Arsenic Testing Necessary for Proposed Islamic Cemetery in Morganville

Further testing has been requested by the Marlboro Zoning Board in the proposal to put an Islamic Cemetery on Spring Valley Road.

Board members are worried about the proximity of the property to Superfund site Burnt Fly Bog, and members requested the applicant to further test soil for arsenic levels, according to The News Transcript.

The site has been checked for lead and polychlorinated biphenyls, according to the applicant, but not arsenic.

Zoning Board engineer Laura Neumann said arsenic has been found on several sites in Marlboro, and should be tested for considering the amount of dirt which will be moved and piled during construction, according to The News Transcript.

Variances to construct the cemetery were granted last year. According to The News Transcript, representatives of Tiba and the Islamic Society told the zoning board in April that a nearby Islamic cemetery in Millstone was almost full and the society was looking for new space.

The vote to full approve site plans has been pushed by the board while arsenic tests are conducted.