Rep. Pallone Applauds Progress in Raritan Bay Slag Superfund Site Cleanup

Statement

Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today issued the following statement praising the U.S. Environment Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed plan to clean up lead contamination at the Raritan Bay Slag Superfund Site in Old Bridge and Sayreville. The EPA will hold a public meeting on October 17, 2012 in Old Bridge to explain the proposed plan and receive public comment:

"I am pleased that the EPA is moving forward with a plan to clean up lead contamination at the Raritan Bay Slag superfund Site in Old Bridge and Sayreville. I urged the EPA to have this site placed on the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) to protect the public, as well as the environment, and enable the local residents to go back to utilizing the beachfront areas safely. I am thankful they heeded my call, as even at low levels, lead is a toxic metal that can be especially dangerous to children's developmental health.

"I strongly believe the public should not be responsible for cleaning-up these contaminated sites, which is why I introduced the Superfund Polluters Pay Act, which would reauthorize the original Superfund fees and make polluters, not taxpayers, pay the costs of cleaning up Superfund sites. I encourage the public to attend the Raritan Bay Slag Superfund site meeting to share their views on the EPA's proposed plan, and I look forward to a timely cleanup of this site so we may protect the well-being of New Jersey families."

Source