In addition to the Berkeley Heights Sewage Plant DEP violations we’ve been reporting on the past four days, there were other citations in the bidder folder dump provided to us by a resident.

In July 2022, a worker complaint led to an inspection of the Sewage Plant by the Public Employees’ Occupational Safety and Health program (PEOSH). That inspection then led to an Order to Comply and concluded that conditions in the plant posed risks to employees.

Two problems stood out as especially serious. The first was an extension cord being used in place of permanent wiring to power a camera. The cord was lying on the ground, where it could be damaged by weather or stepped on. The ignition system for the plant’s methane flare was also broken, leaving workers to stick an arm into a cylinder to hand-light methane gas. Inspectors warned this exposed employees to the risk of burns, fire, or even an explosion. The Township faced fines of $2,800 per day if these items were not corrected in August that same year.

Other issues included paperwork and training failures. The emergency action plan and fire prevention plan listed folks who no longer worked at the plant and records of a workplace hazard assessment for protective gear were missing. Additionally, annual safety checks of lockout/tagout procedures (meant to protect workers) hadn’t been documented. Each issue came with a potential $400-per-day price tag if left uncorrected.

The Township’s deadline to submit proof of corrections was September 2022.

Another bureau within the Department of Labor (Mechanical Inspection Bureau of Boiler & Pressure Vessel Compliance) cited the Township in 2023 and again in 2024 for equipment problems at the same site. One inspection found general boiler violations and the other involved a leaking boiler that needed to be repaired or replaced. The Township had until June 2025 to correct these issues.

Source Document

Sewage Plant DEP Violations Wiki

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