The Courier - October 1, 2008

Delay of information costly for M'town

    In a "Letter of Deficiency" sent from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to Middletown, the township was made aware of several billing fees it would now have to face, due to the delay of required documentation.
    The letter referred to remediation regarding the township-owned Banfield site located adjacent to the Middletown Train Station, at 36 Church St.
    "Please be advised that, effective Feb. 22, 1994, the Department initiated direct billing for costs associated with the oversight of remedial investigations and remedial actions," the DEP wrote.
    According to the notice, the township would be charged a $1,500 "fixed fee," one required to" cover the Department's oversight costs associated with review of the initial Remedial Investigation Report (RIR)."
    The correspondence also stated that subsequent documents submitted for review are "subject to direct billing of applicable oversight costs in accordance with the Department Oversight of the Remediation of Contaminated Sites."
    The DEP wrote that, as of Dec. 18, 2006, "the Department will be issuing bills to [the] Township of Middletown for the time expended for oversight of this case" for all future document submittals.
    Notably, the township will not receive a "no further action" letter from the DEP unless "all fees for work previously billed by the Department for the site are paid," according to the deficiency notice.
    The notice was stamped March 3 and addressed to Gregg Silva, the township director of recreation, parks and cultural affairs.

- Melissa L. Gaffney