Newark - U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ, 8th) today joined his House of Representatives colleagues Reps. Robert Menendez (D-NJ, 13th), Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ, 11th), Donald Payne (D-NJ, 10th), and Steve Rothman (D-NJ, 9th) along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to announce the Lower Passaic River Restoration Project (PRRI).

PRRI will be managed jointly by the USACE, EPA, and New Jersey Office of Maritime Resources, working in conjunction with the Department of the Interior, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and NJDEP.  It is aimed at finding and implementing comprehensive solutions to the complex problems facing the 17 miles of the lower Passaic River between Newark Bay and the Dundee Dam.  Polluters who are potentially responsible for some of the pollution of the Passaic River are being asked to become "cooperating parties" to share the costs of the PRRI.

Rep. Pascrell was instrumental in: authorizing the USACE's initial reconnaissance study of the river in 2000, which determined a federal interest in the project, through his seat on the House Transportation Committee, Water Resources Subcommittee, convincing the State of New Jersey to partner with the Federal Government on the project, and working with all the agencies to reach an agreement for sharing the costs of this study.

 "The cleanup of the Passaic River has waited long enough.  It is time to stop arguing and focus on the task at hand.  We are here because the Passaic River Restoration Initiative is the way to get the job done, and done quickly," stated Pascrell.

"This restoration project is designed to provide a realistic approach to restoring the lower Passaic River to fully usable conditions.

 "I believe these agencies -- with strong congressional oversight and leadership -- will help us to move away from years of wrangling and debate over how to deal with the difficult problem.

"To those parties responsible for damage to the Passaic River, I implore you to become 'cooperating parties' in our broad based, bipartisan effort.

"Rather than investing in legal bills that only serve to stonewall the cleanup, get on board and redirect resources toward the cleanup of the Passaic River and the future of our Garden State.

"While the Passaic River has made great strides since the Clean Water Act was signed into law 31 years ago this very weekend, there is an incredible amount of work left to be done.  Let's get to it." 

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