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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced New Jersey received funding to continue cleanup projects at three Superfund sites.

The capital is part of an approximately $1 billion second wave of funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which nationwide includes the start of new cleanup projects at 22 Superfund sites and the expediting of more than 100 others around the country.

The Garden State has the most Superfund sites of any state in the country. An estimated 50% of the state’s population lives within three miles of a Superfund site.

The New Jersey projects in this round of funding include:

• Cornell-Dubilier Electronics Inc. Superfund site — Middlesex County
  Addressing contamination from the electronic manufacturer, which operated a South Plainfield facility from 1936 to 1962. The latest phase of the cleanup includes the removal of contaminated sediment. Work has already started and is estimated to cost $152 million.
• The Mansfield Trail Dump Superfund site — Byram Township
  The work includes former waste disposal trenches that have contaminated the soil. EPA will continue building a new waterline for impacted residents, estimated to cost $8.7 million. It will also begin other work at the site, estimated to cost $11.5 million for the cleanup of soil and groundwater contamination.
• The Matteo & Sons Inc. Superfund site —West Deptford
  This 80-acre site was previously used for lead battery recycling and waste disposal. The funding will go toward cleaning up the site by removing contaminated waste and soil and placing an asphalt cap over the affected area. EPA will begin the cleanup work estimated to cost $72.2 million through this funding.

“Today marks another important step in our ongoing efforts to clean up contaminated sites in New Jersey, which has the most Superfund sites in the country,” said EPA Regional Administrator Lisa Garcia. “With these new funds from President [Joe] Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are excited to continue our cleanup efforts by removing contaminated waste and soil, ensuring access to clean drinking water, and bringing more sites closer to finishing cleanup.”

Gov. Phil Murphy thanked the state’s congressional delegation for helping to secure the funds, which he says will help foster healthier neighborhoods in the state.

“Together with our federal partners, my administration has worked tirelessly to confront legacy environmental hazards that for too long have limited the potential of New Jersey communities,” said Murphy. “Remediating contaminated soil and water in every corner of our state will safeguard the growth and development of our children for generations to come.”