DEP Sues Two Cumberland County Gas Stations, Demands Cleanup

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection moved to compel cleanup and seek penalties against two service stations in Cumberland County after years of unresolved gasoline contamination. The lawsuits, filed November 25, named a Vineland station at 903 E. Chestnut Avenue and Johnny's Atlantic at 159 Bridgeton Fairton Road in Fairfield Township, sites the agency says remain contaminated despite prior orders.

At the Vineland property operating as US Gas, gasoline contamination was first discovered in 1997 on the site and in underground storage tanks owned by Ross Fogg Fuel Oil Co. The DEP alleges a second discharge occurred after an owner identified only as Arshi purchased the property, and that Ross Fogg Fuel Oil Co. and Arshi failed to complete required remediation stemming from both discharges. The DEP's suit seeks court orders forcing cleanup of the site, remediation of any contamination that migrated off site, and civil penalties tied to the parties' failure to comply with prior administrative orders.

At Johnny's Atlantic in Fairfield Township contamination was first identified in January 2000 when soil testing during removal of nine underground storage tanks revealed gasoline leaks. The DEP advised then owner Howard Henigan that the Spill Act required remediation and notes Henigan began but did not finish cleanup work. Henigan sold the property to Wayne Griner in 2016 while contaminated soil remained. The DEP is asking a court to require Griner to finish remediation, to pay past due fees, and to pay civil penalties.

Both properties are located in communities designated as overburdened under New Jersey's Environmental Justice Law, a classification that has steered increased enforcement in recent years. Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said, "The DEP remains committed to ensuring that those who have created an environmental injustice in overburdened neighborhoods, posing risks to human and animal health, are held accountable."

For Cumberland County residents the filings underscore ongoing risks to soil and groundwater in areas with legacy petroleum leaks, and potential impacts to nearby homes and businesses. The lawsuits also highlight the persistence of liability through property transfers and the DEP's use of civil enforcement to pursue remediation and fees. Residents seeking updates should monitor court dockets and DEP notices, raise concerns with municipal officials, and contact the county health department for information about local health assessments and protective measures.