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Contamination and liability shaped Millburn’s decision to abandon DPW site for housing
Summary
Counsel told the committee the DPW yard had documented contamination, underground storage tanks and capped fill; remediation estimates ranged from about $3M to $9M or more and contributed to the decision to relocate housing downtown to avoid long‑term litigation risk.
Special counsel described documented contamination at the DPW (the so‑called dump) site — underground storage tanks, capped fill and dispersed contaminants — and said remediation costs were uncertain but could be substantial. Counsel warned that even with remediation the township could face future litigation if residents later alleged illness related to the site.
Multiple residents and committee members cited environmental and health worries as central to the relocation decision. "That land is contaminated. It floods. It sits next to rail lines and utility substations," said resident Oiene Njechek. Counsel presented remediation ranges during the slide presentation and framed the downtown option as avoiding the remediation expense and the associated liability exposure; detailed environmental testing and any required remedial actions will occur during site planning and site‑specific environmental study phases.
