The legislative effort to close the Keegan Landfill is proceeding in Trenton.
A bill urging the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority to immediately close and cap the 110-acre landfill in Kearny advanced out of the state Senate Environment and Energy Committee on Monday and can now be taken up for a vote by the full Senate.
The landfill, which is owned and operated by the NJSEA, has been emitting noxious hydrogen sulfide gas for over a year. Kearny sued the state agency in April and scored a pivotal victory in September when a Hudson County Superior Court judge ordered the NJSEA to permanently close the facility.
The NJSEA is appealing the judge’s decision.
The bill sponsored by Sens. Nicholas Sacco and Brian Stack also calls on the NJSEA to install an impermeable cover over the landfill.
Kearny Mayor Al Santos said that as long as moisture continues to enter the landfill, the old industrial waste will continue to emit hydrogen sulfide. On Sunday, Santos said hydrogen sulfide emissions exceeded permitted levels on 13 of the previous 14 days.
“We are again asking that (the state Department of Environmental Protection) do the right thing and take over the Keegan Landfill and install an impermeable cap as soon as possible so the exceedances stop.”
The Senate Environment and Energy Committee also released the “Liberty State Park Protection Act" for a full vote. The bill establishes a Liberty State Park Advisory Committee and requirements concerning DEP actions related to Liberty State Park.
The law, sponsored by Sens. Sandra Cunningham and Loretta Weinberg, was drafted to protect the state park from privatization efforts.