Township engineer recommends renewal of Tilcon quarry license, with conditions

Byram Township's consulting engineer recommended the renewal of Tilcon New York's 2025 quarry license, subject to multiple standard conditions and a small set of outstanding documentation requests.

Cory Stoner of Harold Pellow & Associates told the council he had reviewed the application and found most materials required by Byram Township Code §189-4 and §189-5 were included but that the application did not list a registered agent and did not identify any persons or entities that own 10% or more of the shares of the applicant entity. Stoner recommended those items be provided before final administrative closure.

Stoner also recommended the council continue the prior year's environmental and operational conditions for 2025: compliance with NJDEP requirements; continuation of dust-control practices (the applicant reported using water from an on-site detention basin rather than groundwater when needed); preservation and repair of silt fences, hay bales and stone check dams; maintenance of access roads and perimeter fencing; and continuing quarterly inspections. He noted the 2024 inspection cycle showed limited activity (one day of blasting on Aug. 13, 2024) and no evidence of industrial solvents stored on the site.

On financial assurance, Stoner reviewed the previous restoration cost estimate and performance bond calculation. The restoration estimate shown in the file totaled $1,073,000; applying the 120% multiplier results in a bond amount of $1,287,600, which Stoner said should be retained for the 2025 renewal.

Tilcon's representative, Steve O'Reilly, reported that the NJDEP Water Compliance & Enforcement Program conducted a water-quality compliance inspection in 2024 and that, according to O'Reilly, the facility was found in compliance with applicable permit conditions. Stoner noted that a compliance letter included in the application was for the Oxford Quarry and asked Tilcon to provide the Byram-specific NJDEP compliance letter.

Stoner also summarized additional follow-ups: a request to update acreage in the reclamation narrative to match the survey, proof that the Mine Registration Certificate and Permit to Use Explosives are renewed when they expire, and proof of the Soil Erosion & Sediment Control plan re-certification prior to expiration.

Stoner said Nordic Construction removed roughly 85% of an earlier 250,000-ton stockpile and that Tilcon anticipates the remainder will be removed by the end of 2026. The engineer recommended continuing required monitoring-well submissions and quarterly inspection documentation.

The council did not take a separate recorded final vote on the license during the discussion captured in the minutes; the engineer recommended approval conditioned on the outstanding items being provided and the council may act administratively once documents are complete.