Pascrell Leads New Jersey Colleagues Pushing EPA to Advance Hackensack River Cleanup

Congressmembers support state efforts to prioritize North Jersey watershed

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) today led his colleagues in calling on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to include the Lower Hackensack River on the National Priorities list and then commence the Superfund cleanup process of the contaminated body of water. The letter is signed by Reps. Pascrell, Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06), Albio Sires (D-NJ-08), and Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ-10).

“The Lower Hackensack River ecosystem is important to northern New Jersey and its restoration will significantly benefit the communities we represent. We remain grateful for the thorough and lengthy analysis NJDEP conducted that was bolstered by EPA Region II. We agree with the State that now is the time to act to protect the river,” the members write the Acting Region II Administrator of the EPA.

Last week, Reps. Pascrell and Gottheimer appeared riverside in Secaucus with New Jersey state officials in support of efforts to speed the cleanup of the Hackensack. In 2017, they urged immediate action by the EPA to finalize its review of the Hackensack and determine if it should be added to the Superfund National Priorities List.

The full text of the members’ letter is provided below.

July 28, 2021

Walter Mugdan

Acting Regional Administrator

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region II

290 Broadway New York, NY 10007-1866

Dear Acting Regional Administrator Mugdan:

We write in support of the July 23, 2021 request submitted by Governor Phil Murphy and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to include the Lower Hackensack River on the National Priorities List (NPL) and commence the Superfund cleanup process. Including the Lower Hackensack River on the NPL will enable the comprehensive investigation and remediation of hazardous substances infecting the River and resources in the watershed that are essential to protect our region.

The Lower Hackensack River ecosystem is important to northern New Jersey and its restoration will significantly benefit the communities we represent. We remain grateful for the thorough and lengthy analysis NJDEP conducted that was bolstered by EPA Region II. We agree with the State that now is the time to act to protect the river. Thanks to the hard work of the EPA Region II, we have a sense of the complex remediation that is needed. We expect that this endeavor would complement the ongoing work in the nearby Lower Passaic River, and that the agency has learned lessons from that other site which can streamline the process.

We are encouraged the NJDEP intends to be a supportive partner in the process to designate the Lower Hackensack River. As Members of Congress who represent impacted communities, we too intend to support a process that would allow for an expeditious and robust cleanup of the dangerous and hazardous chemicals contaminating the river. We stand ready to work with EPA and the NJDEP to hold the responsible parties accountable.

The remediation, restoration and ultimate protection of this essential watershed depends on a robust partnership from all levels of government. Initiating the Superfund cleanup process to address the dangerous levels of mercury and other contaminants in river sediment that continually impair water quality, aquatic life, and other natural resources should begin with haste.

We appreciate your continued commitment to protecting the environment we represent and look forward to working together to clean up the Lower Hackensack River.

Sincerely,