• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Town of Kearny

  • Mayor Alberto G. Santos
  • Find It Here
      • Government Online
        • Mayor’s Office
        • Town Council
        • Forms
        • Council Meeting Agendas
        • Council Meeting Videos
        • Council Meeting Minutes
        • Permit Parking Meeting Minutes
        • Complaint Form
        • Municipal Court Fines
        • Property Tax Payment & Information
        • Town Code Of Kearny
        • Downloadable Maps
        • Swift911 – Community Alerting System
        • Town Financials
        • Job Opportunities
        • Bid Notices
        • Town Information
          • News
          • Alerts
          • Announcements
          • Kearny Schools
          • Town Services
          • Kearny Aces
          • Houses of Worship
          • Organizations
          • Senior Citizen Bus Program
          • Municipal Court
          • History of Kearny
          • Directory of Hours
          • USPS (Midland Ave.)
      • Departments
        • Department Directory
        • Town Administrator
        • Construction Code
        • Finance Department
        • Fire Department
        • Health Department
        • Kearny Public Library
        • KUEZ
        • Municipal Court
        • Personnel Department
        • Police Department
        • Public Works
        • Recreation Department
        • Shade Tree
        • Tax Assessment
        • Tax Collection
        • Town Clerk
        • Water Department
        • Services
          • Services Directory
          • Garbage Collection
          • Recycling
          • Download Recycling Schedule
          • Sewer Maintenance
          • Snow Plowing
          • Street Sweeping
      • Urban Enterprise Zone
        • About Kearny UEZ
        • Why Kearny?
        • The Kearny Advantage
        • KUEZ Tax Incentives
        • KUEZ Business Programs
        • KEZDC – Kearny Enterprise Zone Development Corporation
        • Kearny UEZ FAQ’s
        • Membership
        • UEZ Forms
        • Contact UEZ
        • Kearny Rewards Website
        • Kearny Municipal Utilities Authority (KMUA)
          • About KMUA
          • Rules & Regulations
          • KMUA Commissioners
          • KMUA Staff
          • KMUA Professionals
          • KMUA Meetings
          • KMUA Rate Study
          • KMUA Financials
          • KMUA Links & Notices
          • « March 2023 » loading...
            SMTWTFS
            26
            27
            28
            1
            2
            3
            4
            5
            6
            7
            8
            9
            10
            11
            12
            13
            14
            15
            16
            17
            18
            19
            20
            21
            22
            23
            24
            25
            26
            27
            28
            29
            30
            31
            1
            Wed 22

            Baby Keep Well Clinic – By Appointment Only

            March 22 @ 8:30 am - 2:00 pm
            Wed 22

            Free In Person NARCAN Training

            March 22 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
            Thu 23

            Free Flu Shot and COVID-19 Vaccine

            March 23 @ 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
            Sat 25

            2023 Kearny Rabies Vaccine Clinic

            March 25 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
  • Forms
  • Calendar
  • Contact
You are here: Home / News / Kearny Responds To DEP Release Dated July 25, 2019 Regarding Hydrogen Sulfide Emissions From The Keegan Landfill

Keegan, News · July 26, 2019

Kearny Responds To DEP Release Dated July 25, 2019 Regarding Hydrogen Sulfide Emissions From The Keegan Landfill

The Town of Kearny continues to demand the elimination of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) emissions from the Keegan Landfill, which is owned and operated by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA), an agency of the State of New Jersey.  Elimination of H2S entails the installation of a gas collection system and an impermeable synthetic cover over the landfill’s surface, as was done at Fennimore Landfill in Roxbury, New Jersey, and as is currently being implemented by the DEP at the MSLA 1-D Landfill in Kearny, New Jersey.  The NJSEA and DEP have agreed to the installation of a gas collection system but have not agreed to a permanent closure with an impermeable cap.  The NJSEA’s and DEP’s incomplete remedy would subject Kearny residents to continued H2S exposure.  The Town of Kearny strongly objects to the incomplete remedy.

In connection with the installation of the gas collection system, the DEP issued a press release on July 25, 2019 with several incomplete or misleading statements.  Those statements are copied below in italics, followed by the Town of Kearny’s response.

To protect public health, the state uses a conservative hydrogen sulfide regulatory threshold of 30 parts per billion averaged over a 30-minute period as measured at or beyond a landfill property line.

This is not a conservative standard.  It is a human-protective minimum. 30 ppb of H2S is the threshold for health symptoms, such as headaches and nausea, resulting from brief exposure periods.  In addition, epidemiological data show that levels above 30 ppb may be associated with increased hospital visits for respiratory symptoms, especially for children.

Keegan Landfill is situated off Bergen Avenue, north of Interstate 280.

The landfill’s western perimeter, from which most of the hydrogen sulfide exceedances have been recorded, is within 1,000 feet of residential buildings and apartments, a municipal outdoor recreational complex (Harvey Field) that includes several soccer fields, and numerous commercial uses.

The NJSEA suspects that construction and demolition debris containing gypsum wallboard combined with excessive rainfall is generating production of hydrogen sulfide gas at the Keegan Landfill. The landfill has stopped accepting these materials.

The State has operated the Keegan Landfill through its agency NJSEA since 2010, when the landfill was re-opened for construction and demolition waste.  Adequate controls on the contents of truckloads dumped at Keegan were not implemented.  As a result, the amount of gypsum wallboard (sheet rock) disposed at Keegan Landfill since it was re-opened in 2010 is not known.  Notwithstanding the lack of adequate inspections and controls, the DEP has annually renewed the NJSEA’s permit to operate the landfill.

The decomposition of gypsum wallboard (sheet rock) into rotten-egg smelling hydrogen sulfide can take anywhere from 1 to 10 years, depending on the settling and compaction of materials in the landfill, and on moisture levels.  On average, most of the hydrogen sulfide creation arises three to five years after the gypsum material is disposed on site. The only reason the landfill is no longer taking gypsum wallboard is because of a court injunction closing the landfill to all waste pending a court hearing on a permanent closure.  Prior to the issuance of the injunction, gypsum wallboard materials were observed entering the landfill on April 27, 2019 when some of the material spilled out of an over-loaded truck.  A videotape of the incident was made and the NJSEA’s head of solid waste was on site when it occurred.  However, no violation was issued to the hauler or to the NJSEA.

The DEP started receiving from the public complaints about odors in December and worked quickly to identify the landfill as the source.

Kearny Mayor Alberto Santos first complained to the Hudson Regional Health Commission, the DEP’s agency for odor complaints in Hudson County, about noxious rotten egg odors emanating from the Keegan Landfill on May 25, 2018, seven months earlier than acknowledged by DEP.  Complaints increased in number in December 2018 and January 2019.  At the time, the NJSEA denied the Keegan Landfill as the source of the odors.  Because of the State’s inaction, the Town acquired its own air monitoring stations in March 2019, located them on municipal property as close to the landfill as possible, and publicly disclosed repeated readings of hydrogen sulfide in excess of 30 ppb.  In April 2019, the DEP entered into an Administrative Consent Order with the NJSEA requiring the NJSEA to install air monitoring stations on the landfill perimeter; the NJSEA’s monitoring stations were installed in May 2019.

… the levels of hydrogen sulfide recorded to date are not known to cause adverse health effects. However, exceedances of the 30-minute, 30 ppb regulatory standard were detected on multiple occasions between 30.3 ppb and 828 ppb. DEP is taking enforcement action with respect to these exceedances.

The NJSEA’s analysis of hydrogen sulfide readings is unreliable.  Some very high recorded readings are not included in the reported averages because NJSEA has attributed some of them to meter error even though all air monitoring stations are monitored daily and certified as to reliability by Emilcott Associates, a leading provider of this type of air monitoring in New Jersey.

DEP has not issued any violations against NJSEA since June 5, 2019, even though there have been numerous exceedances of hydrogen sulfide since that date.  By way of example, the Town’s air monitoring stations registered 61 ppb of H2S on Tuesday, July 23; 39 ppb on Wednesday, July 24; and 69 ppb on Thursday, July 25, 2019.  On each of those dates, the Town closed the Harvey Field recreational complex, cancelling scheduled games and practices.  The exceedances and field closures were communicated by Mayor Santos to the DEP Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner, and to the Governor’s Chief of Staff.  None of the recipients responded to Mayor Santos.

image72619001image72619001
  • Share
  • Tweet

Filed Under: Keegan, News

Primary Sidebar

Announcements

Kearny Rec Department Presents Yoga beginning on Saturday, March 11th.
2023 Kearny Rabies Vaccine Clinic on March 25th
Online Narcan Training/Capacitación en línea de Narcan
Kearny Recreation Girls Softball Registration
KEARNY RECREATION KARATE PROGRAM
Pictures with Santa on Saturday, December 3rd
View All Announcements

Latest News

Kearny Mayor Santos participates in Read Across America Day
Moody’s Upgrades Kearny’s Credit Rating to A1 from A3
Four Chaplains 80th Anniversary
Parking consultant presents Parking Study to Mayor and Council
Kearny’s Annual Tree Lighting Festival

Upcoming Events

Mar
22
Baby Keep Well Clinic – By Appointment Only
Mar
22
Free In Person NARCAN Training
Mar
23
Free Flu Shot and COVID-19 Vaccine
Mar
25
2023 Kearny Rabies Vaccine Clinic
View All Events

Alerts

Food Distribution and COVID-19 VACCINES this Thursday March 16th
Food Distribution rescheduled for Thursday March 16th
All recreation facilities are closed today, Tuesday February 28, 2023, due to inclement weather
Food Distribution scheduled for Tuesday, February 28, 2023 has been rescheduled to Thursday, March 2, 2023 due to inclement weather.
Kearny Recreation Girls Softball Registrations Extended
COVID-19 and Flu vaccine clinics at the Kearny Department of Public Health are only operating on Thursdays from 11am to...
View All Alerts

Helpful Resources

Emergency Alert System
Complaint
Form
Forms
Repository
Job
Opportunites
Bid
Notices
Recycling
Information

How do I........

  • Get answers here
      • get a construction permit.
      • get more information about recycling.
      • pay my property taxes online.
      • find a local house of worship.
      • pay my ticket online.
      • find snow emergency streets.
      • find out my zone for garbage collection.
      • view past council meeting videos.
      • find out what jobs are available.
      • find out what hours the DPW is open.

Footer

Town of Kearny, NJ

Kearny Town Hall

402 Kearny Ave
Kearny, NJ 07032
(201) 955-7400

Click to open a larger map

Quick Links

  • Mayor’s Office
  • Department Directory
  • Download Recycling Schedule
  • Forms
  • Municipal Budgets
  • Swift911 Alerting System
  • Contact

Pothole / Graffiti Hotline:
201-998-3700

Do you have a suggestion or update for our website?
We'd love to hear from you.
Contact Us Now

Mayor Alberto G. Santos

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Phone

Copyright © 2018 · Town of Kearny · Developed by Renaissance Web Solutions

  • Home
  • Mayor & Council
    • Mayor’s Office
    • Town Council
    • Council Meeting Agendas
    • Council Meeting Videos
    • Council Meeting Minutes
    • Permit Parking Meeting Minutes
    • Back
  • Departments
    • Department Directory
    • Town Administrator
    • Construction Code Enforcement
    • Finance Department
    • Fire Department
    • Health Department
    • Kearny Public Library
    • KUEZ
    • Municipal Court
    • Personnel Department
    • Police Department
    • Public Works
    • Recreation Department
    • Shade Tree
    • Tax Assessment
    • Tax Collection
    • Town Clerk
    • Urban Enterprise Zone
    • Water Department
    • Back
  • Services
    • Services Directory
    • Garbage Collection
    • Recycling
    • Sewer Maintenance
    • Snow Plowing
    • Street Sweeping
    • Back
  • E-Government
    • Complaint Form
    • Forms
    • Municipal Court Fines
    • Town Code of Kearny
    • Downloadable Maps
    • Community Alerting System
    • Town Financials
    • Property Tax Information
    • Property Tax Payments
    • Back
  • Town Information
    • News
    • Kearny Schools
    • Town Services
    • Kearny Aces
    • Houses of Worship
    • Organizations
    • Senior Citizen Bus Program
    • Municipal Court
    • History of the Town of Kearny
    • Directory of Hours
    • United States Postal Service (Midland Ave.)
    • Back
  • Urban Enterprise Zone
    • About Kearny UEZ
    • Why Kearny?
    • The Kearny Advantage
    • KUEZ Tax Incentives
    • KUEZ Business Programs
    • Kearny Enterprise Zone Development Corporation (KEZDC)
    • Kearny UEZ FAQ’s
    • Membership
    • UEZ Forms
    • Contact UEZ
    • Back
  • Kearny Municipal Utilities Authority (KMUA)
    • About KMUA
    • Rules & Regulations
    • KMUA Commissioners
    • KMUA Staff
    • KMUA Professionals
    • KMUA Meetings
    • KMUA Rate Study
    • KMUA Financials
    • KMUA Links & Notices
    • Back
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Kearny Rewards
  • Kearny 150 Celebration
  • Kearny Town History
  • Veteran Honor Rolls
  • Job Opportunities
  • Bid Notices
  • Contact
  • Forms