Crime & Safety
Wildlife OK After 4,500 Gallons of Fertilizer Leak On Long Valley Farm
Department of Environmental Protection says no impact on South Branch of Raritan River.
A malfunctioning valve on a fertilizer tanker resulted in a multi-agency clean-up effort at a Long Valley farm Tuesday, according to the Department of Environmental Protection.
Local police, firefighters and the DEP responded to a fertilizer spill at 248 West Mill Road around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, said Bob Considine, spokesman for the DEP.
“Basically, a farmer was preparing to apply nitrogen fertilizer solution on his field,” Considine said. “The valve on the tanker somehow malfunctioned. The liquid fertilizer spilled into a field and impacted a nearby stream, which I’m told served as an irrigation ditch.”
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The total spillage amount was about 4,500 gallons, Considine said.
The fertilizer is made up of ammonia, nitrate, urea and water and is not considered hazardous. Test samples from the stream showed a neutral pH, Considine said.
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“The product dissolves in water and would not have made it to the South Branch of the Raritan,” Considine said. “There was no impact to wildlife or humans.”
No fines or citations are being made against the farmer.
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