Ronald J. Riccio
Site Administrator

Welcome to the Chromium Cleanup Partnership website. This site provides visitors with the latest information related to PPG Industries’ chromium cleanups in Hudson County, New Jersey.

Here you can find progress reports that I am required to file with the Superior Court of New Jersey every six months about the cleanup sites. You can also find detailed reports that have been approved by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection on the investigation and cleanup at each site. Moreover, you can find on this site information about health and safety measures employed in conjunction with the cleanups

From 1905 to 1976, Hudson County was a center for chrome manufacturing, processing chromite ore imported into the United States. In the early 1900s, the Natural Products Refining Company opened a chrome plant at 880-900 Garfield Avenue in Jersey City.

PPG purchased the plant in 1954 and ceased operations in 1963, selling the facility and property in 1964. The manufacturing process used at the facility produced a waste byproduct known as chromate chemical production waste, or CCPW.

Over the years, the soil impacted with CCPW was used as fill material at residential, commercial and industrial construction sites. One component of CCPW, hexavalent chromium, has been linked to certain health concerns, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

The Chromium Cleanup Partnership was formed in 2009 when the Superior Court of New Jersey, the City of Jersey City, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and PPG agreed on a process for addressing the cleanup of chromium sites in Hudson County for which PPG is responsible as determined by a 1990 administrative consent order and a 2009 judicial consent order.

To assist with this process, the court created the position of an independent site administrator with oversight responsibilities, a role I have served since January 2016.

I was born and raised in Jersey City. As a result, I have personal knowledge and familiarity with many of the contaminated sites for which I have been given court ordered oversight responsibilities. I have also practiced law in New Jersey for more than 50 years. During that time I have had a broad array of experiences that include many years of litigating trial and appellate matters, 11 years as Dean of Seton Hall Law School, nearly 30 years as a Professor of Law, and various court appointments empowering me to oversee significant matters involving the public interest. Click here to view my professional profile.

One of my most important responsibilities as site administrator is to communicate with residents and other interested parties about PPG’s cleanups. This website is one way of fulfilling that obligation. Just as important, I am available to speak with individuals and groups. You are welcome to contact me via email, telephone or letter.

Your comments and questions are very important to me and the entire Chromium Cleanup Partnership.

RONALD J. RICCIO
Site Administrator, PPG Chromium Cleanup Sites

Email:
Info@chromecleanup.com

Telephone:
201-777-2099

Mailing Address:
Site Administrator
Chromium Cleanup Partnership
One Hovchild Plaza
4000 Route 66
4th Floor (MDMC)
Tinton Falls, N.J. 07753