Washington, Aug 8 -  

Congressman Scott Garrett hosted a briefing with EPA experts and local elected officials and community leaders on the clean-up of the Pohatcong Valley Superfund site.

"There is nothing more important than ensuring a steady stream of information for local residents during Superfund clean-up efforts," said Garrett. "I am pleased that the Pohatcong Valley clean-up is progressing with the announcement of a remedy yesterday. I will continue to do all I can to ensure that where people’s health and environment are concerned, they have access to all the information they need and all possible steps are taken to protect them."

The Pohatcong Valley Groundwater Contamination Site was placed on the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in March 1989. The site involves contamination of the Kittatinny Limestone Aquifer under nearly 9 miles of the Pohatcong Valley in Warren County. It impacts residents in Washington Borough and Washington and Franklin Townships, through Broadway, New Village, and Stewartsville. Approximately 12,000 people obtain drinking water from public and private wells within three miles of the site.

Bill McCabe, Deputy Director of the Emergency and Remedial Response (or Superfund) Division and the Pohatcong site Project Manager Stephen Cipot led the briefing for Congressman Garrett, Warren County Freeholder Director Everett Chamberlain, Franklin Township Mayor Larry Adams, Nancy Chambellan of the Warren County Environmental Commission, and other local community leaders.

Congressman Garrett was also briefed on the status of clean-up efforts at two other Superfund sites in New Jersey’s Fifth District, Metaltec/Aerosystems in Sussex County and Maywood Chemical Company in Bergen County. The EPA also updated the Congressman on the clean-up at Fair Lawn Well Field, which borders on the Fifth District in Bergen County.

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