Nabisco Implosion Nixed After Asbestos Found In Fair Lawn Factory

FAIR LAWN, NJ — Asbestos Ahoy! Plans to implode Fair Lawn's Nabisco factory were cooked after contaminants were found in the building, according to local authorities.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has issued an order to cancel the implosion until the asbestos is removed and the department has subsequently inspected the building, the mayor of neighboring Hawthorne said in a Tuesday letter to the public.

"When the building is proved to be asbestos-free, then the DEP will issue a letter to the contractor stating the implosion can move forward," Hawthorne Mayor John Lane said.

Implosion of the Nabisco tower had already been postponed from the previously scheduled date of April 15, due to purported permit delays, Patch reported.

Mayor Lane said the Glen Rock mayor told him she had asked contractor Sessler Wrecking to "hold off," and to give her and the Fair Lawn mayor two weeks' notice once the paperwork is completed by the DEP and Sessler.

"Once a firm date for the implosion is set, (Glen Rock Mayor Kristine Morieko) said she would like to know the date two weeks in advance, and that was agreed to from (Sessler)," Lane said.

Mayor Morieko told Patch that she had spoken with Lane and confirmed that she had requested a two-week notice from Sessler before the implosion is rescheduled.

She said, however, that the implosion was never canceled (contrary to Lane's letter), only delayed.

Sessler was to "implode" the now-closed Nabisco cookie factory on Route 208 North, after structural deficiencies were identified that would have "put (the contractor) at risk under mechanical demolition," Patch reported.

Mechanical demolition began on Jan. 23, after the factory shuttered and was bought out by Greek Development for $146.5 million, Patch reported.