The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified 10 actions that demonstrate its commitment to ensuring that the contamination from the DuPont Pompton Lakes Works facility is properly addressed and that people living in the nearby community are protected. The actions, outlined in a letter sent by EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck to residents of Pompton Lakes, range from taking co-lead responsibilities for the site with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), to naming a liaison to work closely with the community and the state.
“We are working closely with our state partners to provide relief to the residents of Pompton Lakes who have, for too long, lived with the concerns brought on by contamination in their community,” Enck said. “I want to assure area residents that EPA and NJDEP are committed to effectively working with the community through a program that will be patterned after the federal Superfund program and will be conducted in concert with the community outreach efforts of the involved federal and state health agencies. “
EPA will continue to work closely with NJDEP, which has had the lead in cleaning up the site, using the authorities of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. After consideration, EPA has determined that it is not inclined at this time to propose the DuPont Pompton Lakes Works site for inclusion on the Superfund National Priorities List. The Agency believes that cleanup under the current program will be just as thorough and it has, in part through the 10 actions announced. Agency representatives will attend a town hall meeting Jan. 25 to hear from members of the community and to discuss opportunities for technical support and other tools that they have as the cleanup moves forward.
