JCP&L to Turn Over Gas Plant Properties to City After Clean Up

CAPE MAY — After Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L) completes remediation of the former coal gasification plant site near Lafayette and St. John streets, it will relinquish ownership of several properties to the city.
The JCP&L properties includes the Cape May Dog Park and three tracts on St. John Street, including Elsie Wise’s former home at the corner with Lafayette Street and the former lodge property.
At a Nov. 18 City Council meeting, City Solicitor Tony Monzo said the remediation area covers all of Wise-Anderson Park and its perimeter plus some surrounding areas including the dog park. The transfers of properties would be done with full indemnity with oversight from the state Department of Environmental Protection “with little or no risk to the city,” he said.
Council introduced an ordinance authorizing a settlement agreement with JCP&L that would give the utility access to city-owned land for remediation and to transfer ownership of the other parcels after remediation. A public hearing will be held on the ordinance at council’s Dec. 15 meeting, which will include a presentation from JCP&L.
Monzo said there were two methods to deal with contamination from the gas plant. One method would be to remove all the soil down to the groundwater which would take four to five years and fill 65,000 dump truck loads.
The alternative, and the method chosen by JCP&L and city, would include a containment wall around the most contaminated area with monitoring wells and removing some soil, said Monzo. He said the contamination would be monitored and pumped out from time to time and not allowed to spread to surrounding areas through the groundwater.
Monzo said the city has been working with JCP&L for several years on a path that “has taken several twists and turns.” At one point, JCP&L was interested in acquiring Wise-Anderson Park but City Council rejected that idea, he said.
Monzo said the city did not want to totally restrict future uses of Wise-Anderson Park, which was acquired through Green Acres to be used as open space. He said it was restricted to use as a park, which could have restrooms and a concession stand, and could also be used as a parking lot.
The city’s long-term plans include providing more recreational space in the former gas plant area, said Mayor Edward J. Mahaney Jr.
In the future, the city would have only activities on the surface of the properties and do nothing involving excavation, the mayor said.