From the Press of Atlantic City, 1/08/2010, Michelle Lee-Staff Writer
A big Egg Harbor Township waste and recycling company is closing up part of its shop, following an order by the state Department of Environmental Protection.
The DEP has been trying to close Magic Disposal and ban the business from the trash and recycling industry since 2006. State officials allege the company violated environmental regulations at waste processing station the company ran at its Ridge Avenue site from 1996 to 2005, and that the company did not pay several years worth of taxes and liens to different levels of government. Magic Disposal filed numerous court appeals over the years and paid most of its penalties.
The company was granted a one-day stay on Thursday by the state Supreme Court. But Judge Virginia A. Long ultimately denied the company’s appeal this afternoon.
Magic Disposal owner Steven Waszen Sr. declined to comment. His attorney, John McKinney, said Waszen will comply with the order.
Elaine Makatura, a DEP spokeswoman, said the state agency is pleased and the decision was long overdue. She added that Magic Disposal still owes a $700,000 fine. That penalty is for violations from Feb. 2002 to Dec. 2004, in which the DEP charges the company accepted hundreds of tons of trash over its limit and stored garbage outside, among other violations. Makatura said the fine still stands.
Magic Disposal is still allowed to haul recycling until the state Administrative Law Court offers more clarification.
Friday, January 08, 2010
Magic Disposal loses last appeal, has to stop hauling commercial waste
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11 comments:
And to think that Chasey and Forman spent thousands of our taxpayer dollars to investigate ways to help Waszen turn his 20 acres into congested dense housing.
When they found out they couldn't spot zone,they decided that rezoning 350 acres of the Elwood Village center to 6 houses per acre would be the plan they pushed for.
They would have destroyed Mullica as we know it.
2010 is starting out as a good year without them.
Chasey & Forman knew the Transfer Station was being planned for Mullica and they kept it a secret from the people.
When the citizens found out and started protesting with signs to stop the dump,Chasey tried to stop freedom of speech and have the signs removed.
When the "Dump" was stopped by the concerned citizens and outside agencies, Chasey and Forman tried to bail Waszen out and started the rezoning debacle in secret.
Johnny Cash sang the song "God's gonna cut you down"
"Well you may throw your rock & hide your hand
Working in the dark against your fellowman
But as sure as God made black and white
What's down in the dark will be brought to light"
Justice has finally been seen in Mullica. They're gone and Waszen is out of business.
It took Waszen 4 years,numerous appeals, hefty lawyer fees and large fines but the DEP closed him down in the end.
It is encouraging to see that he couldn't buy his way out and I have renewed faith in the court system.
Maybe now the DEP will have the time and manpower to concentrate on wetland violations that have also been stalled by numerous appeals.
There was no reason to neither trust this guy, nor those of our elected officials who supported him, and the majority of the voters have now repeatedly made this known.
Quoting the Press 1/9/10
"The company also owes Egg Harbor Township about $4.3 million in fines for building a garage without permits, Deputy Township Administrator Dale Goodreau said."
The article goes on to state that Waszen is working with township officials and the Pinelands Commission to work out the difficulties.
I wonder if he built his garage on wetlands,too.
There always are some people who always feel that they can ignore the law, especially if they have money to buy influence. In Mullica, there are a few of them here too.
There is absolutly no reason to think he is down and out. Shortly after January 19th after CC takes office, Waszen and other just like him will dust off the cobwebs and pick right back up where they left off. If CC has his way there will not be a DEP to fine guys like Waszen.
To the 9:15PM contributor......I believe it was about $20,000.00 of our taxpayer dollars that were spent "exploring" options for Waszen. Good Riddance Republicans!!!!!!!
RE3:17pm
Waszen owes EHT $4.3 millon and the DEP $700,000 plus other fines and taxes.
It's gonna be a long time before he can dust himself off and start again.
If I were a taxpayer in EHT, I would have been raising hell about collecting the $4.3 million in fines. I recall Larry Angel and Mary Hunt, Chair of the Concerned Citizens of Mullica, both undertaking the arduous task of getting our disinclined township prosecutor at the time, Jim Curcio, to get Judge Broome to force Waszen to pay what he owed Mullica. But they ultimately got the job done.
3:17 I hope you're right but I wouldn't bet against the Republican big boys club.
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