ENVIRONMENTAL , ENGINEERING AND TRANSPORTATION
NJDEP Will Pursue Cleanup of the Lower Hackensack River
Federal Superfund site designation would facilitate remediation .
Compiled by John Joseph Parker Contributing Editor
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection ( NJDEP ) Commissioner Shawn M . LaTourette will pursue the cleanup of the Lower Hackensack River as a federal Superfund site . This would be the first time that a New Jersey river itself would be proposed for Superfund listing and marks a critical step toward remediation of river sediments contaminated with mercury , polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other pollutants from past industrial practices .
The state ’ s decision to pursue Superfund listing will enable the USEPA to implement a rulemaking process to propose adding 23 miles of tidally influenced river from the Oradell Dam to Newark Bay in accordance with the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response , Compensation and Liability Act ( CERCLA ), commonly known as Superfund . Listing would
provide access to federal funding and enable the USEPA to commence the process of identifying responsible parties to fund remediation .
“ Despite decades of pollution , the Hackensack River is an ecological gem in the heart of the most urbanized part of New Jersey ,” says U . S . Senator Cory Booker . “ By restoring the Hackensack
10 COMMERCE www . commercemagnj . com
NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette
This is a bridge over the Hackensack River with an aerial view of Jersey City .
through the federal Superfund program , the river will be able to reach its full potential as an ecological and economic asset for this region . I fully support this effort and thank Governor Murphy and Commissioner LaTourette for their
Photo : Getty Images / iStockphoto / jovannig
U . S . Senator Cory Booker
vision in taking this important step toward designating the river for Superfund cleanup .”
Gov . Murphy Signs Bills to Advance New Jersey ’ s Clean Energy Future
Governor Phil Murphy signed a package of bills aimed at advancing New Jersey ’ s transition to a clean energy future to further the administration ’ s goal of reaching 100 percent clean energy by 2050 . The legislation will increase solar development and facilitate installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure throughout the state .
“ Three and a half years ago we put forth one of the most aggressive plans in the nation to move New Jersey away from fossil fuels and towards a future based on clean and renewable energy technologies ,” says Governor Murphy . “ From wind-turbine component manufacturing , to solar energy installation , to electric vehicles , the modernization of our energy sector will not only aid us in addressing climate change , but also drive significant economic growth and create good-paying , union jobs across the state . By signing these bills , we are marking another milestone on our path to 100 percent clean energy by 2050 , fueling our clean innovation economy .”
“ In order to combat climate change and its devastating consequences , we must do all we can to make it easier for people and families to
Continued On Page 12