County to receive federal funding for truck wash

M onmouth County will be receiving $500,000 in federal funds to help defray the cost of building a truck wash facility that is needed to comply with new state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) storm water regulations. The truck wash facility will help towns comply with the regulation as well, according to a press release from the county.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) requested the funding earlier this year after county officials identified it as a priority, and it was included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Interior Funding Bill, which Congress passed and the President signed into law.

The funding will allow Monmouth County and municipalities in the county to comply with the requirements of the DEP Storm Water Regulation. As of Feb. 29, 2009, state law no longer allows the discharge of pollutants from vehicle and equipment washing into the municipal storm water system or ground water.

According to the press release, Monmouth County plans on having four truck wash facilities around the county. This grant money is slated for construction of a truck wash facility at the public works complex on Center Street in Freehold; the next will be at the reclamation center in Tinton Falls; and a site is still being sought for a third facility.

One manual truck wash facility was already built at Highway District 3 and 6 in Tinton Falls and will be open soon. Each facility costs about $1.5 million.

“Monmouth County has been at the forefront of municipal assistance and shared services programs, and one of those areas involves truck wash facilities,” Freeholder Director Barbara J. McMorrow said. “By offering this shared service, towns will be able to comply with new state storm water regulations – at a nominal fee per wash – without having to build a facility themselves.”

The truck wash facilities will contain all wash waters and direct them to the sanitary sewer system for treatment. Monmouth County has a significant vehicle and equipment fleet that requires continuous maintenance to extend its usable life and preserve taxpayer funds, according to the press release.

The project will allow for the maintenance of this fleet in compliance with state law and protect the quality of ground water and surface waters throughout Monmouth County.

“Knowing the importance of this waste water and water quality improvement project for Monmouth County, I was pleased to work with senators Lautenberg and Menendez to secure this funding,” Holt said. “I will continue to work with local leaders to identify areas where the federal government can provide a return investment on taxpayer dollars.”

“Investing in this important project will improve water quality in Monmouth County,” Lautenberg said. “This funding will stop dangerous pollutants from being discharged into our water and provide a higher standard for public health. I applaud Monmouth County for prioritizing water quality and am proud to have helped secure this funding.”

Menendez said, “This is an investment in public health and in our lands. By ensuring that storm water and waste water in Monmouth County is properly treated, we can help keep our families, wildlife and environment healthy for generations to come.”

The county expects to put the project out to bid before the end of the year.