Interfaith Community Organization – Submitted by Joe Morris
ICO’S LONG CHROMIUM CLEANUP FIGHT BEARS FRUIT
In April, the decade-long legal battle waged by the Interfaith Community Organization for
chromium cleanup in Hudson County finally came to fruition: the largest environmental cleanup in New Jersey history got underway, involving the removal of more than 1 million
tons of chromium chemical waste from the “Roosevelt Drive-In” chromium site on Route 440 in Jersey City by one of the world’s largest corporations,
Honeywell International.
The cleanup will take place over the next four years at a projected cost of $400 million to Honeywell. The result will be
34 clean acres, freed for safe, unrestricted development at a pivotal location on the banks of the Hackensack River. More importantly, this is a victory for
public health. Chromium is one of the worst known carcinogens, and the waste at the Route 440 site and some 200 other sites throughout the county
contains chromium in its most deadly form. ICO has fought to protect public health from chromium since 1989.
All Saints was one of the founding member congregations of ICO in 1986. Fr. Curtiss was a key leader at its inception and throughout its long fight for chromium cleanups.
ICO’s involvement in chromium began when pastors and leaders of congregations in the county (including All Saints) realized
that some of their parishioners’ homes were located on or near chromium dump sites. ICO fought for cleanups of some 35 chromium sites in
residential neighborhoods in the early 1990s – and won. State officials, however, broke their promise to promptly clean up the larger non-residential sites, and
the state’s enforcement efforts were dramatically weakened through political pressure from the chromium polluters.
ICO, part of the national Industrial Areas Foundation network of citizens’ groups, teaches and encourages citizens’
involvement in the public affairs of our communities. When citizens’ pressure on state government failed to result in progress toward chromium cleanup,
though, ICO developed a legal strategy. It filed suit against AlliedSignal (now Honeywell) in 1995 to compel cleanup of the largest chromium waste site in
the county. Last year, the federal Court of Appeals ruled in ICO’s favor, upholding the District Court’s cleanup order, and clearing the
way for the start of work.
“It has been a test of endurance,” said Rev. Willard Ashley, co-chairperson of ICO and pastor of Abundant
Joy Community Church in Jersey City (Fr. Curtiss is ICO’s other co-chair.) “But also a testament to the ability of people of faith to act effectively,
and to adapt and develop new tools to get the job done.”
Since the court victory, ICO has worked to make chromium cleanups a renewed priority of state government. Initial
signs from the Corzine Administration were positive; ICO organizer Joe Morris was asked to serve on the governor’s environmental transition team, and
the governor pledged to meet with ICO to hear our recommendations for a strengthened approach.
The meeting never happened, however, and so far the new administration has done little to change the approach of its predecessors.
ICO is therefore preparing to file another citizens’ lawsuit – this time against Pittsburgh-based PPG Industries to
compel cleanup of Jersey City’s 2nd largest chromium dump – the 16-acre site on Garfield Ave. now co-owned by former Governor Florio.
ICO has entered into a new partnership with a major ally, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
NRDC attorneys have agreed to represent ICO (along with NRDC members) in potential litigation with PPG.
Meanwhile, ICO has moved forward with an independent chromium exposure screening effort. Working with experts in
a variety of fields, ICO is conducting soil and dust testing for chromium, and surveying residents near known chromium sites’ regarding
possible health affects.
For information on ICO’s exposure screening efforts, or on the overall work of the organization, please contact Joe Morris at
201-705-7988, or morrisICO@msn.com.