New Jersey has announced eight new lawsuits against companies and individuals that have failed to cleanup pollutants at locations across the Garden State.
The lawsuits will force the clean up of contamination and recover costs the DEP incurred in addressing contamination at other sites, according to the Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Shawn M. LaTourette.
They aim to address a variety of environmental threats including the contamination of soil and groundwater, as well as the potential in some cases for harmful chemical vapors.
“Through these actions, we are sending a clear message: whether you pollute our air, our soil, or our water, we will hold you accountable. Our communities deserve no less,” said Attorney General Platkin.
The sites include former gas stations, tire companies, and chemical manufacturers at various locations in New Jersey.
The Attorney General’s Office and DEP have filed a total of 56 environmental justice cases in overburdened communities since 2018. These communities are considered overburdened under New Jersey’s Environmental Justice Law because they have significant low-income, minority, and/or limited-English proficiency populations. To date, the lawsuits have yielded nearly $19 million in judgments.
