Momentum seems to be building for the Sludge Busters in their ongoing effort to prevent a solid waste transfer station from being established on a piece of property along Business Route 33 near Kozloski Road in Freehold Township.
The exact nature and details of operation of the waste transfer station remain a mystery to all of the people who have so far lined up in opposition to it. The unsettling lack of information should give residents of Freehold Township and Free-hold Bor-ough cause for concern and inspire them to learn more about what could happen in their backyard.
Both communities are fortunate to have a group of committed residents – dubbed the Sludge Busters at the time of their opposition to an environmentally challenged project that was proposed for the same piece of Route 33 property in the 1990s – in their corner.
The Sludge Busters and the politicians they have enlisted to help oppose the waste transfer station want an environmental study to be conducted on the Route 33 property. That is a perfectly reasonable request before permitting unknown materials to be brought into and out of a location that has been called environmentally sensitive.
We see no reason for any party to object to an environmental study unless, of course, that objector is just trying to ram a solid waste transfer station down Freehold’s throat.
The sticking point here is that neither the municipal, county nor state governments have any jurisdiction over the matter.
This is a federal issue because rail transportation is apparently part of the waste transfer station plan.
As has been explained by those involved in the situation, federal law as it relates to railroads removes any oversight and regulation by local authorities. Legislation has been introduced in Washington, D.C., by New Jersey legislators to try to close the loophole that leaves locals out of the loop.
Here are two final observations relating to this particular effort.
One, the Sludge Busters and those who are objecting to the proposed waste transfer station are fortunate to have Larry Zaayenga on their side. Zaayenga is the long-time secretary of the Monmouth County Solid Waste Advisory Council.
Zaayenga knows the county and the environment, and we are confident he is committed to protecting residents. Any information he is able to provide about this situation should be given serious attention.
Two, this is an election year, and many politicians will be trying to claim credit for helping to fight this battle. One recent tour of the site was like a Democratic convention and a second tour of the site was like a Republican convention.
We do not want to see the Sludge Busters put in the position of having to choose which politicians are doing more to help them fight this battle.
On any given day there will be Republicans and Democrats doing whatever they can to protect residents and the environment. Politicians should let their deeds speak for themselves and the people will know who to support.