To: Governor Phil Murphy
Governor Christie: Clean Up New Jersey
This campaign has ended.
Governor Christie: The State of New Jersey recently reached a $250 million settlement with Exxon to clean up petroleum contamination in the state. But a state appropriations law that you signed last year gives you the power to apply most if not all of the settlement towards balancing the state's budget. This money belongs to the people of New Jersey and we demand that it all be utilized to clean up the environment so that current and future generations can enjoy a more pristine Garden State.
Thank You,
Why is this important?
1. A long-fought legal battle to recover $8.9 billion in damages from Exxon Mobil Corporation for the contamination and loss of use of more than 1,500 acres of wetlands, marshes, meadows and waters in northern New Jersey has been quietly settled by the state for around $250 million.
2. This was no small contamination – we’re talking about 7 million gallons of oil, ranging in thickness from 7 feet to 17 feet. It’s no wonder New Jersey sought $8.9 billion in damages when its Democratic governor first filed suit in 2004. By all estimates, it would cost billions just to repair some of the obvious environmental damage.
3. A debate over New Jersey’s proposed $250 million settlement of what had been an $8.9 billion pollution lawsuit against Exxon Mobil Corporation has highlighted an obscure provision of a state law that would appear to allow Gov. Chris Christie to apply most if not all of the settlement toward balancing the state budget.
4. The current state appropriations law, as proposed by Mr. Christie last year, says that any funds beyond the first $50 million collected in damages or other environmental recoveries shall go to the state’s general fund. When state lawmakers tried to amend the proposal to steer more money back toward environmental restoration, Mr. Christie vetoed the effort.