Environmental Watchdog Files Intent to Sue Over River Contamination

By Jennifer Griffith

Published on June 29, 2007

Basell USA Inc. and Akzo Nobel Chemicals Inc. are the defendants in the case.

Basell USA Inc. owns an industrial facility near the site of the alleged contamination. Akzo Nobel Chemicals Inc. previously owned the facility.

High levels of benzene and 4-chloroaniline, both known carcinogens, were found n Raritan River near the facility which produces polyolefins, a component of plastic products. Basell is an international producer of plastics.

The EWA's intent to sue details the reasons for the suit and allows the defendants 30 days to remediate the claim before the lawsuit can be filed.

Levels of benzene and 4-chloroaniline are reportedly 100 times higher than the legal limits for fresh water bodies and double the legal limit for saline estuaries, the EWA claims.

EWA's lawsuit, should it be filed, would require the two companies to stop allowing contaminants into the river and to clean up the affected areas.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has already conducted an investigation of the claim made by EWA and found that Akzo Nobel had not monitored levels of chemicals at the site.

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