WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) today called for full and proper notification of Hamilton Township residents to ensure they are aware of upcoming public information sessions on the health effects of waste dumped by the Mercer Rubber factory.

             “Hamilton residents in the neighborhoods surrounding the Mercer Rubber plant stand to be affected the most by this study and should be directly notified about the upcoming public briefings.  Their participation is vital and they must be properly notified so that their concerns are taken into account,” said Smith, who will be meeting with officials from Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection on Thursday to push them to address his concerns about the study.  

ATSDR and the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services have scheduled two sessions on September 13th, one in the afternoon from 2 pm – 4 pm, and another in the evening from 6 pm – 8 pm at the Nottingham Fire House for public input on their study which found elevated levels of some types of cancer in residents who live near the now-closed Mercer Rubber factory.

While the study does note the elevated levels of certain types of cancer, it fails to state if chemical waste from the factory may be the cause.  Instead, the study recommends testing nearby soil and water for chemicals such as benzene and gasoline which may have been dumped by the factory in the years before it closed in 1993.

“What we are seeing here, in terms of information, is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Smith. “The release of the ATSDR report raises more questions than it answers.  As each day passes, more questions arise about the study’s method and recommendations – and quite frankly – the people of Hamilton have a right to have those questions answered.”

The public hearings on the study and its recommendations will consist of a briefing and one-on-one consultations for area residents.  The public comment period on the report will be extended for two to three weeks after the community session is held. 

Both the report and a guide for citizens are available on the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services’ website and can be accessed at: http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/cehsweb/sitepage.htm#MercerRubber.