The federal government maintains the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), a searchable database of information about releases and transfers of toxic chemicals from manufacturing facilities. Searches can be done by geographic area, facility, industry, parent company, or off-site waste transfer. The TRI is published by the US EPA and is a valuable source of information about toxic chemicals that are being used, manufactured, treated, transported or released into the environment. Using this information, citizens, businesses, and governments can work together to protect the quality of our land, air, and water.
The Superfund program was created as a result of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) enacted on 12/11/80 and amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986. These acts established broad authority for the government to respond to problems posed by the release, or threat of release, of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants. CERCLA also imposed liability on those responsible for releases and provided the authority for the government to undertake enforcement and abatement action against responsible parties. CERCLIS is a searchable database containing information on hazardous waste sites, site inspections, preliminary assessments and remedial status.
The New Jersey Known Contaminated Sites database contains listings of contaminated sites organized alphabetically and by county. The database is published by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Site Remediation Program (SRP). You may use it to find the sites in a particular geographic area of New Jersey.
Other environmental issues include:
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