May 14, 2014

Honorable Chris Christie

Governor
State House, P.O. Box 001
125 West State Street
Trenton, New J ersey 08625

Dear Governor Christie:

We are writing you today to request that you ask the Attorney General to conduct an
investigation of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding its handling of the
Fenimore Landfill in Roxbury Township. There is firm reason to believe that the cleanup of this
facility has been grossly mismanaged, and as a result, the residents around the landfill have had
to suffer.

Our staff have spoken to those who live around the landfill as well as various stakeholders, and
they have shared disturbing information and stories that make this investigation necessary.
Specifically, there are two major issues of concern. The first is that the DEPs plan for capping
the landfill is greatly flawed. It fails to take into account the DEPs ability, or lack thereof, to
provide long term maintenance of the cap. Moreover, there is concern that emissions from the
equipment currently in place will create long term environmental and health hazards for those in
the area.

The second area of concern is with numerous aspects of the basic DEP decision-making process:
the lack of transparency throughout this entire process; how this area was designated a
brownfield; how Fenimore Landfill was approved to be reopened in violation of the States
current rules and regulations; how a former felon was permitted to operate the landfill; the poorly
considered decision to dump Sandy debris there; the DEPs failure to keep the public adequately
informed of the issues; and a suspicious refusal to provide soil samples of the area. We wish to



SENATE ENVIRONMENT
AND ENERGY COMMITTEE

BOB SMITH
Chairman

LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
Vice-Chairwoman

RICHARD J . CODEY
CHRISTOPHER KIP BATEMAN
SAMUEL D. THOMPSON

J UDITH L. HOROWITZ
MICHAEL MOLIMOCK
Office of Legislative Services
Committee Aides
(609) 847-3855
(609) 292-0561 fax





New Jersey State Legislature
SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY COMMITTEE
ASSEMBLY ENVIRONMENT AND SOLID WASTE COMMITTEE
STATE HOUSE ANNEX
PO BOX 068
TRENTON, NJ 08625-0068




ASSEMBLY ENVIRONMENT
AND SOLID WASTE COMMITTEE

L.GRACE SPENCER
Chairwoman

J OHN F. McKEON
Vice-Chairman

DANIEL R. BENSON
J OHN S. WISNIEWSKI
SCOTT T. RUMANA
DAVID W. WOLFE

CARRIE ANNE CALVO-HAHN
Office of Legislative Services
Committee Aide
(609) 847-3855
(609) 292-0561 fax

Honorable Chris Christie
Page 2
May 14, 2014

make certain that the DEP learns from these mistakes before other landfills in the State are
impacted.

As you can see, these are very serious issues that demand accountability. The residents of
Roxbury have had to suffer through emissions of gases that aggravate asthma and other health
problems, as well as horrid smells, all while the value of their homes has been negatively
impacted by the landfill. They deserve answers. We ask that you act with all deliberate speed to
have the Attorney General investigate these issues.

We await your reply and appreciate your swift and prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,


Bob Smith, Chair Grace Spencer, Chairwoman
Senate Environment and Energy Committee Assembly Environment and Solid
Waste Committee


c: Acting Attorney General Hoffman
Senate President Sweeney
Assembly Speaker Prieto
NJ DEP Commissioner Martin
Senator Bateman
Senator Codey
Senator Greenstein
Senator Thompson
Assemblyman Benson
Assemblyman McKeon
Assemblyman Rumana
Assemblyman Wisniewski
Assemblyman Wolfe
Mayor J im Rilee
Councilman Gary Behrens
Councilman Mark Crowley
Councilman Fred Hall
Councilman Richard Zoschak
Councilman Bob DeFillippo
Councilman Martin Schmidt