Steady hands and stern negotiations have cleared the way for ongoing cleanup efforts at the Combe Fill South Superfund Site in Morris County, New Jersey. A multi-party settlement involving federal prosecutors, state officials, and approximately 300 parties has secured a financial lifeline worth tens of millions.
Among those implicated in the contamination are Honeywell International Inc., Pfizer (formerly Warner-Lambert Company), Colgate-Palmolive (successor to The Mennen Company), Mars Inc., and Waste Management. These entities will pay at least $61 million for past cleanup costs, plus interest, with an additional $8 million set aside for other municipal defendants as they join the cause.
The site in Chester and Washington Townships has been a hotbed of environmental concern since its closure in 1981 after decades of accepting chemical wastes and refuse. The 1986 EPA Record of Decision mandates containment through a landfill cap and the ongoing operation of a pump and treat facility, which have stood for over a decade now.
Michael Guzman, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, hailed the settlement as an ‘excellent result,’ noting that this legal action demonstrates federal prosecutors’ commitment to environmental protection and fiscal responsibility. ‘We are recovering most of the money that EPA and the state spent to clean up this site,’ said Guzman.
Alan J. Steinberg, EPA Region 2 Administrator, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that today’s outcome is a testament to the Superfund program’s efficacy. The settlement includes over $3.2 million for natural resource damage claims and a $27 million annuity paying $900,000 annually for 30 years to ensure future cleanup activities are fully funded.
The consent decree, now in the U.S. District Court in Newark, is subject to public comment and final court approval before it becomes official. It’s available for review on the Justice Department Web site at www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- District: Middle District of Florida
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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