More than 80 New Jersey companies allegedly polluted sections of the Lower Passaic River to the extent they should pay $150 million to help clean it up, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice announced Friday.
The federal agencies said a proposed consent decree will require the funds be paid by the companies for “discharging hazardous substances” into the river over the years. A list of the 85 private and publicly-traded companies is available online.
The substances included, among others, polychlorinated biphenyls (“PCBs”), as well as mercury, copper, and lead, according to court documents.
Under the consent decree, which followed an agreement by the companies and federal agencies, public comment on the settlement will be open for 45 days. At that point, the DOJ and EPA will review comments, prepare a response and — if the resolution is still determined to be appropriate — seek approval of the consent decree from the federal court, said Stephen McBay, an EPA spokesman.
“Newark, Harrison, and many other vibrant communities have borne the brunt of pollution along the Lower Passaic River for too long,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna for the District of New Jersey said in a statement. “This agreement is an important step forward. It will support significant cleanup efforts that restore this historic waterway, advance a new chapter of responsible land use, and return the river to the people of New Jersey.”
The contaminated area the funds will aim to clean up includes the entire 17-mile tidal stretch of the Lower Passaic River from Dundee Dam to the mouth of the river at Newark Bay, including the lower 8.3 miles, according to federal officials. The river falls within the Diamond Alkali Superfund site in Newark.
New Jersey has 115 Superfund sites — severely hazardous waste sites designated for cleanup — which is the most of any state in the country.
EPA Regional Administrator Lisa Garcia said Friday: “Today’s agreement requires those responsible for the contamination to pay their fair share for releasing hazardous substances into the Lower Passaic. This work brings us closer to a cleaner healthier river that can be enjoyed by those who live near its banks.”
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Steven Rodas may be reached at srodas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @stevenrodasnj.
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85 companies may have to pay $150M to clean up N.J. river they polluted, feds says - NJ.com
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