CAMDEN, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Behind a steel fence at Sixth and Chestnut streets in Camden, dirt and construction debris is piled at least three stories high. New Jersey’s new acting attorney general has set his sights on it.
EPA soil samples from the pile came back with elevated levels of toxic chemicals, according to acting Attorney General Andrew Bruck. He said the illegal dumping site is a public health risk for the neighborhood, so he’s bringing the property owner, Weyhill Realty, to court to get it cleaned up immediately.
Bruck said contaminated particles are getting into people’s lungs when dust blows around, and there’s a risk of storm runoff ending up in nearby waterways.
“And on top of that, there’s a risk that the debris pile that’s out there could collapse and create a contaminated landslide into a neighboring residence,” he added.
Some residents told KYW Newsradio that this is just another item on the list of things wrong in the city. Virgil Barone doesn’t think removing that pile is the most pressing matter.
“You got the homeless problem. The drug problem. There’s so many things, so many things,” he said.
Bruck said it is a priority to go after polluters and illegal dumpers because they ruin urban areas, and there can’t be racial justice without environmental justice, he said.
KYW was unable to get in touch with the property owners.