Pallone Legislation Will Force Polluters to Pay for Superfund Cleanup, Not Taxpayers

Press Release

Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today announced the reintroduction of legislation to help the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) clean up Superfund sites listed on the EPA's National Priorities List. The Superfund Polluter Pays Act would reinstate the Superfund tax to make sure polluters pay for the cleanup of Superfund sites -- not taxpayers. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey will introduce the companion bill in the Senate.

Roughly 50 percent of New Jersey's population lives within three miles of a Superfund site. Superfund sites are areas contaminated with toxic substances that can make their way into the air, drinking water wells, creeks and rivers, backyards, playgrounds and streets. Communities impacted by these sites can face restrictions on water and land use and recreational activities as well as economic losses as property values decline due to proximity to contaminated sites. In the worst cases, residents of these communities face health problems such as cardiac impacts, infertility, low birth weight, birth defects, leukemia, and respiratory difficulties.

In 1995, a Republican Congress allowed the Superfund taxes to expire, despite opposition from Pallone and other Democrats. Before its expiration, the collected taxes were placed into a Superfund Trust Fund that was used for the cleanup of so-called "orphaned sites," where the party responsible for the pollution either no longer existed or could not afford the cost of the cleanup. Without those revenues, Superfund cleanups have been delayed, the backlog of sites needing cleanup has grown, and the costs have shifted to the taxpayers. Pallone's legislation would reinstate the superfund taxes on polluters and make adjustments for inflation.

"The American taxpayer should not be paying for the mistakes of corporate polluters," said Congressman Pallone. "Superfund sites threaten public and environmental health in New Jersey and across the country, and those sites could be cleaned up faster with adequate funding. The Superfund Polluter Pays Act will replenish the necessary funds by holding corporations accountable for environmental degradation. Congress must step up and pass legislation that protects hardworking families from having to pay for the misdeeds of corporate polluters."

"Too many New Jersey communities have suffered beside Superfund sites that have languished without attention for decades. Just because the Congress hasn't been able to reauthorize the Superfund tax is no excuse for asking our Garden State neighbors to carry on their shoulders the health and financial burdens of this catastrophe," said Congressman Bill Pascrell. "It's time right now to fund the Superfund cleanup program -- and make the polluting industries, not the general public, pick up the tab. I am proud to support Chairman Pallone and Senator Booker's legislation so our taxpayers don't have to face the added indignity of cleaning up after polluters who have harmed our cities and towns with their poison."

"Superfund sites don't just contaminate the ground and water--the high levels of carcinogens that seep out have led to heightened risks of cancers, birth defects and other serious health problems," said Senator Booker. "The stakes could not be higher for New Jerseyans--half of our state lives within three miles of one of these Superfund sites. It's time to address this injustice, clean up these sites, and hold polluting industries accountable for conditions they would never accept in their own communities."

"This administration understands that we cannot rebuild and renew America in an equitable way when we have hundreds of Superfund sites that are not getting cleaned up, most of which are in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods. With the support of President Biden, the landscape is more favorable than it has been in 30 years to revoke the unjust handout that Republicans gifted to some of the country's most egregious polluters," said Congressman Earl Blumenauer. "By renewing the Superfund tax, the industries that had a hand in creating the problem -- not taxpayers -- will once again be held accountable for cleaning it up. More importantly, we can put tens of thousands of people to work by investing in the cleanup of these polluted sites. It's a common-sense and long-overdue way to benefit the environment, local communities, and the economy."

Pallone has been a longtime champion for cleanup of Superfund polluting sites in New Jersey. In October 2016, Pallone announced $7 million in funding from the Environmental Protection Agency to begin the cleanup at Margaret's Creek, part of the Raritan Bay Slag Superfund site in Old Bridge. The area had elevated levels of lead contamination, as well as areas of slag, a byproduct of metal smelting, and battery casings. As a result of urging by Pallone, the Raritan Bay Slag site was placed on the Superfund National Priorities List in 2009.

Several Superfund sites are at varying stages of cleanup or monitoring in Pallone's Congressional District in Monmouth and Middlesex Counties, including:

The Raritan Bay Slag site located along the southern shore of the Raritan Bay in Old Bridge Township and Sayreville consists of a sea wall and jetty of lead-contaminated slag deposition from the former NL Industries, Inc. site.
The Horseshoe Road site in Sayreville is the former location of a chemical processing facility. Its operations contaminated soil and groundwater, as well as the adjacent Raritan River.
The Chemical Insecticide Corp. site in Edison Township is the former location of the corporation's industrial facility. Its operations contaminated the area and caused migration of contaminants off site.
The Imperial Oil site in Marlboro Township includes a plant and surrounding contaminated properties. From 1969 to 2007, Imperial Oil Company operated a facility on site, and previously, other companies operated the site, including a chemical processing plant. These operations contaminated soil and groundwater.
The Cornell-Dubilier Electronics site is located in South Plainfield. Due to smelter operations and the construction of structures using these wastes, extensive areas of soil, sand and sediment are contaminated by lead.

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