Authority presents 9.5‑mile shared conveyance plan to move landfill leachate and Woodbine wastewater

Cape May County authority leaders and their consultants presented a proposed shared conveyance system on July 31 to carry landfill leachate and wastewater from the borough of Woodbine and the Woodbine Developmental Center (WDC) to the county's 7 Mile Beach wastewater treatment facility. The authority described the plan as a two‑phase system: a 6‑inch, 10,650‑foot Force Main A dedicated to leachate and a downstream 10‑inch shared conveyance that would collect Borough and WDC flows and run to an interconnection point at U.S. Route 9 and Avalon Boulevard.

The authority framed the project as a response to high hauling burdens and long‑term post‑closure leachate needs. "Our vision is to be a leader in the pursuit of an implementation of innovative, environmentally sustainable, and reliable wastewater and solid waste management systems," said Julius Grazuto, the authority's executive director, while describing annual baseline hauling of roughly 49,000 gallons per day and an estimated 2,208 tanker trips per year. Presenters said that converting long haul truck trips to a buried conveyance would reduce road miles and lower greenhouse gas emissions compared with current hauling operations.

Consultants from Mount McDonald discussed environmental constraints and mitigation. Steve Moray said the design minimizes impacts by keeping "everything is within the paved roadway, not the grass shore or anything, but actually in the paved roadway." The team noted that large portions of the route cross forest and rural development management areas and wetlands, and that conservation restrictions and permitting conditions would limit future sewer hookups to prevent secondary development.

Presenters identified funding pieces already in place: a previous USDA feasibility grant (reported as $90,000 with a $30,000 local match) supported the study and the Borough of Woodbine has USDA funding for buildout of a centralized collection system for its downtown (discussed in presentation as "over $4,000,000"). Total estimated project cost was presented as just under $20,000,000; presenters said financing and funding sources remain under evaluation.

Commission members pressed on route selection and alternatives. The team said the New Jersey Turnpike Authority refused to grant an easement along the Garden State Parkway for the route, which led staff and consultants to revisit Route 9 and other corridor options and ultimately select the roadway alignment that minimizes off‑road disturbance. Commissioners also pressed about groundwater impacts, WDC treatment capacity, construction method (open cut vs. HDD), and long‑term monitoring requirements; presenters said groundwater effects and water‑quality permitting questions will be addressed during the formal permitting and MOA process.

The committee asked staff to proceed to the next step: develop a formal intergovernmental agreement and gather outstanding information required for the commission's review. The committee's recommendation will bring the project before the full Pinelands Commission for a decision about authorizing any MOA or other formal approvals.