HISTORIC INITIATIVE TO REMOVE CONTAMINATION FROM PASSAIC RIVER

Washington, D.C. – The Environmental Protection Agency today announced it has reached an agreement with several companies to remove a major source of Dioxin, an extremely toxic chemical, from New Jersey’s Lower Passaic River. The initial step includes a limited cleanup of the river or approximately 40,000 cubic yards of the most highly-contaminated sediments. The cleanup initiative will be expanded to cover more areas of the river in the upcoming years.

In the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) worked for years to bring all parties to the table to come together to find a sensible solution to clean the river, and these efforts have finally come to fruition. Senator Menendez, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, made the following statement:

“This initiative has been a long time coming and this initial cleanup is a step in the right direction,” said Sen. Menendez. “Our residents deserve a clean and restored Passaic River and a more environmentally sound Garden State. Ultimately, cleaning our rivers helps protect the health and natural beauty of our state for future generations and it ensures a better quality of life for all New Jerseyans.”

Throughout his tenure in Congress, Menendez has made protecting clean water and air in New Jersey a major priority. Recently, Sen. Menendez helped secure over $2.5 million in federal funds to clean and restore the Passaic River.