Buyer backs out of 3M Belle Mead plant deal

By Greg Forester / Staff Writer
   MONTGOMERY — A public review of the second phase of stormwater management improvements at 3M’s Belle Mead plant has been canceled, after a prospective buyer for the sprawling, Sourland Mountain site backed out of negotiations.
   Future buyers would continue 3M’s efforts in controlling the tainted stormwater that originates on the 1,500-acre site and occasionally causes township waterways to take on a polluted, milky-white appearance during severe weather events.
   The cause of the pollution is what’s known as materials fines, an ultra-fine material stored in a massive 60-acre pile on the site. The material fines was a byproduct in the rock-crushing process used to manufacture roofing materials, which is no longer undertaken at the plant, although some roofing materials and products are still being produced.
   In the spirit of cooperation, company officials had hoped to bring the potential buyer to meet with Montgomery officials during Monday’s review session, according to attorney Francis Linnus, who confirmed that the buyer has now withdrawn from negotiations.
   "It was really accommodation of the township, to make sure everyone is on the same page," said Mr. Linnus. "We would like them to meet the prospective buyer."
   When a buyer is found, a new review session will be scheduled, according to Mr. Linnus.
   At that point, approval from the township would mean 3M or the buyer would have the go-ahead to begin work on the second phase of stormwater management, in hopes of more effectively addressing the tainted runoff.
   The second phase involves modifications to a system of retention basins on the property, according to plant manager Keith Jacobs. The basins sequester runoff from the 3M site and prevent fines-tainted liquid from getting into the surrounding system of waterways.
   Other efforts completed by the company included the capping of the 60-acre fines pile with vegetation.
   Mr. Jacobs said the pile of fines has undergone hyrdoseeding, in which a green, foamy material made up of grass seed and other materials was sprayed onto the pile.
   Those materials eventually sprout into patches of grass, which prevents the erosion of the pile and further reduces tainted runoff, according to company officials, who said the efforts have paid off in terms of reduced pollution.
   "It’s a huge, huge improvement," Mr. Jacobs said.
   3M officials were correct in saying that much of the problem has been addressed, according to township officials.
   But the same officials said the goal of the township remains having completely pollution-free waterways regardless of heavy rains or severe weather.
   Like 3M’s representative, township officials said the end of rock-blasting operations at the site has gone a long way in addressing the runoff problem.
   "There’s so little activity up there that we’re not seeing the kinds of problems we have seen in the past," said Louise Wilson, a former mayor and longtime Township Committee member.
   Besides affecting the water quality in Montgomery’s waterways, at one time the unsecured fines pile meant that strong winds could bring a cloud of fines off the Sourland Mountain site and down into Montgomery.
   That has since been addressed, but township officials stress that completely addressing the water issues is important for the township, for 3M or any future owners of the site.
   "As far as Montgomery is concerned, doing so is a very high priority," Ms. Wilson said.