Federal Government Seeks Damage From Pompton Lakes DuPont Plant Pollution
POMPTON LAKES, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) - The federal government is seeking damages from DuPont for pollution at the company's 600-acre property in northern New Jersey where it made ammunition for both world wars.
The Record reports that DuPont and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reached an agreement to determine the damage to fish, wildlife and other natural resources. The facility operated from 1902 to 1994. Pollution in nearby neighborhoods in Pompton Lakes is also being reviewed.
Federal Government Seeks Damage For Pompton Lakes DuPont Plant Pollution
Lisa Riggiola lives in one of the hundreds of homes on top of what she calls a toxic plume near DuPont's site.
"We have elevated cancer levels here," she told WCBS 880's Jim Smith.
DuPont spokesman Terry Gooding says the company is cooperating in the collection of data to determine if any natural resources have been affected by its operations there.
"There is no trust in DuPont or DuPont's contractors here in Pompton Lakes. We've been through this for far too long," Riggiola said.
Riggiola said the agreement is a step in the right direction and hopes it leads to more aggressive action by the federal government as she continues to call for superfund status.
Melissa Foster, a senior biologist with Fish and Wildlife's New Jersey field office, says the case will be handled by the U.S. Justice Department if a settlement can't be reached.
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