USACE, NOAA, and NJDOT near Point No Point during reconnaissance survey. Photo by Carl Alderson.

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:

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
• New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP)
• New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)

Case status: The trustees have completed a preliminary assessment screen, shared a draft natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) plan with the public for comment, and initiated restoration planning. The trustees have also provided NRDA training for potentially responsible parties.

Overview: State and federal natural resource trustees are conducting a natural resource damage assessment for the Lower Passaic River and Greater Newark Bay Complex to assess and restore the public’s natural resources and services, possibly injured by the release of hazardous substances. 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.