EPA Provided Update on Hackensack River Cleanup
Federal officials reported on ongoing efforts to remediate heavy metal contamination in the Lower Hackensack River.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Environmental
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency delivered a status update regarding the Superfund cleanup of the Lower Hackensack River. The project continues to target the removal of chromium and other heavy metals from the riverbed.
Why it matters
The cleanup is necessary to address environmental damage caused by years of industrial activity along the river banks. By mitigating the presence of hazardous materials in the river mud, federal authorities aim to improve the health and safety of the local ecosystem in New Jersey.
The Lower Hackensack River remains contaminated with high concentrations of chromium and various heavy metals. These substances are concentrated in the river mud as a byproduct of decades of industrial operations situated along the riverbanks.
The players
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
This federal agency is responsible for human health and environmental protection through the enforcement of regulations and the management of Superfund cleanups.
Donald Trump
Donald Trump is the current President of the United States.
The details
Federal funding is actively directed toward the extraction of contaminated sediments from the river bottom. The EPA continues to oversee the environmental management of the waterway to ensure pollutants are properly handled and removed.
Timeline
The Lower Hackensack River received official federal Superfund status in September 2022.
President Donald Trump began his second term in January 2023.
The EPA provided an update on the Superfund status on September 21, 2026.
Deeper Dive
The cleanup of the Lower Hackensack River follows the established regulatory framework of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act. This project serves as a local application of national protocols designed to remediate legacy industrial pollution at high-priority sites.
The removal of heavy metals from river mud will contribute to cleaner waterways and long-term ecological restoration for the surrounding New Jersey communities. Residents near the river should expect ongoing site activity as federal contractors continue the necessary remediation work.
The takeaway
Large-scale industrial remediation is a multi-year effort that requires sustained federal oversight to protect regional water quality. Readers should be aware that the recovery of river ecosystems from decades of pollution is a slow process that spans several presidential terms.
Further reading
For more information on state cleanup initiatives, see New Jersey Environmental.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Patch.
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