[HISTORY:[1] Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Town of Secaucus 11-28-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-28. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Ch. 115, Smoking in Town Buildings, containing portions of Ordinance No. 98-25, was repealed in its entirety by Ordinance No. 2015-45. See Chapter 116, Use of Tobacco Products in Public Areas.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ACCEPTABLE SOIL/FILL
Non-water-soluble, nondecomposable, inert solids such as soil, subsoil, topsoil, sand, clay, loam, gravel, humus, rock, and/or clay, free of construction/demolition debris, garbage, refuse, or sludge that meets the requirements of this chapter. Fill may be from an authorized quarry/mine facility. Fill shall not contain concentrations of one or more contaminants that exceed the NJDEP Migration to Groundwater Soil Remediation Standards, DEP's Residential Direct Contact Soil Remediation Standards or Non-Residential Direct Contact Soil Remediation Standards, whichever is more stringent, as set forth in N.J.A.C. 7:26D, Remediation Standards.
APPLICANT
The property owner requesting a soil importation permit as provided for in this chapter.
CONSTRUCTION/DEMOLITION DEBRIS
Mixed waste building material and rubble resulting from construction, remodeling, repair, and demolition operations on houses, commercial buildings, pavements and other structures that includes, but is not limited to, treated and untreated wood scrap; tree parts, tree stumps and brush; plaster and wallboard; roofing materials; corrugated cardboard and miscellaneous paper; ferrous and nonferrous metal; non-asbestos building insulation; plastic scrap; carpets and padding; and other miscellaneous materials.
CONTAMINATED PROPERTY
Any property, including but not limited to structures, sediment, soil and water, that contains a contaminant which is present at such levels or concentration as to require action pursuant to any federal or state statutes or regulations.
CONTAMINATED SOIL/FILL
Any soil/fill containing contaminants exceeding the current requirements of the NJDEP Migration to Groundwater Soil Remediation Standards or the most stringent concentrations between the Non-Residential and Residential Direct Contact Soil Remediation Standards pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:26D, Remediation Standards.
DREDGED MATERIAL
Sediments removed from under a body of water such as, but not limited to, a bay, harbor, lake, stream and river, removed during a dredging operation that are displaced or removed to another location.
FILL
Material placed at a location for the purpose of filling low areas, changing the contours of an area, stabilizing existing grades and/or raising the grade of an area. Fill usually consists of soil, but may also include non-water-soluble, nondecomposable, inert solids, such as rock, gravel, brick, block, concrete, glass, and/or clay or ceramic products or any combination thereof.
LICENSED SITE REMEDIATION PROFESSIONAL (LSRP)
An experienced environmental consultant licensed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and qualified to conduct the remediation of contaminated sites in New Jersey without prior New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection approval in accordance with all remediation statutes, and Department rules and regulations.
MAJOR SOIL PERMIT
The official document issued by the Town of Secaucus for the moving of greater than 200 cubic yards of material on one site.
MINOR SOIL PERMIT
The official document issued by the Town of Secaucus for the moving of 15 to 200 cubic yards of material on one site.
PERMIT
The official document issued by the Town of Secaucus approving the Soil Importation Application. For 15 to 200 cubic yards of material, a minor soil fill permit will be issued. For greater than 200 cubic yards of material, a major soil fill permit will be issued.
PERSON
Includes an individual, firm, corporation, association, society or partnership, or other business entity and their agents or employees.
REMEDIAL ACTION
As defined in the Technical Requirements for Site Remediation (Technical Requirements) at N.J.A.C. 7:26E-1.8, those actions taken at a contaminated site as may be required by the Department, including, without limitation, removal, treatment measures, containment, transportation, securing, or other engineering or institutional controls, whether to an unrestricted use or otherwise, designed to ensure that any contaminant is remediated in compliance with the applicable remediation standards. Remedial action continues as long as an engineering control or an institutional control is needed to protect the public health and safety and the environment, and until all unrestricted use remediation standards are met.
REMEDIATION
All actions to investigate, clean up, or respond to any known, suspected, or threatened discharge of contaminants, including the preliminary assessment, site investigation, remedial investigation, and remedial action, or any portion thereof; provided, however, that "remediation" or "remediate" shall not include the payment of compensation for damage to, or loss of, natural resources.
TOPSOIL
The arable soil is within eight inches of the surface.
TOWN
Refers to the Town of Secaucus, County of Hudson, State of New Jersey.
A. 
Permit required.
(1) 
No person shall deposit or place soil/fill material, or cause, allow, or permit soil/fill to be placed on any property in the Town of Secaucus unless a permit is issued by the Town and any other applicable county, state or federal approval(s) or permit(s) are obtained.
(2) 
All other required local, state or federal approvals or local Soil Conservation District requirements regarding the acceptability and placement of soil/fill materials shall be adhered to.
(3) 
This chapter does not apply to soil/fill imported for the purposes of remediation pursuant to the Administrative Requirements for the Remediation of Contaminated Sites (ARRCS, N.J.A.C. 7:26C) and Technical Requirements for Site Remediation (N.J.A.C. 7:26E), operation and/or closure of sanitary landfills (N.J.A.C. 7:26), or dredge repository sites approved by state or federal agencies.
B. 
Unless otherwise exempt, no permit shall be issued unless:
(1) 
The applicant submits proof that the soil/fill material has been tested consistent with any applicable requirements set forth herein;
(2) 
The soil/fill meets the definition of acceptable soil/fill; and
(3) 
The application otherwise conforms with the standards of this chapter.
A person is not required to obtain a permit under this chapter for the following:
A. 
Minor filling associated with landscaping activities at any property where up to 15 cubic yards, or as otherwise allowed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection under applicable regulations, per year of acceptable soil/fill material is being deposited.
B. 
Fill for septic installation and/or repair certified to be such by a licensed New Jersey engineer or approved by the local health agency.
C. 
Virgin quarry products including, but not limited to, rock, stone, gravel, sand, clay and other mined natural products when it is certified as quarry/mine material by a licensed quarry/mine. Documentation must be provided for this exemption.
D. 
Acceptable soil/fill material being moved from one section of an owner's property to another section of the same property.
E. 
Soil/fill imported to or moved within a properly licensed Class B recycling facility.
F. 
Acceptable soil/fill moved from a properly licensed Class B recycling facility.
G. 
Public works projects conducted for or contracted by a public entity or utility regulated by the Board of Public Utilities provided the soil/fill material meets the definition of acceptable soil/fill.
H. 
The storage of sand, soil, stone, topsoil, mulch or other similar materials on lawfully existing landscaping and contractor yards, provided the materials are in conformance with the Soil Rankings Criteria found in N.J.A.C. 7:26D, Appendix 1, Table 1A.
The property owner receiving the soil/fill material is responsible for obtaining the permit.
A. 
Each permit issued under the terms of this chapter shall be valid only for the volume, location(s) and soil/fill material described therein and shall be valid for the duration of the project specified in the permit application.
B. 
In granting permits, the Construction Official, Town Engineer or their designee shall have the power to place conditions and terms on the permit in the interest, health, safety and general welfare and in accordance with the specifications of this chapter.
The procedure to apply for a soil/fill importation permit shall be as follows:
A. 
All applications for soil/fill importation permits shall be filed with the Town of Secaucus' Construction Department, who shall administer the applications and permits.
B. 
Fees shall be remitted at the time of application. The fee shall address the costs associated with the review of the application and for any field monitoring inspections, as applicable.
(1) 
Minor soil fill permit (15 to 200 cubic yards) fee: $150.
(2) 
Major soil fill permit (greater than 200 cubic yards) fee: $500.
C. 
The application shall include Form SI-1 Acceptable Soil/Fill Material Certification Form to be completed as follows:
(1) 
By the soil/fill material supplier.
Part 1: The date the form is completed, the soil/fill supplier's name, title, company name, State of New Jersey A-901 license number, address, telephone number, and email contact information.
Part 2: The site name(s), address(es), and block/lot of the property(ies) supplying the soil/fill material.
Brief history of the source property(ies), including current or past use of the property, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Program Interest Number (if applicable).
Answers to questions 1 through 3.
Provide analytical testing results, number of samples collected and analyzed, and justification for the number of samples collected and parameters tested in accordance with applicable requirements in the most recent NJDEP "Fill Material Guidance for SRP Sites."
All analytical testing shall be performed by a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Certified Laboratory.
If analytical testing was not conducted, justification for making a determination that the soil/fill is acceptable without having analytical results must be presented and approved by the Town.
For major soil fill permits, an LSRP must certify (signature) that the material being imported meets the definition of acceptable soil/fill. For minor soil fill permits, an LSRP or Certified Subservice Evaluator must certify (signature) that the material being imported meets the definition of acceptable soil/fill.
(2) 
By the person receiving or placing acceptable soil/fill material.
Part 3: The date the form is completed, the name, title, company name, address, telephone number, and email contact information.
The address of the location where soil/fill placement will be placed.
Answers to questions 1 through 5.
Certification (signature) from the person receiving or placing the soil/fill material.
(3) 
For major soil/fill importing permit (greater than 200 cubic yards): The application shall also include signed and sealed Site Plans and Geotechnical Engineering Reports in accordance with the guidelines set forth on the Form SI-1 Acceptable Soil/Fill Material Certification Form.
Within 30 days after receipt of a complete application, the Town shall review the application and either approve, conditionally approve or deny the application.
Whenever an application for a permit is denied, the applicant may appeal the denial to the Town Administrator by filing a written notice of appeal with the Town Clerk within 30 days after receiving written notice of the denial of such application. The Town Administrator shall thereafter hold a hearing within 60 days on the matter and may modify, affirm or reverse the decision.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be liable to a fine of not more than $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 90 days or both such fine and imprisonment, at the direction of the Municipal Court. Every day in which such violation continues after due notice has been served shall constitute a separate violation or offense. Upon order of the Court, the violator shall pay all costs associated with analytical testing, remediation, removal and proper disposal of soil/fill material determined to not to comply with the definition of acceptable soil/fill.
The person receiving a permit pursuant to this chapter shall comply with all conditions set forth in the permit. Submitting false information or noncompliance with a permit may subject the person receiving a permit to a penalty pursuant to § 115-9 and/or suspension or revocation of such a permit.