Years of toxic dumping in Toms River caused over $1 billion in environmental damage, but a proposed settlement with BASF falls far short, say local advocates.
Wayne Parry reports for The Associated Press.
In short:
- The settlement with BASF includes $500,000 and nine environmental projects to remediate damage caused by Ciba-Geigy’s toxic waste dumping.
- Save Barnegat Bay argues the settlement undervalues the harm, citing evidence of decades-long pollution and childhood cancer cases.
- The New Jersey DEP defends the settlement, emphasizing restoration over monetary compensation.
Key quote:
“Ciba-Geigy’s discharges devastated the natural resources of the Toms River and Barnegat Bay. The DEP failed to evaluate decades of evidence, including reports of dead fish, discolored waters, and toxic effluent, that exist in its own archived files.”
— Michele Donato, attorney for Save Barnegat Bay
Why this matters:
Generations of residents in Toms River have suffered health impacts and environmental destruction due to toxic waste. Insufficient settlements risk failing to address the full scale of damage, undermining public trust and future remediation efforts.
