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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Public Outreach

EPA communicates updates on the progress of the Newark Bay RI/FS at project milestones to the Passaic River Community Advisory Group (CAG), which provides advice and recommendations to USEPA and its Partner Agencies to help ensure a more effective and timely cleanup and restoration of the Passaic River. The CAG holds meetings every other month that the public is welcomed to attend. Please follow this link to obtain more information on the Passaic River CAG.

November 2022 Project Update on the Newark Bay Study: Click here to read the November 2022 Project Update, which provides information on the recently-approved Remedial Investigation Report and describes the upcoming Feasibility Study phase of the project.

March 2008 Project Update on the Newark Bay Contaminated Sediment Study: A comprehensive investigation of sediment contamination in Newark Bay is currently underway. In December 2007 a major milestone was reached in this important study with the completion of Phase 2 of the sediment sampling field work. The characterization of sediments during Phase 2 will enhance EPA’s understanding of contaminant deposition and distribution patterns over time in Newark Bay and it will help identify sources of contaminants.

Highlights Contained in the March 2008 Project Update:

  • Second Phase of Sediment Sampling Completed
  • Sediment Studies Will Help Answer the “Where, When and How” of Contamination in Newark Bay
  • Phase 1 & Phase 2 Findings to be Ready by Fall 2008
  • What’s Next?

Click here to read the March 2008 Project Update Fact Sheet

Outreach

Community Involvement Plan (June 2006): The USEPA, along with its partner agencies on the Lower Passaic River Restoration project, has completed the Community Involvement Plan (CIP) for the Lower Passaic River Restoration Project and Newark Bay Study. In the Fall of 2005, a draft of the CIP was released for public review and comment. After a thorough review of the public comments received, the draft CIP was revised to respond to those comments. It completes the circle of public/agency interaction and creates a blueprint for public involvement over the life of the project.

Click here for the Final Community Involvement Plan (Due to the large size of the file, downloading may take a few minutes).

The commitment of the USEPA and the Passaic River partner agencies to active and open public involvement forms the basis of this document. The CIP provides a toolbox of options for keeping the public informed and for soliciting input. As a living document for a dynamic project, the CIP will be reviewed annually, and updated as needed to reflect project progress and changes to community needs, concerns, issues, and contacts. Copies of the CIP in both hard and CD versions are available at the following information repositories established for the project:

U.S. EPA Records Center
290 Broadway, 18th floor
New York, New York 10007
Hours: Mon. – Fri.: 9AM – 4 PM
Phone: (212) 637-3000

Newark Public Library
NJ Reference Section
5 Washington Street
Newark, NJ 07101
Hours: Mon., Fri., Sat.: 9AM – 5:30PM
Tues., Wed., Thurs.: 9AM – 8:30PM
Phone: (201) 733-7775

Elizabeth Public Library
11 South Broad Street
Elizabeth, NJ 07202
Hours: Mon – Fri.: 9AM – 9PM
Sat.: 9AM – 5PM
Phone: (908) 354-6060

For more information about the CIP or public involvement, contact:

Shereen Kandil, Team Leader
Community Affairs U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Phone: (212) 637-4333
Email: Kandil.Shereen@epa.gov

Public Forum Summaries - Draft Community Involvement Plan

Click here to read the summaries of project presentations, discussions and questions and answers that took place at the public forums held on September 14, 2005 in Rutherford, New Jersey and September 15, 2005, In Newark, New Jersey.

View the slide presentation given at the public forums Click here. (Due to the large size of the file, downloading may take a few minutes).

EPA Fact Sheets for the Newark Bay Study:

Click here for the July 2005 fact sheet discussing the initiation of environmental field investigations for the Newark Bay Study.

Taking the Pulse of Communities – Community Input to Guide Development of Community Involvement Plan:   From December 2004 through February 2005, the partner agencies conducted a series of Community Interviews as part of the public involvement process for the Lower Passaic River Restoration Project and Newark Bay Study. Click here to read the entire article.

Summary Report of Community Interview Notes: Click here to read the Report.