BEESLEY’S POINT – The Beesley’s Point Development Group has announced that the demolition of the smokestack at the former B.L. England Generating Station will take place Oct. 26 at 10 a.m.
Beesley’s Point Development Group said the smokestack will be imploded by Controlled Demolition Inc., of Phoenix, Maryland, the same company that imploded the B.L. England boilers in April.
The decision was made then not to demolish the smokestack and the boilers together and mingle brick with metal, allowing the materials to be recycled more easily. A tentative date in June for the smokestack demolition was put off until October. Beesley’s Point Development Group said with the implosion of the smokestack the demolition of the former power plant will be complete.
“Great care, preparation and notification have been taken leading to the event to assure local and state compliance as well as safety of the community,” Beesley’s Point Development Group said in a press release dated Sept. 27.
The developer said all asbestos related to the smokestack has been 100% abated throughout the entire site, in compliance with state Department of Labor rules. Beesley’s Point Development Group said it has obtained all of the state and local permits needed to perform the implosion and has notified the New Jersey State Police Marine Services Bureau, Federal Aviation Administration, local and state fire officials and Upper Township School District.
Beesley’s Point Development Group said months have been spent preparing the site prior to the smokestack demolition, and that a “Notice to Airmen” notified the FAA of the smokestack lights being out in preparation for the event. Beesley’s Point Development Group said the site has been noticeably cleaned up since the boiler demolition in April.
On the day of the implosion, water and dust-suppression equipment will be used to limit dust migration from the site.
Beesley’s Point Development Group said that currently there are no designated public viewing points for the event, although the company believes that the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, which runs the Garden State Parkway, will be allowing pedestrians on the Parkway bike/walking path. Public access to the end of North Shore Road will be prohibited on the morning of the event.
Marine Services is asking boaters who plan to view the event from the water to stay away from the area designated as an exclusion zone. The zone will stretch well into Great Egg Harbor due to the height of the smokestack.
There will be no public access past Clay Avenue on the day of the event.
Local fire and EMS personnel will be present during the event, and Beesley’s Point Development Group will meet with school officials to make them aware of it. Care was given to the timing of the implosion to ensure that all schoolchildren are in their classrooms and not in transport at the time; they may hear the event from their classrooms given the proximity of the site, Beesley’s Point Development Group said. The development group said residents will hear the implosion, but it is unlikely they will feel vibrations outside the limits of the demolition site.
Contact the author, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
