Wednesday (August 1), New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver held a press conferences in Newark and Atlantic City announcing six new lawsuits filed by the State of New Jersey seeking Natural Resource Damages and cost recovery for sites in Newark, Woodbridge, Atlantic City and Warren County. The suits are the beginning of an expected program of aggressive enforcement for contaminated sites.
The Attorney General stated “Today is just the beginning. We are going to hold polluters accountable – no matter how powerful, no matter how long they’ve been getting away with it. And we’re sending a message to every company across the state: if you pollute our natural resources, we are going to make you pay.”
The sites involved are:
- The former Ronson Metals Corporation site in Manufacturers Place (near Ferry Street), in Newark
- The Ruggiero Seafood site on Wilson Avenue in Newark
- The Pohtacong Valley Superfund site in Warren County
- The former Hess Refinery in Port Reading
- A former Mobil Gas Station in Fords
- A former manufactured gas plant now owned by Duell Fuel Company in Atlantic City
The Sills Cummis & Gross environmental and litigation departments have significant experience with such suits and are prepared to answer questions or concerns regarding this development.