LEBANON TWP. — The New Jersey Natural Lands Trust is considering a swap of 34 preserved acres in Lebanon Township for 100 acres in Sussex County. Eastern Concrete Materials, which owns the quarry in Glen Gardner, wants to give the state the acreage in Sussex County in exchange for a lot that is part of the NLT’s Hagedorn Preserve in Lebanon Township.
The Lebanon Township Environmental and Open Space Commission opposes the idea and wants a public hearing regarding the possible land swap to be held locally instead of in Trenton.
Township commission member Nancy Lawler and William Kibler, director of science and policy at Raritan Headwaters Association, went to the Aug. 1 Township Committee meeting seeking support for their request.
The state has scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 21 at noon in Trenton, a time when most people are working, Kibler said.
According to its website, “The New Jersey Natural Lands Trust was created in 1968 by the Legislature as an independent agency in but not of the Division of Parks & Forestry in the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Its mission: to preserve land in its natural state for enjoyment by the public and to protect natural diversity through the acquisition of open space. The trust acquires open space primarily by donations of land and easements. In creating the trust, the Legislature’s goal was to establish an agency with the protective power of the state that would have the support of private-sector open space preservation and conservation organizations. The trust’s autonomy is a key factor in garnering the confidence of individuals interested in preserving their land and that of the conservation community.”
The Hagedorn Preserve is comprised of several parcels totaling about 450 acres. There are at least five species on the state endangered list that can be found on the preserve. The land was preserved “in perpetuity” to help protect those species, Lawler said.
Lawler said the quarry has encroached on the land before. “Give them an inch and they’ll take 34 acres," she said.
Allowing the land swap to take place would “set a horrible precedent and violates the land trust’s mission Kibler said
Lawler and Kibler said the land swap would allow the quarry to expand operations. The quarry is already the largest user of water in the area.
The quarry recently received approval to divert up to 26.223 million gallons of water during any month and 275.411 million gallons of water per year at a maximum rate of 1,350 gallons per minute from two quarry ponds and an existing potable well.
The diversion, which has been ongoing for more than 40 years, is used for crushed stone washing and dust suppression. Eastern Concrete had to apply for a new permit since it purchased the property about two years ago.
A public hearing on the permit application was held on May 8 in Trenton. During that hearing several requests were made to have an additional public hearing conducted in Glen Gardner but those requests were denied. Instead, the time to submit written comments was extended into June.
According to the notice extending the deadline, the DEP gives equal weight to written and in-person testimony.
"The Natural Lands Trust needs to hear from local people," Kibler said.
Kibler said increasing operations at the quarry would mean an increase in water usage. The quarry is lower than the water table in Lebanon Township so wells could be affected if water usage is increased. All of Lebanon Township is served by private wells. Glen Gardner is served by a public well.
The water coming out of the quarry goes into the Spruce Run Reservoir, which provides drinking water for other areas of the state. Kibler said the water running out of the quarry usually has a “milky gray” appearance.
If the land swap were to happen, it is unclear how the Highlands Act would apply or if Lebanon Township would have any control if the quarry expanded into the 34 acres.
The Township Committee will review the letter submitted by the township Environmental and Open Space Commission. The letter asks for the hearing to be held locally and opposes the land swap. A similar letter will be presented to Glen Gardner for its review.
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