EPA Finalizes Plan to Cleanup Passaic River

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a final plan to dredge and cap the entire lower eight miles of the Passaic River in New Jersey. The Passaic River is severely contaminated with dioxin, PCBs, heavy metals, pesticides, and other contaminants from more than a century of industrial activity. The cleanup efforts would cap this portion of the river and permanently remove 3.5 million cubic yards of contaminated sediments from this unique and valuable ecosystem. 

EPA will pursue agreements to ensure that this cleanup will be carried out and paid for by those responsible for the pollution as required by the Superfund law. NOAA and trustees worked closely with EPA on the plan. NOAA strongly supports EPA's plan, which would protect human health and the environment. Additional information is available from a fact sheet on the final plan.