Toxic Legacy: Firms Pay $61M for NJ Landfill

CHESTER, NJ – A deal struck between federal prosecutors and a consortium of corporate giants and municipalities will finally inject much-needed funds into the ongoing cleanup of the Combe Fill South Landfill (CFS) – a toxic mess festering in Morris County, New Jersey, for over four decades. The agreement, announced today, forces companies like Honeywell, Pfizer (formerly Warner-Lambert), Colgate-Palmolive, and Mars Inc., along with Waste Management, to pony up at least $61 million for past cleanup costs, with the potential for another $8 million as more local entities sign on.

The CFS site, operating as a sanitary landfill from the early 1950s until its closure in 1981, became a dumping ground for both household refuse and dangerous chemical waste. For years, the contamination seeped into the ground and surface water, leaving a legacy of benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and chlorethane. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a plan in 1986 to cap the landfill and install a pump-and-treat system – measures that have been in place for over a decade, but haven’t fully addressed the problem. A separate study of the deep aquifer is underway to assess further remediation needs.

The $61 million represents a recovery of funds already spent by federal and state agencies. But the deal doesn’t stop there. In addition to the initial payout, the defendants will contribute over $3.2 million for natural resource damage claims, earmarked for restoration projects aimed at mitigating the environmental impact. Crucially, they’re also purchasing a $27 million annuity that will provide $900,000 annually for the next 30 years – a long-term commitment to maintaining the cleanup efforts. Whether this will be enough remains to be seen.

“This wasn’t about slapping wrists,” stated Michael Guzman, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General with the feds’ Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This was a decade-long fight to recover taxpayer dollars and ensure the remaining cleanup work gets done. These companies were responsible, and now they’re paying.” Alan J. Steinberg, EPA Region 2 Administrator, echoed the sentiment, claiming the settlement demonstrates the Superfund program “working as it should” – pursuing responsible parties while simultaneously addressing the immediate environmental threat.

But critics argue the settlement is a drop in the bucket compared to the true cost of environmental damage and potential health risks faced by residents of Chester and Washington Townships. While the annuity provides a steady stream of funding, concerns remain about the long-term effectiveness of the current containment strategy, and whether it will truly prevent further contamination of the aquifer. The agreement is now subject to a 30-day public comment period and requires final court approval.

The feds are touting this as a win, but the CFS landfill stands as a stark reminder of the enduring consequences of unchecked industrial waste. The site is located in Chester and Washington Townships in Chester, N.J. Details of the consent decree can be found on the federal website: www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html. Grimy Times will continue to monitor the cleanup progress and hold those responsible accountable.