BY ANN GENADER
WEST MILFORD — The West Milford Environmental Commission (EC) on Dec. 12 received a list of the places where some of the 2,000 trees designated to replace those destroyed during the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company 300 Line Project will be planted.
In 2013, township of West Milford representatives first spoke with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) representatives about township participation in the No Net Loss Reforestation Plan designated to compensate for the negative environmental impact when trees were destroyed for the pipeline.
The township authorized a grant agreement with the NJDEP to plant trees on public lands throughout the township. The trees could not be placed on the pipeline because it must be kept clear for maintenance and safety.
The initial grant to the township with money from the pipeline company is for $620,197. The township entered into a contract with Fullerton Ground Maintenance of Kenvil for $591,000. The grant funds cover costs associated with the project including planning, planting, and supervision.
Certified Forester Ron Farr prepared a Community Forestry Management Plan that was a prerequisite. Farr worked with West Milford Community Services and Recreation Director Tim Roetman in establishing the list of planting sites announced at the EC meeting.
Spring planting sites were listed in Farr’s report as follows: Camp Hope, Bubbling Springs Municipal Park, CYO Field (along the lake only), Farrell Field, Greenwood Lake Turnpike, south side and limited north side planting, Apple Acres, Hillcrest building, Wallisch Estates, Mount Laurel Field, West Milford Recreation building, San-Cap Ball Field and the Teen Center at Westbrook Park.
He said other possible sites for tree plantings are the West Milford Town Hall area, the Community Fire Company of Newfoundland and Oak Ridge property (on Route 23 and Allison Ave.), the Newfoundland Ambulance Corps building, and Brown’s Point at Greenwood Lake.
Farr’s report said that none of the proposed school plantings or at Upper Greenwood Lake Fire House will be done until he meets with their representatives. That work might be scheduled for fall of 2017. The forester noted he was all right with the school planting until he read reports that the Board of Education was looking at the field behind Macopin School as a possible site for solar panels.
Farr said the Greenwood Lake Turnpike area nearest the intersection with Marshall Hill Road will not be a site for planting trees. He said he walked over the area and found it is much steeper than it looks from the road and it is also very rocky.