Proposed Rockaway Twp. power plant ruled inconsistent with N.J.'s water quality rules
By Brian T. Murray/The Star-Ledger
November 19, 2009, 5:57PM

ROCKAWAY TWP. -- The Mt. Hope Biomass Power Plant, a 30-megawatt generating facility proposed for Rockaway Township, suffered a regulatory setback today when the state ruled the project was inconsistent with New Jerseys water quality management rules.

The New Jersey chapter of the Sierra Club, which claims the plant would increase air and water pollution, said the Department of Environmental Protection decision kills all hope for the plan. The plant, which would burn recycled wood-residue to create electricity, is proposed for the same site where a 14-year effort to build a hydro-electrical plant died in 2006.

Project manager Sam Ramiz said the ruling was not a death knell, adding that the problems may be addressed through some redesigns.

"We take it step by step," he said.

Ramiz said the DEP found the project was exempt from development restrictions posed in the area by the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act of 2004. The act protects an 800,000-acre, water-rich region covering seven North Jersey counties by restricting development, but the DEP said the biomass project was exempt because it would refurbish an already developed site.

The problem with the project, according to the DEP, is that it lies beyond approved sewer service and proposes discharging 900 gallons per day of sanitary wastewater into a holding tank for off-site disposal, which his inconsistent with existing wastewater rules. The project also calls for discharging 20,000 gallons per day of industrial wastewater into either groundwater or surface water, which also is not authorized in that area.