The Hammonton Gazette 02/06/19 Edition | Page 4

Pinelands Commission speaks about sewer effluent Wednesday, February 6, 2019 • The Hammonton Gazette • Page 3 PINELANDS, from Page 1 the Pinelands Commission and also said he would “stand by” his prior quote about the town not being told by the Pinelands to pur- chase any particular piece of ground for drip irrigation of treated sewer effluent from the Hammonton Waste Water treat- ment Plant. Horner answered several ques- tions from The Gazette regarding the disposal of the treated sewer effluent, and the consequences if the town did not keep the treated effluent from the sewer plant out of the Hammonton Creek. the town is holding a council meeting at 7 p.m. on February 7 where they may vote to move forward on a $2.6 million spending plan that includes $1.8 million for the pur- chase of the “back 9” holes of Frog rock Golf and Country Club, plus hundreds of thousands of more dollars for an extension of a sewer line on Boyer avenue as well as an expansion of drip irri- gation on town-owned property on Boyer avenue. [For more history about the issue, please read the Resolution of the New Jersey Pinelands Com- mission “To Approve With Condi- tions Hammonton’s Long Term Comprehensive Wastewater Plan to Eliminate the Discharge of Treated Wastewater to Hammon- ton Creek” on page 13.] During the January 30 inter- view, Horner commented directly on the matter, including public comments during the January 28 council meeting by Mayor Stephen DiDonato regarding the possibility of the town being put on a moratorium. “there’s not an overt threat of a moratorium, but we have notified the town of Hammonton that they’re going to have to prove they have capacity at the waste water treatment plant for new and existing development,” Horner said. When asked if the town had to purchase the golf holes from Frog rock Golf and Country Club, Horner said, “i stand by my prior quote” referring to a quote he had given to The Gazette when asked about the same matter in august Now carrying Blush by Hayley Paige and Maggie Sottero We carry gorgeous dresses by: One Sindoni Lane, Suite C, Hammonton (609) 270-7886 • www.meadowsbridalshop.com Hayley Paige, Maggie Sottero Casablanca, Mori Lee, and so much more! HOLIDAY HOURS Monday, February 11: 11 am -7 pm Tuesday, February 12: 9:30 am - 8 pm Wednesday, February 13: 9:30 am - 8 pm Valentine’s Day, Thurs., Feb. 14: 9:30 am - 8 pm Happy Valen- tine’s C USTOM E NGAGEMENT R INGS & W EDDING B ANDS R EPAIRS C OMPLETED ON P REMISES 121 S. White Horse Pike Across from McDonald’s Hammonton • 561-6222 of 2018, which was as follows: “We are not requiring the pur- chase of this particular piece of land. if the town wants to do it— increase infrastructure to get wastewater out of the stream—we think that’s a good thing. But i want to be clear: We’re not advo- cating this particular parcel or this particular method over any other particular parcel or particular method. But we appreciate what the town is trying to do with the treated effluent now and in the fu- ture,” Horner said during the au- gust 2018 interview. Horner said the Pinelands sup- ported using the treated effluent on the golf holes. “We think that reuse of waste- water is a good idea. We feel the spray irrigation has its place, be- cause it’s reuse of a valuable re- source,” Horner said. there are, however, some re- strictions on spraying on the prop- erty, Horner said. “No spray irrigation into wet- lands and buffers to wetlands. Spray irrigation in the undisturbed portions of the wetlands buffers in the forest area would have to be reviewed by Pinelands to see if it is allowed, so it’s neither a ‘yes’ or a ‘no.’ Spraying on fairways is OK,” Horner said. in his interview with The Gazette in august of 2018, Horner mentioned some other limitations. the Pinelands Commission would have to investigate the irrigation equipment, he said then. “the irrigation equipment would have to be investigated to see if it could be used, or if new irrigation equipment would have to be installed,” Horner said in august of 2018. During the January 30 inter- view, Horner was asked if the town could use an alternative method for disposing of the efflu- ent, such as solid cakes rather than the current liquid form. Pinelands Commission Spokesman Paul Leaken emailed The Gazette with an answer on February 1. “Not unique to the Pinelands, most if not all wastewater treat- ment plants wind up with residual waste resulting from the waste- water treatment process. to the extent those residual solids are sold or directed to another legally permitted use, it does not raise an issue with the Commission,” Leaken wrote in an email on be- half of the Pinelands Commission. a special meeting of council re- garding the disposal of treated sewer effluent and the potential purchase of the “back 9” of Frog rock Golf and Country Club for $1.8 million, along with other sewer-related improvements, will be held at town hall at 7 p.m. on February 7. DiMeglio Septic , Est. 1975 ~ DEP 03261 ~ Paul DiMeglio Inc. 1 (800) 427-4617 ~ 561-1007 ~ 561-3597 491 White Horse Pike • Ancora, NJ • Grease Trap Cleaning • Portable Toilets • Septic Certifications • Jetting Service