Residents near the former Curtis Paper Mill in Milford, N.J., are being told to keep their windows and doors shut, and an exclusion zone around the plant will go into effect Friday morning to keep onlookers and traffic on Frenchtown Road away.
That’s because a controlled demolition of four giant smoke stacks at about 8 a.m. will generate a significant amount of dust.
Gary Wroblewski of Arcadis, an environmental consultant for International Paper Company, which owns the site, said Tuesday the direction and distance of any dust travel will depend on wind direction and speed. It will be contained, however, through the use of high-powered hoses.
Wroblewski said the dust is not a public health risk despite the mill’s former status as a Superfund site. The plant was cited by the state Department of Environmental Protection several times over the years, and much of the cleanup involved removing hazardous chemicals including PCBs, chemicals that are potentially cancer-causing.
Milford Fire Company says it will carry a live feed of the demolition for the curious. There will also be refreshments.
