4-Alarm Fire At NJ Recycling Plant Sends Smoke Across NY

BY JEREMY TANNER
wpix.com
5:41 p.m. EDT, October 17, 2010

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (WPIX) ? A raging four-alarm fire at a Jersey City recycling plant burned through the night Saturday, sending foul-smelling smoke billowing over New Jersey and New York. People living in places as far away as Long Island reportedly smelled the noxious fumes, and police received numerous calls from people living in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

The fire began at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday at the Simsmetal East at the Claremont Terminal recycling plant in Jersey City, a company that has previously been cited by the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) after some of its workers were diagnosed with lead poisoning.

Firefighters fought the stubborn blaze throughout the night, but were unable to bring the fire under control until heavy machinery was called in to break apart the large piles of debris where hidden pockets of fire burned. The fire was finally brought under control just after noon on Sunday.

According to the Jersey Journal, the recycling plant is already facing fines of $188,500 for past OSHA violations.
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http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... our-alarm_scrap_fire.html

also see

http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/23442

http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/G ... Stench-Into-Brooklyn.html

http://gothamist.com/2010/10/17/jerse ... nkyard_fire_smoke_tra.php

I'm thinking this is the same place....


Quote:

It's just so reassuring that after the latest economic meltdown and continuing recession that there are still people out there who are convinced that any and all rules & regulations are out there just to make our lives miserable....

I have to deal with EPA lead abatement rules for home renovations. There are so many rules and regulation now that everyone basically becomes a criminal at some point. The shear number of regulations makes it very easy to violate one or another without ever intending to.

View Larger Map Jersey City metal recycler faces $188K in penalties Wednesday, October 13, 2010 Michaelangelo Conte/The Jersey Journal Simsmetal East, 1 Linden Ave., in Jersey City faces $188,000 in penalties by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for allegedly exposing workers to lead hazards. A Jersey City metal recycler faces penalties of $188,500 after being cited for numerous violations by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which alleged workers there were exposed to lead hazards. "Simsmetal East knowingly put its workers at risk by failing to protect them from overexposure to lead, which can cause brain damage, paralysis, kidney disease and even death," Kris Hoffman, director of OSHA's Parsippany Area Office in New Jersey, said yesterday. OSHA recommended the penalties after citing the company for three "willful violations" at its Linden Avenue facility. Simsmetal East was also cited for allegedly overexposing workers to lead; failing to fully implement a respiratory protection program; dry sweeping lead-containing dust; failing to provide a clean change room, lunchroom and storage facilities for work clothes; and failing to provide a closed container for lead-contaminated protective clothing. Sims Metal Management spokesman Daniel Strechay said: "First and foremost, this is a matter we take most seriously and we are thoroughly committed to the health and safety of our employees and the contractors and other visitors to our facilities."