NJ residents in November, 1986, approved a $200 million bond issue that will allow the state to begin a $1.6 billion cleanup program for the state's worst toxic waste sites. NJ has more sites than any other state--97 sites--on the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) "national priorities list" of 812 sites nationwide.

The NJ Legislature passed companion bills to raise $535 million over a 5-year period. In addition, the state expects to get $500 million from the federal Superfund and another $500 million from industries found to be responsible for the pollution. At the 600 worst toxic waste sites in the state, 371 of the responsible parties have been identified and will be required to pay for cleanup. The state plans to clean up the remaining 229 with public funds. The Lipari landfill in Gloucester County is at the top of the national priority list, making it the worst toxic waste site in the nation.

A state assistant environmental protection commissioner said NJ hopes to have cleanup projects well under way at 15 sites by the end of 1988, now that the federal Superfund has been reauthorized.
--Peter Montague, Ph.D.

Descriptor terms: nj; epa; financing; bonding; fines; toxic waste; corporations; npl; superfund; remedial action; lipari costs; funding; hazardous waste;