Document KGybXyanoMN6XzG5Qv480re1w

PHH Homequify 40 Apple Ridge Road Danburv. CT 06810 7300 Telephone 203 796 3400 March 15, 1995 Mr. Laurence J. O'Neill Director, Public Affairs Monsanto Chemical Bldg. G~4th floor 800 North Lindbergh Boulevard St. Louis, Missouri 63167 Dear Larry, Here are the newspaper articles I thought would be helpful to you. Please let me know if you need any further background information. I've also enclosed additional videos and brochures describing PHHHomequity's Environmental Action Services. Looking forward to talking with you soon. Francie Games Regional Project Manager enclosures DSW 133438 STLCOPCB4033396 z N.J. lilt. Nllrt il/nH &$ ....... Jl/I<IIJAY. /Al'IOAKr IJ, Ml Pompton Lakes Journal Du Pont and Residents Try to Resolve Contamination Issue By LYN MAUTNER Pompton MI|CID pROOK, which nm* from E. I. jfjBl (hi Pont dc Nemours A Comjwiny's explosives plant on Cannonball mm BMRoad through residential areas down to the lake, carried a bitter message to this community Inst year when high levels of lead and mercury were found along its banks. Du Pont made the discovery while moni toring the area as part of Its program to bring past disposal practices under current state regulations. Borough officials had also urged testing for hazardous wastes off the plant site In conjunction with the closing of Du Font's Shooting Pond, long used for un derwater detonat/on of blasting caps. More than 500 soil samples were taken long the brook. Du Pont found that 20.5 percent of the samples were above the ac ceptable lead level for children and that 21.7 percent were above acceptable mercury lev els. The rest, measured In ports per million, fell within Pederal health-risk standards, Du Pont said. Although Do Pont and environmental ex perts hired by the company emphasized that these iubstance.4 were not cancer causing, were not present In the air or water and could be harmful only If the contaminated soli was Ingested over many years, they were bom barded with questions from worried citizens. Researchers have linked lead and mercury to neurological disorders like learning dis abilities, anemia, kidney disease and repro ductive problems In adults. '*The first casualty was not health but peace of mind," said Ed Merrill, who Is on a 12-membcr citizens* advisory committee set up by Du Pont to discuss the situation. Planning to Replace $<41 He said II was unusual for such n large rompnny to Involve the community right from the start, "fht Pont has been very cooperative.*' he said. "Instead of making excuses, they are working with the Deport ment of Environmental Prelection nnd the borough to define, evaluate, then remove the contamination with plans (o replace the pol luted soli In a massive cleanup effort next prlng." ' Leander Woods, the Du Pont plant man- ger. said: "We have fried to deaf with the situation fairly,openly, responsibly. We want to show that It doesn't take the worst case of pollution for Industry to respond, to go to *ork for the community, that good results ire possible." Mr. Woods said that "for a number of fears, Du Pont hai tested quarterly the wo- er In AcM Brook at It leaves our plant" and hit It had continued to be within Department if Environmental Protection guidelines. He aid the contamination found (n the soil was >oi a result of a "continuous outfall" from he plant, like a pipe, but of periodic gather* ng of soil by the brook whenever It flooded. Janet Hackbarth. who has lived In Pomp- DSW 133439 lUy UotMrbow-hx JVNc* V*h 1 r Ed Merrill, a member of citizens* advisory committee set up by Du Pont to discuss concerns about contami nated soil near Acid Brook, background, speaking with Paul and Vivian Dow, property owners. ton Lakes for 22 years Hnd Is n member of the advisory committee, said: "If I did not think Du Pont was dealing fair and square with us. I'd be the first In the lawyer's office. My attitude lx, Tm from Missouri* ** But undercurrents of mistrust and fear continue to nm through the community, erupting In emotional outbursts and rumbles of possible lawsuits against the company. The most troubled area is where much of the contamination was found -- Du Pont Village, named for Its proximity to the plant. (The company had built these homes for Its workers, but then sohi them to members of the community.) Employing thousands dur ing the Work! Wars, the Pompton Lakes plant now has a work force of 100, manufacturing explo sive products for surface mining, the oil and space industries and the military. Many residents snM the stilt unanswered question for them was wltether long exposure to ihe soil could be harmful to health. Shirley Koppcnal. whose house ts near the plant, lives In what she describes as a "clus ter of sicknesses." "The main concern up and down the block Is health,** she sold. "In the two houses on either skle of me, three have had cancer; two have died. I want proof that mercury, lead and other substances found tn my yard do not cause cancer. In one spbt they discovered soil with 20.000 parts of mercury per million -- one of the Mghest found. I want Du Pone to make a door-to-door study along Acid Brook to see if kidney problems, anemia, etc^ run in thebe families." Henry Ramer Is the lawyer for a number of families In the borough considering Indi vidual lawsuits against Ihi Pont "Tiey have thoroughly tested the soil and water," he sakf, "but have not gone to Ihe people about health problems. Residents arejcfl tn doubt about this important and emotional aspect of the situation." Du Pont has retained Dr. Michael Gochfetd of the department of environmental and com munity medkine at the University of Medtclod ami Dentistry/Robert Wood Johnson Medical Center, who was present at public meeting Du Pont held last summer. The company offered to pay for doctors' visits and laboratory tests (at an Independent com pany) for all residents who wished them. Atxxrt 10 families took tip Du Pont on Its offer. Initial test results showed that two people had mercury levels above normal limits, Mr. Woods said. *'! suggest," Mr. Woods said, "that a per son with positive findings go to their personal physician, who has the most knowledge of that individual, to have these results con firmed and. by appropriate questioning, to also confirm the source.of these findings -- the way the substances were Ingested. "We aent all contaminated soli samples out to toxicologists for evaluation. The findings did not establish a connection between the levels found and a potential health hazard. It Is my understanding that the levels have to be higher for a population risk assessment to be warranted." But Mrs; Koppenal said. 'T would like to have a doctor not retained by Du Pont come and speak to us, to reassure us, together with representative from the State Health De partment." . Brian fllnchman grew up on Howard Street near the plant. Ills mother and sister 1W Kw Vartt T~W still lire there. Mr. fllnchman; who fa a member of the citizens* advisory committee, said: "I water-skied in the delta. Ate vegeta bles from the garden. We have high levels of lead and mercury in yard soli that wilt be replaced, but t am worried. What about dirt trapped under the foundation? tn one or two spots, cement In our basement ts worn Away and dirt has come through. Du Pont ts still burning hazardous wastes -- rags, card- hoard. Seems to me they're taking the pollu tion from ground into air." . Vivian Dow's house on HdwanJ Street also borders Add Brook. "Many medical prob lems can be caused by a variety of things/' she said. "Because of the contamination tn. our yard, they win have to uproot bushes and trees that have been In the family for years -- but is that sufficient reason to awe?" * Another concern among residents Is the possible loss ki the value of their houses and property because of the contamination., "Du Pom caused this stigma; they should' protect us," sakl Eileen Watson, who lives on Colfax Avenue. "I grew up in this bouse. Am I now going to lose It?" What Happens If We Want to Self?* " Mrs. Koppenal added: "What happens if we want to sell our home In the future? After. the cleanup, wilt the stigma still remain, or * will property be restored to ka fun value?"-. In reply, Mr. Woods outlined a planned value-protection program for residents at g meeting of the committee last month. The . program, which was drawn up with the help of a real-estate consulting company, seeks to answer the fears of property owners. Du Pont plans to hold a public meeting on the, plan in the near future. ,,-- In addition, Du Pont is completing plans to minimize Inconvenience to families who must temporarily move during the cleanup. . Jill Gtmderman has lived near the brook, for 15 years, "t wonder about the level of knowledge of this whole subject." she said "I am not convinced that state and Federal standards are based bn hard scientific evi dence. Do they know.tor example, details of how plants and vegetables absorb these sub stances? t don't know, f caned the U.S.D.A, but didn't get an answer. I think Du Font Is- acting In good faith, but still !*m nervous.*'* - STLCOPCB4033397 2--Section One Suburban Trends Sun., November 24,1991 . L. blames timing for tax appeals ByDARREN laPADULA STAFF WRITER POMPTON LAKES --The tax department has just completed a review of more than 700 tax appeals filed by local homeowners this year and officials are blaming a 1987 property revaluation for the unrest that could issue a devastating blowon the municipal budget. Pompton Lakes perhaps received the most tax appeals of any Passaic County municipality, most of which saw huge increases in the number of appeals filed in this dark bowel of economic recession. Officials here blame bad liming, a revaluation performed when housing values had peaked right before plummeting into the red. "When they did the revaluation several years ago, before 1 was elected, housing values were highly inflated," said Mayor John Sinsimer. "People have been appealing consistently over the last couple of years.'* Housing values have dropped about 25 percent since the 1987 revaluation in town and the Borough Council has authorized a study on conducting another assessment soon so property values can be brought more into line with current realities. Nonetheless, the number of appeals filed this year, up about 200 from last year, could traumatize the municipal budget if the majority are granted by the county. Borough Tax Assessor Frank Giovatti said successful appellants will see an immediate lax relief that may, however, be cancelled out in the long run. Successful appeals strip funds From the municipal budget, funds that will have to be compcrsiilcc) for in additional taxes perhaps if town services are not cut. The long term savings for appellant homeowners may in fact be nil, Giovatti said. "They may end up paying the same," Giovatti said. ` It's only a temporary form of relief, f really sympathize with the ordinary taxpayer." The assessor could not give an exact amount of money at stake with the tax appeals but acknowl edged that "it is a lot of money. It could effect the overall tax rate." When news was first released about the huge number of appeals being filed, residents began to wander about possible catalysts. Many fingers pointed to Cannonball Road, where the DuPont corporation is digging up whole yards of soil in more than 100 homes where chemicals have tainted the earth. Plastic sheets cover the win dows and doors of homes evacuated by their owners until cleanup is completed, shedding a morose aura on home sweet home. But Giovatto, Sinsimer and sales representa tives with Murphy Realty in Wayne said that suspicion is unfounded. "The appeals are across the board," said Ken Tarlo of Murphy. Tarlo and Martha Thompson of Murphy Realty have been given the responsibility of selling about one dozen homes handed over to DuPont to sell by private homeowners who wanted out when the remediation first began. Residents affected by the cleanup were offered a wonderful deal. They could either temporarily relocate into another home until their property was cleaned or DuPont would buy their homes at April, 1990's fair market values. Other incentives, including free cash for home restorations and guaranteed home refinancing at three percent below current mortgage rates. Nancy Schulz, project manager for the home value protection program for DuPont, operates a Family counseling center on the DuPont site. Thus faT, 16 families have decided to sell their homes altogether, while more than 80 others have taken advantage of the other refinancing and restoration options. A number of the latter homeowners live across the street or beside homes directly effected by the restoration who are also provided compensation for their in convenience. The result of this value protection has been significant. Homes managed by Murphy for sale are actually being purchased at rates dictated by the current market because of upgraded land quality and a general increase in home improve ment and aesthetics in the neighborhoods. Indeed, the DuPont remediation project has helped stabilize local home values. "DuPont is committed to restoring the area,*' Schulz said. "Most of the homes are selling above those in Ringwood and other areas." Three "DuPont* * homes, as they are termed, have already been sold and contracts are pending on three others. Potential homebuyers also receive incentives to move in : three percent below current mortgage interest rates. "It's an attractive incenlive to homebuyers," Schulz added. `'And they'll get clean soD." Schulz, an agent of PHH Home Equity, a home value protection agency, said this program is the first in New Jersey. ' DSW 1 3 3 4 4 0 Sun., November 24/1991 i . --........................ ........... . i Suburban Trends Section One--7 ii !'>! .............. .................... --...................................... -' ' * | Families return to clean-up area By DARREN La PADULA STAFFWRITER POMPTON LAKES -- "I'm a pretty happy camper," said George Courier Thursday afternoon, look, `jng at his backyard from the side " deck of his Barbara Drive home. "It's nice to be back." Courier, who returned home with his wife Ten Nov. 1 after a six week stay in a Hamburg Turnpike house, casually pointed out the . sapling Japanese Red Maples and ' the cherry trees still bound and awaiting there own home in the new, `soft earth. Tomorrow, he said, the > sod would be laid and home would ."'return to its sweet self. Just weeks before, the windows /and doors to his home were covered 'with plastic drapes and the backyard had earth movers and dump trucks crawling around it like Japanese beetles. DuPont was completing the first phase of a massive remediation project to remove and replace soil contaminated with mercury and lead from years of black powder manu- factoring.- in the nearby : plant. . Courter and about seven of his" neighbors were the First tended to, and the first to return home, literally-; tot. a new earth. -- . -.*statr-L ' t+Uimlsr,: Kfs, -c*` . Courter and his wife spent six weeks living on Hamburg Turnpike, in a home now reserved to one of about 110 other families whose land will be remediated. And while the experience was certainly inconve nient. Courter said, it was necessary and managed well. When the first eight families were relocated, visions of criminals busting into their vacant homes and an imminent return to less favorable `conditions followed many to bed at night. Often, Courter and neighbors .were seen standing by there homes `,or patrolling the area curing the day 'and night to keep ar; =ye out. /."Everybody, in uc beginning, ,wk$ a little concerned about secur ity. After alt, you're packing up and leaving your home with all your valuables still in there," Courier said. "But we didn't have any problems. They (DuPont) were very cooperative, they really tried ac comodate everyone. Even the workers' were friendly. They took 'good care of us." ` Clean soil replaced the tainted soil `which was snipped out to ap propriate disposal facilities. Tne tjfccs and other vegatation ripped out with the earth was resupplied. Crews even built a cedar fence around Coulter's property in an .attempt to restore privacy that was. /lost when the tall standing trees were iut down. .- -Cleanup crews have begun to tfiovc down the line, along the * pcriph5ry of Acid Brook, blamed *#>f. originally delivering the con- CJminants into the area when it * flooded.. " DSW 1.33441 STLCOPCB4033399 OSW 1 3 3 4 4 2 Bike, auto collide WAYNE -- Police reported a collision of a Honda motorcycle j M n..j s Ta-Y. F J Si/AJb4/; i zi'iW) < Irani Wayne. itie acciaeor oc- | - 3:25*. . I; curred on Saturday afternoon at I Police said the motorcycle was 0 ; apparently heading north on Val- i ; ley Road when Bailey attempted H ' to make a left tum onto Valley 1 ; Road at the intersection of Hail | Court. Police said there is a stop jj ! sign at that location and there is | no indication that Bailey failed to Q `come to a full stop. Arrest nets ; stolen car WAYNE-- Police arrested ' . two men, including a Detroit, Michigan man, for possession of astoleacaranddrugsonJan. 19. Police arrested Alfred A. Rose, 43, of Ft. Lee and Horten Peoples m, 4], of Detroit, at Willowbrook Mali. The two men were allegedly observed, by Det. James Clarke, conducting them* selves in a suspicious manner in ' the mall parking lot. ` Clarke arrested the two men for possession of a stojdn 1990 Oldsmobile and for possession . of marijuana under 50 grams and possession of cocaine. . : Index SECTION ONE DuPont to distribute packet to soil-impacted homeowners By LORI RASO STAFFvmmsn POMPTON LAKES -- Keeping its commitment to address the needs of the community responsibly, Du Pont will introduce a value-protec tion program for homeowners with property directly impacted by lead and mercury contaminated soil. The program was drawn up with the help of a real estate consulting company and seeks to answer the fears and questions of affected property owners. According to plant manager Lee Woods, it was the concern of these homeowners that prompted the company to research and initiate the program. "After we announced the soil contamination last spring, we began to get feedback that banks in the local area would not write mort gages for people who had con taminated soil near their property. People felt trappedand thought they wouldn't be able to secure a mort gage to sell or re-finance their homes. As a result, we began to gather information from the home owners and have hired a contractor to draw up a program responsive to the needs of these property owners. We alsoneededa mortgagelenderto participate in the program and have commitments from two national lenders who say they will support it." Woods-saidT DuPont fared PHH Home Equity as its contractor to designihc-pro^ gram and counsel homeowners on real estate questions. Beginning tomorrow, according to Woods, packages explaining the program in detail will be delivered door-to-door to homeowners who are eligible. "the program will assist people with refinancing or selling their homes. We are treating this as a people program for homeowners directly impacted by the cleanup activities that win begin in the spring of this year and continue until all the contamination is removed." Woods said. Lowering boro water rates is not unanimously hailed By LINDA BALDWIN the borough can afford tbe rate STAFF WRITER reduction. RINGWOOD -- Water rates However, Councilmen Ernest could be reduced in the near future Schwesinger and William Busioo by a majority vote of the borough feel that rates could very well go up council, but the vote to introduce the again in the future. ordinance Tuesday night was not ' Schwesinger said he was opposed unanimous, as two councilmen feel to (he proposed reduction. the action is premature. "We should be doing other things During last week's council busi to improve our water system," be ness meeting, a 4-2 vote was taken said, "such as in the Hilltop to introducethe amended ordinance, Clubhouse area. This money could designed to reduce (he rates by be better spent." approximately 15 percent. Borough Busino concurred. officials say there is a $259,000 "Many things are up in (he air surplus in the water account and that with our watersystem. We're lower- * ing our water rates now, but we have to upgrade our system and may have to increase the rates. This is not a good idea right now," he said. Borough Manager Charles De Deyn pointed out that there could be enough money in the surplus to help pay for the upgrade. "We could possibly do both, cut the rates and Kind the upgrade," he said. The ordinance is scheduled to be advertised on Feb. 3 and the council will vote on it during its March 26 business meeting. TlffBH _ has a big pair of shoes i am sure she will fill the Bunting received a degree in business m from Rutger's Universi master's in school busine (ration, also from Rutgei sn employed as the b ninlstrator in Mendham Prior to that, she was a p in Middlesex Boro schand assistant business ad from 1984 to 1989. "1 am thrilled to be Butler. One of the major will be that the Mendfv Drilled fire uni ByVlTODoLAROJR. STAFF WRITER LINCOLN PARK --V borough fire departmen to several fires in a coupl or don't have to battle : over a month, the depan sharp and ready to roll. Accordiog to Borougl ficial Bruce Smith, ea company holds approxi simulated fire drills a j the borough at various I Smith also said the depart one combined drill each well. "During the drills we cthing from going over tb simulating a rescue of ar in a burning building," * "We also go over tbe pr our equipment." On Tuesday night School, both engine con scheduled to hold a spec of fire safety. Several c Flptnnf* will ati-dti Kw "%T titan f*\f