Pascrell Slams Approval of Passaic River Litigation

Press Release

Paterson, NJ -- Today, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) released the following statement regarding the announcement that a Superior Court judge has approved a $190 million settlement with Occidental Chemical Corp. that resolves the company's liability for contamination of the Passaic River.

"This settlement is an insult to the Passaic River, those that fought for decades to protect it, as well as the people of New Jersey," said Rep. Pascrell. "This type of political shell game should come as no surprise from a governor representing a state as economically depressed as New Jersey. Instead of balancing the state's budget at the expense of environmental protection and public health, Governor Christie should be prioritizing the communities he represents by dedicating one hundred percent of the these funds to the restoration of the Passaic River."

In October, Rep. Pascrell wrote to DEP Commissioner Martin urging the agency to reject the $190 million settlement agreement between NJDEP and Occidental Chemical Corporation over toxic pollution in the Passaic River. In the letter, Rep. Pascrell points out that more that 80 percent of the settlement will go to the State General Fund and not the restoration of the Passaic River.

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