Township of Washington
Two ongoing environmental investigations that will determine the extent of contamination and “historically applied pesticides” at the 6.1-acre former township swim club site (purchased in April 2022) and 3.2-acre 450 Pascack Road tract (under contract) are likely to make big news in early 2025.
Initially, the Township Council hired Boswell Engineering to do a pre-demolition survey at the swim club. That study turned up high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, asbestos and lead. The Boswell study followed two prior studies by Lisko Environmental, Belmar, that failed to detect or identify any potential contaminants during “due diligence” investigations prior to its purchase.
Councilors await the results of a $78,000 second study by Boswell to determine the extent of contamination at the swim club and potential remediation costs. A secondary $5,700 investigation of pesticides and other contaminants by Lisko at 450 Pascack Road was approved in late October by council in closed session. Those results are likely soon, too.
Recently, councilors Michael DeSena and Steven Cascio said they would not yet vote on approving a proposed $5 million DPW facility until final remediation costs were known for the two sites. Councilors were told most of the $78,000 investigation’s cost and all swim club future remediation costs should likely be covered by state environmental grants.
During the summer, Boswell presented a $4.5 million “great lawn” design concept proposal for the former swim club property. No action was taken pending Boswell’s pre-demolition site survey.
Since signing a purchase agreement for 450 Pascack Road for $750,000 in May, officials have been conducting “due diligence” on the property. Late in 2023, the county Open Space Trust Fund awarded the township a $550,000 grant to acquire the property for passive recreation. The funds will be transferred after the township officially purchases the property.
The township also applied in March for a $100,000 state DCA grant to correct drainage, flooding, and conduct preliminary site work at 450 Pascack Road.
Also, an ongoing “emergency” permit application to NJDEP to restore streambanks around two sanitary manholes adjoining Musquapsink Brook is pending and may be approved early in 2025. Costs for the work were estimated at $700,000. In August, DeSena called for expedited efforts to seek NJDEP approval to complete the streambank restoration work needed before “an environmental disaster” occurred.
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