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Case: Passaic
River/Newark Bay, NJ
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Site history: Depending upon the
contaminant of concern, the amounts discharged have varied over
time.
Location: The
Lower Passaic River and Greater Newark Bay Watershed.
Trustees:
Case status: Two Cooperative Assessment Agreements were signed with the Federal Trustees (DOI
and NOAA) and 23 Potential Responsible Parties for the Diamond Alkali Superfund
Site, NJ. The purpose of the Interim Agreement is to provide funding and a
framework for a cooperative plan to assess possible injuries to the
environment, as well as losses to the public, that may have been caused
by hazardous substance releases at this Superfund site.
Overview: State and federal natural resource trustees are assessing possible injuries to the
environment, as well as losses to human services, caused by releases of
hazardous substances in the Lower Passaic River and Greater Newark Bay
Complex. This highly industrialized and urbanized region has a long history of
degraded water quality, sediment contamination, loss of wetlands, and abandoned
or underused properties along its shores. Dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs), and other contaminants in this ecosystem have impaired natural
resources (such as fish, shellfish, and wildlife), their habitats (such as
wetlands and mudflats), and/or human use of these resources. The extent of
contamination and its effect on natural resources and their services will
determine the amount and type of restoration needed to address any associated
injuries.
The federal trustees and the NJDEP have
signed a memorandum of agreement to coordinate their activities.
They are coordinating with other federal and state agencies on
cleanup and watershed restoration activities.
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