New Jersey announces $49.5M settlement to address Pohatcong Valley groundwater contamination
WARREN COUNTY, N.J. — New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette on Monday announced a proposed $49.5 million settlement with multiple companies to resolve natural resource damages and cleanup costs stemming from decades of hazardous chemical discharges in the Pohatcong Valley.
The settlement, which would end a lawsuit filed by the state in 2018, represents one of New Jersey’s significant groundwater natural-resource-damage recoveries. The contamination affected nearly 10,000 acres across Washington Township, Washington Borough, Franklin Township and Greenwich Township in Warren County — an area designated as a Superfund site.
“Throughout the Murphy Administration, our office has been relentless in pursuing accountability for corporations and entities that pollute our groundwater and harm our residents. Today’s settlement is no exception,” Attorney General Platkin said. “No one should be able to get away with dumping toxic chemicals in our ground water. Once again, I would like to commend our deputy attorneys general and Commissioner LaTourette and his staff for their tremendous work to protect the environment in the Garden State.”
Commissioner LaTourette said the DEP remains steadfast in efforts to hold polluters responsible. “The DEP commitment to pursuing justice for communities and the environment through cost recovery and NRD actions such as this is unwavering,” he said. “In partnership with the Office of Attorney General, we will continue to aggressively pursue polluters and hold accountable those whose actions drain taxpayer dollars, impact public health, and damage New Jersey’s natural resources.”
Under the proposed agreement, $45 million will be recovered for natural resource damages, and $4.5 million will reimburse the state for past remediation expenses. The DEP plans to use the NRD funds for restoration projects or grant programs to restore affected natural resources.
The contamination — primarily trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE) — originated from industrial operations beginning around 1950, when TCE was reportedly dumped into fields surrounding a Washington Township manufacturing facility. The chemicals migrated through wastewater and stormwater systems, ultimately forming a groundwater plume once nine miles long.
TCE is a known carcinogen linked to kidney cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and cardiac defects. PCE exposure is associated with cancer and damage to the liver, kidneys, immune system and reproductive system.
The plume, while reduced after years of treatment, reached two public water supply wells and several private wells. Public wells required treatment systems, and homes with contaminated private wells were connected to public water. Remaining soil contamination is being treated through a soil vapor extraction system.
Six corporate defendants were named in the consent judgment. Pechiney Plastic Packaging, Inc. (PPPI) will pay the majority of the settlement, covering all but about $1.1 million of the NRD and $179,000 of DEP’s past costs. Bristol Myers Squibb will pay the remaining share. Other defendants include Citigroup, MRC Holdings, Rexam Beverage Can Co. and Albea Americas, Inc.
The proposed settlement was published in the New Jersey Register on Nov. 17, and public comments may be submitted through Jan. 16, 2026. The full agreement is available at dep.nj.gov/nrr/proposed-settlements/ and dep.nj.gov/srp/settlements/.
The case was handled by special counsel and the Division of Law’s Environmental Enforcement and Environmental Justice Section, along with DEP’s Office of Natural Resource Restoration and Contaminated Site Remediation and Redevelopment program.
