Transfer Station Lawsuit Settled

Erin Spinka

Bayonne, N.J. -- A lawsuit against Bayonne, Hudson County and the Hudson County Improvement Authority (HCIA) has concluded after almost five years, with American Marine Rail (AMR), Englewood, N.J., being awarded $399,999. In 1999, AMR entered a 50-year lease with Bayonne for property that was to be converted to a waste transfer station that would handle New York City garbage delivered in barges or by rail to New Jersey. While applying for the facility with the HCIA, growing community opposition persuaded Bayonne and Hudson County to withdraw the facility’s endorsement.

The lawsuit did not award AMR speculative damages because it could not prove that it would have won a contract to handle New York City garbage. Each defendant was ordered to pay $133,333 to AMR. Bayonne will pay only $28,333, making up the balance by returning a $105,000 lease deposit.