Lesniak Calls On Christie To Use Volkswagen Settlements To Remove Dirty Trucks From the Roads & Electrify Ports

Settlement Funds Now Total $141 Million

TRENTON – Senator Raymond J. Lesniak today called on Governor Christie to dedicate money from two settlements the state will receive from Volkswagen as a result of the company’s deceptive practices to reduce pollution in and around Port Newark and Elizabeth.

“Economic justice and the public’s health should be the priorities from this settlement,” said Senator Lesniak. “The people who suffered from the environmental damage should have the cause of the problem addressed by reducing the pollution spewing from old diesel trucks and activity at Port Newark and Elizabeth, which greatly impacts the Ironbound and South Ward in Newark, the Elizabethport section of Elizabeth and areas of Jersey City and Bayonne.”

The governor last week announced that Volkswagen Group of America will pay the state $69 million to settle allegations that it violated New Jersey’s clean air statutes and defrauded consumers by selling diesel vehicles equipped with “cheat” software that deactivated their on-board emission controls except during emissions testing. Today, another settlement of $72 million was announced, bringing the total to $141 million.

Studies have shown the substantial ill health effects from trucks driving through the Ironbound in Newark to Port Newark and there can be little doubt of the impact on residents of Elizabeth, Jersey City and Bayonne, Senator Lesniak said.

As a result of the automaker’s actions, the lawsuit charged, Volkswagen cars spewed unlawful quantities of nitrogen oxides (“NOx”) into the air during everyday use. NOx has been linked to multiple respiratory diseases.

“This money was sought by the state in response to practices by Volkswagen that put our environment and the health of our residents at grave risk,” said Senator Lesniak. “It should be utilized to replace older trucks that are creating pollution in and around the ports as well as diesel-powered cargo handling equipment that create serious environmental and health hazards in our state. This is not only an economic imperative, it is our moral imperative.”