Lake Hopatcong Shoreline Spill
On the morning of 7/31/08, Jefferson Twp Fire Co # 2 and the Jefferson Rescue Squad responded to 35 Yacht Club Drive for an unidentified hazardous material spill at the boat ramp. Jefferson Co # 2 Fire Officer, Engineer Dave Cascone, established the incident command center on the scene behind the Lake Forrest Yacht Club. Nearby swimmers were immediately removed from the area and the Yacht Club Beach area was closed and secured with yellow police tape. Morris County and Picatinny Hazmat teams were requested as well as a response from the N.J. D.E.P. and the Jefferson Health Department. A green colored slick of an unknown material was seen across a span of approximately 300 feet of the shoreline. The Lake Forrest Yacht Club and the Lake Hopatcong Commission were not aware of any substances being used on the lake's shoreline to possibly control weeds. Picatinny's Hazmat team working with Jefferson Twp's Fire boat crew quickly contained the spill. N.J. State officials were also on scene to assist with the ongoing investigation. The spill was later determined to be hydroseed, a mixture of seed and paper pulp that is often used to seed grass on large lawn areas or commercial sites. Hydroseed is a non-toxic and non-hazardous product. The source of the spill is still under investigation.
On the morning of 7/31/08, Jefferson Twp Fire Co # 2 and the Jefferson Rescue Squad responded to 35 Yacht Club Drive for an unidentified hazardous material spill at the boat ramp. Jefferson Co # 2 Fire Officer, Engineer Dave Cascone, established the incident command center on the scene behind the Lake Forrest Yacht Club. Nearby swimmers were immediately removed from the area and the Yacht Club Beach area was closed and secured with yellow police tape. Morris County and Picatinny Hazmat teams were requested as well as a response from the N.J. D.E.P. and the Jefferson Health Department. A green colored slick of an unknown material was seen across a span of approximately 300 feet of the shoreline. The Lake Forrest Yacht Club and the Lake Hopatcong Commission were not aware of any substances being used on the lake's shoreline to possibly control weeds. Picatinny's Hazmat team working with Jefferson Twp's Fire boat crew quickly contained the spill. N.J. State officials were also on scene to assist with the ongoing investigation. The spill was later determined to be hydroseed, a mixture of seed and paper pulp that is often used to seed grass on large lawn areas or commercial sites. Hydroseed is a non-toxic and non-hazardous product. The source of the spill is still under investigation.
