council on May 13 that remediation at the Zubriski/Shedler property is progressing and that Northstar Environmental has removed roughly 82% of the berm so far, representing about 215 truckloads taken from the site.
Keith said monitoring and testing accompany the removal: "As of this afternoon, 82% of the berm has been removed based on the linear feet with 215 truckloads removed thus far from the site," he reported. He added that dust monitors placed on site have not reached the action threshold that would require additional mitigation and that NJDEP contractors (Matrix) are on site conducting planned testing as removal continues.
Community concerns: Residents at public comment asked whether additional soil testing or subsurface drilling will follow removal, worried about microplastic and chemical contamination from proposed artificial-turf installation in a nearby neighborhood, and urged stronger roadside protections once the berm is gone. One commenter said a guardrail would be insufficient for some crash scenarios and expressed concern for children playing in the planned park area.
Manager response and data: In reply to specific dust concerns, Keith said the project27s dust monitors use a unit scale with an action level of 150 units for wet-down mitigation. "From the start of the project through this afternoon's meeting at 2:00, we have never exceeded 50 units," he said, adding Northstar at times has wet down work areas as a precaution even though action thresholds were not reached.
Why it matters: The Shedler site is slated for public use as part of a larger park plan, so residents and the council said safety, testing and visible protections (barriers or other roadside solutions) must be resolved before final park development. The council also authorized staff to pursue hazardous-discharge remediation grants for the Shedler property as part of the consent agenda.
Provenance: Manager updates and public comment about the berm and remediation testing appear in the manager report and later in the public-comment exchange (topic begins at SEG 918 and continues through manager replies at SEG 2313).
