Township says ecological-park remediation is under way; expects about $5.2 million in federal solar tax incentives

The township's business administrator, Paula Casarelli, updated the council on two major infrastructure and finance items: remediation at the ecological park and an expected federal tax-credit payment tied to the township's municipal solar project.

Casarelli said cleanup crews have removed roughly 100 truckloads of contaminated soil so far and are preparing a change order for additional work; she described the site as roughly 75 acres with about 10% of the area requiring remediation and noted that differing contaminants required soils to be moved to specialized, distant landfills. She said some remediation tasks will involve capping contaminated areas with asphalt or parking surfaces and that permitting for retention basins could take six months to a year and cost about $8 million to $9 million each.

Separately, Casarelli said the township hired a specialized accounting firm to process a federal tax return for the municipal solar project and "very strongly expect[s]" to receive just over $5,200,000 between July and September.

A council member asked where the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant funds would be used; Casarelli said the police department will administer that reimbursable grant and an MOU will set out specific uses, but she did not have detailed parameters at the meeting.

Council members were asked to recognize a forthcoming change order to pay additional remediation costs; officials said the work and permitting are necessary steps to move the project into its next phase.