Morristown, New Jersey– Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11) conducted his annual tour of Superfund sites in the 11^th Congressional District of New Jersey yesterday. Frelinghuysen visited the sites to check on the progress being made in restoring these heavily polluted locations.

Frelinghuysen was accompanied by officials of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including Judith Enck, administrator for EPA Region 2, as well as representatives from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and numerous local elected officials.

The highlight of the tour was the announcement made by Frelinghuysen and Enck at the Radiation Technology site in Rockaway Township, Morris County, where they announced that EPA has approved a cleanup plan for this site, which occupies 263 acres.

“I am very pleased to announce that EPA has approved a cleanup plan for this Superfund site,” Frelinghuysen said. “I have worked closely with EPA to move all of our Superfund cleanups forward. I am pleased that we are that much closer to the day when the Radiation Technology site land can be returned to beneficial use.”

Enck observed during the stop at Radiation Technology that Congressman Frelinghuysen is perhaps the only Member of Congress who visits Superfund sites in his or her District every year to ensure that progress is being made.

The Radiation Technology site was formerly used for testing and developing rocket motors and propellants and is contaminated with PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), asbestos, and other materials.

Considerable remediation has already been accomplished at this site, including systems to monitor groundwater and drinking water wells and the removal of 75 rusting and leaking drums. The final cleanup plan will include the demolition or removal of 34 buildings and other structures at the site.

Among the other Superfund sites visited by Frelinghuysen yesterday were:

• Mansfield Trail Dump, in Byram Township, Sussex County, where he was joined by Byram Township councilmembers David Gray, Nisha Kash, Scott Olson, and Marie Raffay;

• Rockaway Township Wells, Rockaway Twp., Morris County;

• Rockaway Borough Well Field, Rockaway Borough, Morris County, where he was joined by Assemblyman Anthony Bucco (NJ-25) and Joyce Kanigel, Rockaway Borough Council;

• Caldwell Trucking, Fairfield, Essex County, where Mayor Jim Gasparini accompanied Frelinghuysen; and

• Unimatic Manufacturing, Fairfield, Essex County.

Administrator Enck accompanied Frelinghuysen at the visits in Rockaway Township and Rockaway Borough.