Remediation of the site is expected to cost $17 million, and the Brownfields funding if approved would reimburse the township up to $13 million.
By: Purvi Desai
Hillsborough will seek money from the state to help pay for the cleanup of the General Services Administration Belle Mead Depot on Mountain View Road, after the Township Committee OK’d an application for state Brownfields funding Tuesday.
Hillsborough and Somerset County entered into an option agreement to purchase the 438-acre property from the federal government last September. The agreement with the GSA places the $17.5 million purchase price in an escrow fund to use to clean the property, which was used for warehousing a variety of supplies and material until the 1960s, including mercury, arsenic and pesticides.
The grant would pay for the cost of cleanup of the site and its redevelopment for use for parks and recreation purposes.
Bob Zelley, director of environmental services for Maser Consulting and Township Engineer, reported that the Brownfields grant funding can cover 75 percent of the remediation costs and Hillsborough’s project has a good chance of approval, in his opinion.
He said remediation is expected to cost $17 million, and the Brownfields funding if approved will reimburse the township up to $13 million. The GSA is also expected to refund a portion of the purchase price when the cleanup is completed, depending on the final use of the property.
Mr. Zelley said the property currently contains approximately 150,000 yards of ballast, a construction aggregate or mix of construction materials, and 160,00 cubic yards of reinforced concrete, spread out in very low concentrations throughout the site.
Mayor Anthony Ferrera noted the townshipand county are still negotiating the final price and terms with the GSA because of the cost to clean the site, but, he added, "Hillsborough taxpayers will benefit greatly from a Brownfields grant that could cover those clean up costs beyond the GSA’s final commitment."
The resolution approved by the Township Committee directs the Planning Board to conduct the preliminary investigation to determine that the property is in an area in need of redevelopment, a step required by the state redevelopment law.
"Should all parties work cooperatively, remediation work can begin in May of 2008," Mr. Zelley said, adding that the next step after applying for Brownfields funds would be to develop a remedial action work plan. After remediation, a property transfer would occur from the GSA to Hillsborough, and then a Memorandum of Understanding would be obtained between the township, county and state Department of Environmental Protection.
"I think we were very lucky," Mr. Zelley said. "The site is an excellent site."

