Passaic River, New Jersey | Jacob Keller
The Passaic River is a vital resource to over 2 million people in northern New Jersey, providing drinking water as well as opportunities to boat, walk, and get outside. But historical and rampant contamination by chemical manufacturing — including Agent Orange and DDT — and textile industries has led to the lower Passaic River being designated as a Superfund site in 1984. Today, the river suffers from a high accumulation of toxic waste that includes heavy metals, PCBs, and very high concentrations of dioxins in the riverbed sediments in the river’s tidal zone. While restoration efforts are underway, potential cuts and changing priorities at the Environmental Protection Agency threaten to derail decades of effort.
American Rivers and Ama Earth Group are urging the Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 Office as well as all responsible parties, including Occidental Chemical Corporation, to maintain their commitment to the people of New Jersey and ensure that the cleanup continues to be a top priority. This means continued support of the experienced federal staff working to advance the cleanup, as well as maintaining proactive oversight of the Superfund legal process to ensure participation by all responsible parties.
Join us in asking the EPA as well as all responsible parties to fulfill their commitments to the river and to the millions that call it home.
[I/We] write to urge the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as all responsible parties, including Occidental Chemical Corporation, to take decisive action to advance the cleanup of the Lower Passaic River Superfund site in Bergen County, New Jersey. This effort is critical not only for the restoration of the river but also for the fulfillment of Pillar #1 of the Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative—Clean Water for Every American.
The United States is a nation of rivers, and clean water is one of America’s greatest sources of national wealth. Investing in clean water security generates a tremendous return on investment. The Passaic River serves as a vital resource for over 2 million New Jersey residents, yet the lower river remains heavily polluted with carcinogenic dioxins, mercury, and other hazardous substances. The site has been designated a Superfund site since 1984, and despite incremental progress, significant work remains.
Between 2016 and 2025, the EPA has issued Records of Decision for several key operating units, with an estimated $1.8 billion cleanup cost. While settlement agreements—such as the $150 million settlement in 2022—have been reached with some responsible parties, much of the financial burden remains under negotiation.
The EPA’s collaboration with the private sector and local communities has already secured a substantial amount of private funding for restoration—an important achievement by Region 2 staff. However, we remain concerned that any potential future staff reductions or budget constraints would hinder the EPA’s ability to fully enforce the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and see this cleanup through to completion. Simply put, America cannot be a world leader if we don’t take care of our water, and the Passaic River—which has been integral to the growth of our economy—is a place where we need to get the basics right.
We urge the EPA as well as all responsible parties, including Occidental Chemical Corporation, to reaffirm their commitments to restoring the Passaic River by ensuring adequate staffing and funding for this critical initiative. Continued federal leadership and partnership is essential to delivering long-overdue restoration for the communities that rely on the river.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
