hookset
08-19-2011, 03:11 PM
Now that they have someone to take responsibility maybe they willl clean it up a bit. I still wouldn't eat crabs from there though.
Occidental Chemical financially responsible for Passaic River Pollution
This decision by the Superior Court represents an important step in
returning the lower Passaic River to the citizens of New Jersey. For too
long, polluters have abdicated their responsibility to clean up the River.
Decades have passed since the original discovery of the pollution with no
action taken. During that time, contaminated sediment has moved from the
Diamond Alkali site into Newark Bay and the NY/NJ Harbor. Now, 17 miles of
the lower Passaic River and the Newark Bay have been declared a Superfund
site. It is time for Occidental Chemical to stop fighting in court and
focus on cleaning up their mess.
* * *
NJDEP Release: Passaic River Ruling
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 26, 2011
Contact: Lawrence Hajna (609) 984-1795
Lawrence Ragonese (609) 292-2994
CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION WINS COURT RULING HOLDING CHEMICAL FIRM FINANCIALLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR PASSAIC RIVER POLLUTION
(11/P90) TRENTON * A Superior Court ruling holding a major chemical company
liable for costs associated with the cleanup of sediments in the lower
Passaic River contaminated decades ago by a Newark pesticide manufacturing
plant marks an important victory for taxpayers of New Jersey, Governor Chris
Christie said today.
In a ruling last week, Judge Sebastian P. Lombardi, presiding in Essex
County, determined that Occidental Chemical Corp. is responsible under state
law for cleanup costs associated with pollution caused by Diamond
Alkali/Diamond Shamrock Chemicals Corp., which it acquired and merged into
itself in the 1980s.
Diamond Shamrock/Diamond Alkali operated a pesticide and herbicide
manufacturing plant on Lister Avenue from 1951 to 1969, polluting the river
with an extremely toxic form of dioxin that resulted from the production of
the Vietnam War-era defoliant Agent Orange, as well as DDT and other
chemicals.
"This is an important ruling for residents of communities along the river,
and for all New Jersey taxpayers," Governor Christie said. "It has always
been our steadfast position that all companies, not just Occidental
Chemical, own up to their responsibility for the environmental damages that
they and their predecessors caused."
"This ruling marks an important step in the long history of cleanup of
contamination that has severely harmed the lower Passaic River and deprived
the public of safe enjoyment of this resource for decades," said Department
of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency, the lead agency on the river's
cleanup, has estimated the cost of remediation for the most heavily
contaminated portion of the river, an eight-mile stretch nearest the Lister
Avenue plant, at $1 billion to $4 billion.
Judge Lombardi ruled that Occidental, one of eight companies named in a
lawsuit filed by the state, is jointly and severally liable to contribute to
the cleanup and removal costs under the state's Spill Compensation and
Control Act. Occidental had claimed in court papers that it did not assume
responsibility for the contamination from the Lister Avenue site when it
acquired corporate stock from Diamond Shamrock.
The EPA and DEP are currently focusing initial river cleanup plans on the
eight-mile stretch nearest the plant. Tierra Solutions, another company
named in the state's lawsuit, is currently mobilizing to begin work on
removing 40,000 cubic yards of the most contaminated sediments immediately
adjacent to the pesticides plant. Tierra is making plans for removal of an
additional 160,000 cubic yards.
Judge Lombardi has heard arguments on a second state motion that seeks to
have Tierra similarly held liable for all past and future state costs. A
ruling is expected later this summer.
Pesticides manufactured at the Lister Avenue site included Agent Orange and
DDT. Agent Orange consisted of a form of dioxin, known as
2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). This is one of the most toxic
chemicals ever produced.
In 1983, then-Governor Thomas H. Kean declared a state of emergency and
authorized the DEP to take steps to protect human health and the environment
following the discovery of extremely elevated levels of dioxin in the river.
Shortly thereafter, the plant site and river were placed on the EPA's
National Priorities List, or Superfund.
Dioxin concentrations in Passaic River fish and crabs are among the highest
reported in the world and present an imminent and substantial danger to the
public and wildlife. Consumption of dioxin-contaminated crabs and fish
greatly increases cancer risks.
As a result, the state has been forced to impose fishing and crabbing bans
in the Passaic River or Newark Bay for more than 25 years.
The DEP reminds residents that harvesting blue claw crabs from the waters of
the lower river and Newark Bay is prohibited because of the contamination. A
coordinated multi-language education effort reinforcing the ban is currently
under way, with the help of community groups and municipalities in the lower
Passaic River and Newark Bay region.
Occidental Chemical financially responsible for Passaic River Pollution
This decision by the Superior Court represents an important step in
returning the lower Passaic River to the citizens of New Jersey. For too
long, polluters have abdicated their responsibility to clean up the River.
Decades have passed since the original discovery of the pollution with no
action taken. During that time, contaminated sediment has moved from the
Diamond Alkali site into Newark Bay and the NY/NJ Harbor. Now, 17 miles of
the lower Passaic River and the Newark Bay have been declared a Superfund
site. It is time for Occidental Chemical to stop fighting in court and
focus on cleaning up their mess.
* * *
NJDEP Release: Passaic River Ruling
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 26, 2011
Contact: Lawrence Hajna (609) 984-1795
Lawrence Ragonese (609) 292-2994
CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION WINS COURT RULING HOLDING CHEMICAL FIRM FINANCIALLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR PASSAIC RIVER POLLUTION
(11/P90) TRENTON * A Superior Court ruling holding a major chemical company
liable for costs associated with the cleanup of sediments in the lower
Passaic River contaminated decades ago by a Newark pesticide manufacturing
plant marks an important victory for taxpayers of New Jersey, Governor Chris
Christie said today.
In a ruling last week, Judge Sebastian P. Lombardi, presiding in Essex
County, determined that Occidental Chemical Corp. is responsible under state
law for cleanup costs associated with pollution caused by Diamond
Alkali/Diamond Shamrock Chemicals Corp., which it acquired and merged into
itself in the 1980s.
Diamond Shamrock/Diamond Alkali operated a pesticide and herbicide
manufacturing plant on Lister Avenue from 1951 to 1969, polluting the river
with an extremely toxic form of dioxin that resulted from the production of
the Vietnam War-era defoliant Agent Orange, as well as DDT and other
chemicals.
"This is an important ruling for residents of communities along the river,
and for all New Jersey taxpayers," Governor Christie said. "It has always
been our steadfast position that all companies, not just Occidental
Chemical, own up to their responsibility for the environmental damages that
they and their predecessors caused."
"This ruling marks an important step in the long history of cleanup of
contamination that has severely harmed the lower Passaic River and deprived
the public of safe enjoyment of this resource for decades," said Department
of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency, the lead agency on the river's
cleanup, has estimated the cost of remediation for the most heavily
contaminated portion of the river, an eight-mile stretch nearest the Lister
Avenue plant, at $1 billion to $4 billion.
Judge Lombardi ruled that Occidental, one of eight companies named in a
lawsuit filed by the state, is jointly and severally liable to contribute to
the cleanup and removal costs under the state's Spill Compensation and
Control Act. Occidental had claimed in court papers that it did not assume
responsibility for the contamination from the Lister Avenue site when it
acquired corporate stock from Diamond Shamrock.
The EPA and DEP are currently focusing initial river cleanup plans on the
eight-mile stretch nearest the plant. Tierra Solutions, another company
named in the state's lawsuit, is currently mobilizing to begin work on
removing 40,000 cubic yards of the most contaminated sediments immediately
adjacent to the pesticides plant. Tierra is making plans for removal of an
additional 160,000 cubic yards.
Judge Lombardi has heard arguments on a second state motion that seeks to
have Tierra similarly held liable for all past and future state costs. A
ruling is expected later this summer.
Pesticides manufactured at the Lister Avenue site included Agent Orange and
DDT. Agent Orange consisted of a form of dioxin, known as
2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). This is one of the most toxic
chemicals ever produced.
In 1983, then-Governor Thomas H. Kean declared a state of emergency and
authorized the DEP to take steps to protect human health and the environment
following the discovery of extremely elevated levels of dioxin in the river.
Shortly thereafter, the plant site and river were placed on the EPA's
National Priorities List, or Superfund.
Dioxin concentrations in Passaic River fish and crabs are among the highest
reported in the world and present an imminent and substantial danger to the
public and wildlife. Consumption of dioxin-contaminated crabs and fish
greatly increases cancer risks.
As a result, the state has been forced to impose fishing and crabbing bans
in the Passaic River or Newark Bay for more than 25 years.
The DEP reminds residents that harvesting blue claw crabs from the waters of
the lower river and Newark Bay is prohibited because of the contamination. A
coordinated multi-language education effort reinforcing the ban is currently
under way, with the help of community groups and municipalities in the lower
Passaic River and Newark Bay region.