Borough seeks help
due to plant status
Spotswood officials react to listing of local plant as a potential
target for terrorism
By vincent todaro
Staff Writer

Spotswood officials are looking for outside funding to help it prepare for the event of a terrorist attack on a local manufacturing plant.

At its meeting Monday night, the Borough Council passed a resolution expressing its displeasure at being ignored in its requests for assistance. The council seeks to buy equipment and other items that would help the community respond to an attack on the Main Street plant operated by Schweitzer-Mauduit Inc., which reportedly could be a target because of the materials it uses to manufacture products.

The company, which produces paper for the tobacco industry, has been reported recently as being among the most "potentially vulnerable and lethal targets for terrorists" in the New York metropolitan area. Mayor Barry Zagnit cited an article in the New York Daily News which stated an attack on the Spotswood plant would be No. 6 on the list of "worst case scenarios." The article states that a release of 180,000 pounds of chlorine from the plant could affect 960,000 people.

The top five locations listed in the article each show more than a million people being affected, with No. 1 being the Kuehne Chemical Co. in South Kearny, where "a vaporized release of sulfur dioxide ... could threaten 12 million people in a 16-mile radius."

Both Zagnit and Councilman James Shearn voiced displeasure at the information being made public, saying it could be used by terrorists.

Regardless, officials are trying to take measures to be prepared.

"A chemical release from the Schweitzer plant has the potential to affect 960,000 lives in a 15-mile radius that affects numerous towns in Middlesex and Monmouth counties," according to the resolution approved by the council.

Spotswood does have an approved Emergency Operating Plan, as well as a well-staffed Office of Emergency Management, "but lacks modern protective equipment for all our emergency services," the resolution indicated.

The company uses large quantities of chlorine and other chemicals as part of its manufacturing process, the resolution said.

Zagnit would not divulge details regarding what exactly would be purchased with grant funding.

"We need to become as prepared as we can," he said. "I have to be specifically vague, or it would defeat what we do."

The mayor stressed that the problems are not the fault of Schweitzer-Mauduit, which he said is "extremely responsible" and well prepared for accidents. The problem, he said, is protecting against and responding to intentional acts.

"We know that the place, the way it’s operated, is safe," he said. "We’re concerned about other possibilities. We need to prepare and have equipment on hand to handle an emergency."

Zagnit noted that part of the plan would be to make sure emergency personnel such as firefighters, first aid and police officers, would be safe while tending to emergencies.

"We’re obligated to the residents to secure this and be as prepared as we can," he said.

The borough has filed grant applications but has yet to receive any funding from the county, state or federal governments, officials said.

"We cannot determine why, in the face of such a serious threat, no funding has yet been provided," the resolution said.

The resolution asks the various levels of government to reconsider the grant applications and give the borough "future priority consideration for funds that will allow us to better prepare for potential acts of terrorism."

Shearn said many other municipalities get money for such purposes, even though they may not have the liability that Spotswood does.

"It’s a black eye on the county, state and federal governments that Spotswood wasn’t given any money on this," he said.

Councilwoman Judith Ruffo said many surrounding towns are listed as being in danger as well.

Zagnit said places such as East Brunswick and South River would be affected because they are within the 15-mile radius. He said the problem could also stretch west toward Perth Amboy and beyond, or in the direction of Monmouth County.

Copies of Spotswood’s resolution were being sent to mayors and governing bodies in the other municipalities that could be affected.

He said Spotswood is looking for those municipalities to join in the quest for funding.

"We hope to draw attention to our plight," he said. "We feel our situation deserves special consideration."