Operators addressing issues at Campo and Buck mines

By MAUREEN DAYE
Correspondent

MILLSTONE — The saga of the Campo and Buck mines continued at the Township Committee meeting on June 3.

The three committee members in attendance voted that upon approval by the Freehold Soil Conservation District, the Campo mine on Baird Road can open and continue to operate until the receipt of a report from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The mine’s operator will have 30 days to resolve any issues raised by the agency.

Committee members Gary Dorfman, Nancy Grbelja and Mike Kuczinski voted yes. Mayor Bob Kinsey and Committeeman Fiore Masci were absent from the meeting.

If the Campo Mine operators do not comply within 30 days, the permit will be revoked, said Matt Shafai, township engineer. Shafai said he expects the DEP report to be issued within two weeks.

Since the previous committee meeting on May 20, Shafai met with representatives of the DEP and members of the Campo family who own the mine. He said they went through the issues in the DEP report and confirmed that no work is being done on the site.

Shafai said it appears that most of the violations have been addressed.

“I recommend approval subject to the Freehold Soil Conservation District’s reading,” Shafai said. “After we get the DEP report, the mine’s operators will have 30 days to resolve anything that needs to be corrected. Campo is here. There is no problem with handling problems within 30 days of DEP report, is there?”

“No problem,” said Lucy Campo.

Next, Shafai updated the committee about the Buck mine on Pine Hill Road.

In May, the operators of the mine received an emergency permit to operate for two weeks. The business was facing a June 2 closing date.

Shafai reported on June 3 that a significant amount of work had been done, but he said it was not complete. There is a structure that is missing that has to be purchased and put in for water, he said, noting that the project will take several weeks to complete.

“I want to make sure the basin’s grade is designed properly,” he said.

Once the basin has been installed, the mine’s operator will need approval from the DEP and the Freehold Soil Conservation District. Shafai said if the operator obtains those approvals, he will speak with them and agree that the mine was in compliance.