EPA Provided Update on Hackensack River Cleanup
The federal government updated the remediation status of a waterway contaminated by decades of industrial heavy metals.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Environmental
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provided an update regarding the Superfund status of the Lower Hackensack River. This site, which includes riverbank sections like those in Secaucus, has been under federal oversight for remediation since 2022.
Why it matters
The federal designation marks a shift in how New Jersey manages long-term industrial contamination of its waterways. Decades of intensive industrial activity led to the current accumulation of pollutants that necessitates large-scale intervention.
The remediation effort targets river mud containing high concentrations of chromium and other heavy metals. The cleanup scope encompasses the river's path, where industrial activity caused heavy metal accumulation exceeding safety thresholds.
The players
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The federal regulatory body responsible for managing the cleanup and hazardous waste remediation of designated Superfund sites.
President Donald Trump
The current President of the United States who oversees federal executive agencies including the EPA.
The details
The cleanup process involves the extraction and treatment of sediment, known as river mud, which currently hosts significant heavy metal deposits. Specialized federal resources are directed toward isolating and remediating these contaminants, which were released into the riverbanks by industrial processes over many years.
Timeline
September 2022: The Lower Hackensack River received official federal Superfund status.
January 2023: President Donald Trump began his second term.
September 21, 2026: The EPA provided an update on the Superfund status.
The Tech Race
The Hackensack River project follows the oversight framework established by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. This site now joins a national registry of long-term environmental remediation programs managed under this federal mandate.
Residents near the Lower Hackensack River should expect ongoing federal activity focused on sediment management and riverbank remediation. Future site developments will dictate access to specific river segments as the cleanup proceeds.
The takeaway
The federal Superfund status indicates a long-term commitment to addressing legacy industrial contamination in the river. Observers should track future EPA reports for specific remediation milestones and finalized timelines for the site in Secaucus.
Further reading
For more information on state-wide remediation, see the New Jersey Environmental section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Patch.
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