Is the dirt too dirty?
That, essentially, is the question that a developer has said threatens the future of a massive warehouse project that's supposed to inject billions of dollars into Warren County's economy over the next decade.
Phillipsburg Mayor Stephen Ellis said the situation is not as dire.
A chance to settle questions about contaminated soil in Commerce Park will present itself next week at a meeting in Trenton with the state Department of Environmental Protection and other stakeholders, Ellis said Friday.
"I think there's more than an opportunity to do it in a timely manner, as long as we all get to the table," he said.
Opus Investments, based in Medford, N.J., has proposed building an eight-warehouse complex totaling 4 million square feet. The project is projected to bring about 3,000 jobs, and produce $3.7 billion within Warren County over the next 10 years. Construction was planned to begin this year and finish in 2021.
The Commerce Park property covers nearly 400 acres between Phillipsburg and Lopatcong Township. It once was home to Ingersoll Rand, the town's largest employer for decades.
Erin Murphy, a principal with Opus, on Thursday said site work is halting over the DEPs objections about the material the developer wants to use to level a portion of the property.
Murphy said the state reneged on its anticipated approval, but DEP spokesman Lawrence Hajna said the rules are clear.
Opus wants to truck in 600,000 cubic yards of material from New York to raise an area 30 to 35 feet. The problem, Hajna said, was that the material is beyond the allowed percentage of contaminants.
Hajna said the proposal in its current form "would be creating a landfill on top of a contaminated site."
"We're open to discussions," he said. "But the plan that they have right now is just not workable."
Murphy has said that finding "clean" fill could cost $30 million for Opus, that stopping work could drive away a large package company interested in the site, and that it could take years to resume the project if the issue goes to litigation.
Mayor Ellis, who worked in the DEP's state park service for 35 years until taking office, said he can appreciate both sides: Phillipsburg needs both economic development and a clean environment.
But issues such as this are common for large developments and can usually be worked out, he sad.
"For all we know, it could be a misunderstanding about the soil type," Ellis said.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.