(12/P104) TRENTON - Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin today issued the following statement regarding a final agreement among Covanta Energy Corporation, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and New York City that will result in installation of new air-emissions reduction technology to Covanta’s Essex County Resource Recovery Facility in Newark:

“Improving the quality of New Jersey's air is a top environmental priority of the Christie Administration. I commend Covanta, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and New York City for working as partners with the DEP to reach this important agreement, which sets an aggressive schedule for the installation of state-of-the-art baghouse technology that will significantly improve emissions from the facility and improve the quality of air in New Jersey's largest city. This is a milestone for clean air and a win for the residents of Newark.”

Earlier today Covanta announced that a new lease through 2032 with the Port Authority (which owns the Newark facility) and a new 20-year municipal solid waste contract with New York City will enable Covanta’s investment in operational improvements. The upgrades will include installation of a state-of-the-art particulate emissions control system, called a baghouse, on each of the facility’s three combustion units, as well as a new recycling system that will recover more ferrous and non-ferrous metals from residual ash. The facility is currently in compliance with all environmental permits, and its control of air emissions will be further improved with the baghouse installation.