County Health Officials Investigate Illegal Dumping

of Oil Resulting in Arrest and Fine of Local Resident

PATERSON – In a joint effort, the Passaic County Department of Health (PCDH) and the Paterson Police Department arrested and issued a fine to a Garfield, NJ resident who was caught illegally dumping approximately three quarts of waste oil on the land and in the Passaic River.  A settlement conference was held on December 12, 2002, in which fines totaling $1,500 were assessed.  Illegal dumping of oil and other pollutants is a “lose lose” scenario; First, because it is slowly damaging the local environment for everyone, and second, because there is always the risk of getting caught.  The amount this Garfield resident paid in fines could have gone for a lot of oil changes.

Passaic County Environmental Specialist Burak Nura was instructed by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to perform clean up at the site given the small quantity of oil involved.  Mr. Nura proceeded to follow the cleaning procedure required to lay down absorbent pads at the site to soak up the remaining oil, and to double-bag and dispose oil waste in coordination with the Department of Public Works.

Passaic County Department of Health Director, Michael Guarino, stated, “Our Environmental Division will pursue all pollution violations, no matter how small, that have a negative impact on our natural surroundings.  Too many people feel it is all right to dump oil or other hazardous materials without caring about the long-term consequences.  The health department’s objective is to be clear in our message to all citizens in Passaic County that pollution is not to be tolerated.” 

The PCDH is funded, in part, by the County Environmental Health Act (CEHA) grant for the provision of environmental health services.  If you are aware of or have questions regarding illegal dumping in your neighborhood, please contact The Passaic County Department of Health at (973) 881-4396.

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