Seventh District Lawmaker calls mercury removal “early Christmas present for Hillsborough Township”

WASHINGTON – Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) announced today that all of the 2,617 metric tons of the mercury that had been stored at the Belle Mead General Service Depot since the 1960s has been removed from Hillsborough Township.

Lance said the last mercury shipment left Hillsborough for Nevada on Friday, December 3.

“This is a wonderful early Christmas present for the residents of Hillsborough,” said Lance.  “Many thought this day would never come.  Yet because of the hard work of many I am pleased to announce that the final shipment has left Hillsborough Township successfully."

Since taking office in January 2009, Lance has worked with federal, state and local officials to remove the mercury from New Jersey in a safe, efficient and expedited manner.

"We are very pleased that all of the mercury has finally been removed,” said Hillsborough Mayor Frank DelCore. "The residents of Hillsborough have waited for this day for a long time and we are excited to see this task come to completion, especially when many thought this day would never come. We greatly appreciate the cooperation of Congressman Lance's Office and the Representatives of the DLA; this was most certainly a collaborative effort and is a testament to the fact that great things can be accomplished for our community when we work together."

“Over the past decade, local, state and federal officials, including my predecessor, Congressman Mike Ferguson, have worked tirelessly on this issue and today is certainly a great day of accomplishment for everyone who has played an important role in moving the mercury out of Hillsborough,” said Lance.

Lance noted that the mercury stored in Hillsborough was one of the nation’s largest stockpiles in the nation and will now be stored in a remote, safe, secure federal installation in Nevada.

 

 

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