Pallone Announces $7 million in New Funds to Begin Cleanup of Margaret’s Creek
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ– Today in Laurence Harbor, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ06) 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. He was joined by Old Bridge Mayor Owen Henry, representatives of the NY/NJ Baykeeper, Raritan Riverkeeper and the Raritan Bay Community Advisory Group.
The area has 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. Pallone has long prioritized the cleanup of this contaminated site so the local community may once again access the waterfront area without worry of health hazards. Lead is a toxic metal that can be particularly dangerous to children’s developmental health.
“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,” said Pallone. “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.”
Pallone has long been fighting to strengthen the Superfund program. This Congress, Pallone introduced H.R.2783 - Superfund Polluter Pays Act, which would reauthorize the original Superfund fees and make polluters, not taxpayers, pay the costs of cleaning up Superfund sites.