EPA Extends Public Comment Period for Pierson’s Creek Cleanup
The EPA will now accept feedback through March 19 on a plan to remove contaminated sediment from the 1.5-mile Newark waterway.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has extended the public comment period for a proposed plan to address contaminated sediment and soil at the Pierson’s Creek Superfund Site.
Community members now have until March 19 to submit feedback on the cleanup proposal for the 1.5-mile waterway, which runs through an industrial section of Newark. The extension was granted to provide additional time for the public to review the technical details of the project.
The EPA’s proposed remedy targets historical contamination linked to chemical manufacturing. The plan includes the removal of contaminated creek sediment and heavily impacted bank soil. It also calls for the installation of a protective cap, the cleaning of enclosed creek sections, wetland restoration, and long-term monitoring.
Pierson’s Creek flows beneath portions of Newark Liberty International Airport and the New Jersey Turnpike before discharging into Newark Bay. According to the EPA, the contamination largely stems from past industrial activities, including operations at a facility located at One Avenue L.
The cleanup is being managed in phases due to the complexity of the site. While the current proposal focuses on the creek and its immediate banks, the EPA is still investigating a separate area at the One Avenue L property. A cleanup plan for that specific area is expected in 2027.
The agency held a public meeting on Jan. 27 to discuss the plan. Supporting documents and the presentation from that meeting remain available on the EPA’s site profile page.
