Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Roberts, D-Camden, has demanded that state officials remove the contaminated dirt that NJ Transit has dumped in East Camden, part of his district.

"I write you to discuss a situation that I find to be appalling," Roberts begins his June 2 letter to the heads of the state Department of Transportation and Department of Environmental Protection.

Noting that "your agencies have allowed" dirt containing hazards such as lead, arsenic, benzene and polychlorinated biphenyls (or PCBs) to be dumped near a residential area, Roberts demanded to know "how can this happen?"

NJ Transit created the berms or mountains of dirt in Camden, and smaller berms in the Roebling section of Florence, as a way to dispose of excess dirt excavated from the right-of-way of the light rail line it is building from Camden to Trenton.

The agency acknowledges the dirt contains low levels of contaminants but points out that its plan to pile the dirt in huge mounds in Camden and Florence was approved by the Department of Environmental Protection.

The DEP says the mounds are safe because they are not in a residential area and are capped with an 18-inch layer of cleaner soil.

In his letter, Roberts emphasizes the area in question is next to a residential area and residents were never informed of the plan.

NJ Transit originally contended that 85 percent of the dirt in the Camden berms originated in the city but later released a report that only about 42 percent of the dirt came from the city.

"Camden has literally become the dumping ground for contaminants from around the state," Roberts said in his letter to Transportation Commissioner Jack Lettiere and DEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell.

Lettiere said through a spokeswoman Wednesday evening that he is "in the process of reaching out to the majority leader" and that he "takes these concerns very seriously."

Campbell could not be reached for comment.

Anna Farneski said meetings have been planned for next week between city officials and representatives of NJ Transit, the DOT, and the DEP to "explain what we have done and address any concerns city officials have."

Subsequently similar meetings will be held with community groups, Farneski said, and, if need be, the department will go door to door to talk to residents.

Roberts said Wednesday evening that he has not yet received a response to his letter nor has he discussed its contents with the commissioners in advance.

"The state is spending tens of millions of dollars to rehabilitate the city," Roberts said. "It makes no sense to dump contaminated soil there at the same time."

"This situation requires an immediate response," Roberts writes in the conclusion of his letter, "and a plan of action to remove the contaminated soil from East Camden."