Other speakers included, Tammy Murphy, the first lady for the state of New Jersey, Dina Grilo, the mayor of East Newark, Tobias Dratt, BASF’s regional president, U.S. Senator Robert Menedez,  Shawn LaTourette, NJDEP commissioner, and Kyla Hastie, DOI regional director (acting). Both NOAA and DOI serve as the Federal Natural Resource Trustees in this matter.

This restoration project will create a five-acre park on BASF’s riverfront property in East Newark. BASF is one of more than 100 potentially responsible parties whose past activities may have contributed to contamination and natural resource injuries in this area. BASF is the first of these parties to agree to undertake early restoration to address a portion of these alleged liabilities. If BASF fulfills its legal requirements, the company may receive credit against their potential liability for natural resource damages.

The East Newark Riverside Park project will provide needed greenspace for underserved communities that have been burdened by past pollution, while also creating environmental habitat that is scarce in dense urban areas.  The park  is the first early restoration project along the Passaic River and its related watersheds for the larger Passaic River Natural Resource Damage Assessment case. The federal trustees hope it is the first of many projects that will restore natural resources and recreational opportunities along the Passaic River and its environs.

Also in attendance for NOAA were Rich Takacs (RC), Carl Alderson (RC), Diane Evers (ARD), Kate Barfield (OGC), and Maureen Trnka (Office of the Asst. Administrator).

For more information please view our New East Newark Riverfront Park Restoration Project page.