News Release 8/25/15

LONG BRANCH – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, decried today’s state court approval of the Christie Administration’s controversial settlement with ExxonMobil.  The Christie Administration decided to settle New Jersey’s $8.9 billion environmental damage lawsuit against ExxonMobil for a mere $225 million.  The settlement comes after an 11-year legal battle to recover damages from ExxonMobil for the contamination of more than 1,800 acres of wetlands, marshes, meadows and waters in northern New Jersey.

“The Christie Administration’s settlement destroys years of hard work and sets an extremely dangerous precedent for future polluters to degrade our state with virtually no consequences,” said Congressman Pallone.  “New Jerseyans deserved nothing less than to be fairly compensated for the degradation of our land and resources.  However, the settlement and the ruling, along with ExxonMobil’s attempts – supported by the Christie Administration – to shirk responsibility, are an insult to New Jersey.  I am further troubled that the settlement fails to hold Exxon accountable for pollution at 16 other facilities in the state.  Today’s ruling, which effectively lets big oil off the hook, is a reminder that those of us in New Jersey who are committed to the environmental health and economic well-being of our state must redouble our efforts in the leadership void left by Governor Christie.”

In June, Pallone wrote to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection urging the rejection of the proposed settlement.

In his letter, Pallone wrote, “I was sent to Congress in 1988 to put a stop to ocean dumping and the reckless industrialization of the Jersey Shore.  Ensuring the ecological vitality of New Jersey’s coastline and waterways has always been one of my top priorities.  This insufficient settlement is an affront to the long term objective of cleaning up New Jersey’s legacy of toxic contamination.”