Lieberman Blecher & Sinkevich was hired as special environmental counsel by the City of Vineland concerning the former Pure Earth Recycling facility previously located within the City. Pure Earth was engaged in recycling activities that involved processing contaminated soils, waste oil, and other materials on the property. Pure Earth abruptly ceased operations in 2011 due to alleged financial constraints. However, when Pure Earth ceased operations, it left behind tremendous environmental contamination which included, but is not limited to; hundreds of drums of hazardous substances, numerous above ground storage tanks containing waste oil with various Resource, Conservation, and Recovery Act characteristics, thousands of gallons of waste oil and other flammable liquids, and a sizable contaminated soil problem. On July 6, 2012, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) engaged in an emergency removal action under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Conservation and Liability Act to remediate the storage tanks and drums referenced above.

Recently, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) was considering transferring the environmental permits formerly held by Pure Earth to Tradebe Environmental Services, LLC, so that similar operations may resume at the property. Lieberman Blecher & Sinkevich successfully represented the City of Vineland in opposing the transfer of these permits, thereby keeping a new hazardous waste facility out of Vineland’s thriving industrial park.

Lieberman Blecher & Sinkevich has a long history of assisting municipal, industrial, and individual clients in the citing and cleanup of hazardous and non-hazardous waste facilities. We have assisted owners of recycling operations with permitting and regulatory compliance concerns, as well as helped municipalities manage abandoned and contaminated former industrial sites. Our attorneys’ breadth of environmental and litigation experience enables them to help clients across sectors achieve lasting results for their business and communities.