Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority Embroiled in Environmental Crimes Scandal
The Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority (JCMUA) has been embroiled in an environmental crimes scandal after agreeing to make significant improvements to Jersey City’s municipal sewer and drinking water systems under an agreement with the United States Government.
According to officials, the agreement will significantly reduce the amount of pollution being discharged into the Hackensack River, Hudson River and Newark Bay, and will benefit many Jersey City neighborhoods that face environmental justice challenges.
The agreement is a modification of a consent decree that JCMUA entered into with the U.S. government in 2011, and is aimed at resolving Clean Water Act violations for failing to properly operate and maintain its combined sewer system, which led to repeated releases of untreated sewage into the Hackensack River, Hudson River, Newark Bay and Penhorn Creek.
As part of the agreement, JCMUA is committing to repairing and upgrading significant portions of its municipal combined sewer system while also expanding the system’s capacity, and will upgrade the city’s drinking water system by replacing over 12,000 lead drinking water pipes.
Many of the areas that these upgrades will benefit are communities of color that have faced environmental justice challenges for decades, and JCMUA will also incorporate climate change adaptation and resiliency best practices and design measures into its sewer upgrades to ensure its sewer systems are better prepared to withstand severe storms and hurricanes.
Under the agreement, JCMUA estimates the work will take an additional 10 years to complete and will cost approximately $1.099 billion.
The Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the agreement, with Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim saying, “This settlement will help improve the environment and public health of communities that have long endured a historic and disproportionate burden from pollution.
Acting Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield for the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance added, “Providing clean water to communities, especially those already overburdened by pollution, is a fundamental right everyone deserves.”
Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia for the EPA noted, “As a result of this settlement, the sewer system improvements will reduce discharges from Combined Sewer Overflows by 370 million gallons per year, preventing over one million pounds of pollutants from entering nearby waterways each year.
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said, “Through our state-federal partnership, NJDEP and USEPA are working to ensure that all New Jersey communities enjoy the benefits of clean waterways and reliable, safe drinking water.
This consent decree helps to ensure that JCMUA will continue taking important actions that reduce water pollution risks now and in future, and we applaud JCMUA’s commitment to replacing lead service lines as the utility works to maintain continuing compliance with broader Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
JCMUA is a public utility that provides water and sewer services to residents of Jersey City, and its agreement with the U.S. government is aimed at resolving environmental crimes and improving the city’s water infrastructure.
The agreement is a significant step forward for the city and its residents, and highlights the importance of addressing environmental justice challenges and improving public health.
The agreement is a modification of a consent decree that JCMUA entered into with the U.S. government in 2011, and is aimed at resolving Clean Water Act violations for failing to properly operate and maintain its combined sewer system.
The agreement is a significant step forward for the city and its residents, and highlights the importance of addressing environmental justice challenges and improving public health.
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Category: Environmental Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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