Thursday, July 5, 2012

Paint Sludge at the Powerlinez

Paint sludge in the Torne Valley.
As the TVCC (Torne Valley Climbers Coalition) continues to work toward the goal of opening access at the Powerlinez, (Yes, it is still closed and the TVCC is making progress)  there are some key issues to highlight that will effect access and use in the future.


On the top of that list,  is the fact that the area has been used as a dumping ground for excess paint sludge.  The paint sludge pictured here lies just off Torne Valley Road, by the new Ramapo Saltbox Environmental Research Center. (ERC). 

One such sludge deposit lies right off the access path by the turn-a-round used for parking by climbers,  and there are many more in the valley.  Odds are,  if you've hiked or climbed around the Powerlinez,  then you've walked over and around the paint sludge.

The paint sludge came from a Ford Plant that was operating in Mahwah,  and there have been countless articles: NJ Record Article and an HBO documentary titled Ford vs. Mann about it's toxicity and pollution. 

Environmentalists have been fighting for clean-up for years and they still need our support.  Ford dumped the sludge there because they thought no one would notice,  and the corporation has been very effective in evading its responsibilities.  If climbers are allowed to use the area,  we can definitely raise awareness and continue to point out the obvious:  the Torne Valley is dangerously polluted with paint sludge.



10 comments:

  1. Any contact information for the person heading the clean up operation

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  2. That's part of the problem. Ford would rather sidestep than 'head up' a cleaning effort. That's why the ERC is so important. If you check the ERC's website, listed below, it explains that its mission is to monitor the contamination. Chuck Stead is definitely very involved, and is very willing to talk to people.

    http://www.ramapo.org/page/ramapo-saltbox-environmental-research-center-73.html

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  3. Any contact information for the person heading the clean up operation

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  4. From what I've read, Ford didn't dump the paint, they had a waste disposal company that did. So lets not go saying Ford dumped it all. It's their waste but not their doing.

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  5. Interesting. I think what's important is that climbers can help get the place cleaned up. The environmentalists have been fighting for the place for years, and they need our help. We can bring a lot of awareness.

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  6. From what I've read, Ford didn't dump the paint, they had a waste disposal company that did. So lets not go saying Ford dumped it all. It's their waste but not their doing.

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  7. From what I've read, Ford didn't dump the paint, they had a waste disposal company that did. So lets not go saying Ford dumped it all. It's their waste but not their doing.

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  8. Hmmm, 'guided climbing' and 'gunks rock climbing' have said the exact same thing.

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  9. And I think the response has to be: Seeing the significant pollution problem in the area, who is the waste disposal company? And, are they being held responsible for cleanup?

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