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The Judge accepted the sellout that originally was estimated $8.9 billion for damages at the Bayonne and Linden refineries, and then 15 additional contaminated sites along with over 800 gas stations were added to the case. We believe this settlement is wrong and violates the Spill Act and the Public Trust Doctrine and sells out Natural Resource Damages. The groups plan to appeal the decision to the Appellate Court. The environmental groups who filed an appeal to intervene in the case released the following statements:
 
“If this seal of approval of the dirty deal between Governor Christie and Exxon Mobil is not overturned, it not only codifies it's OK to destroy the environment and rip-off taxpayers, but provides a road map to encourage it,” said David Pringle, NJ Campaign Director, Clean Water Action.
 
“In one of the saddest days environmental in a long time, today the Judge upheld the Exxon settlement. Today the people lost but the fight will continue. We are very disappointed with the Judge’s decision to accept the outrageous Exxon settlement. The Judge has rubberstamped the biggest corporate subsidy in state history. Not only did the Christie Administration settle for less than one penny on the dollar for billions of dollars in damages, but the Judge went along with it. Instead of going after $9 billion and requiring restoration we are entitled; the Judge has allowed the dirty deal to go through. This is more than an abuse of power that lets polluters off the hook. We believe that there is information that still needs to be put on the record, not only about the two refineries, but also about the 15 other sites and 800 gas stations added to this deal. This settlement in incomplete because it neglects to restore 1,500 acres of wetlands; not just cap them and pave them over. We are down, but not out; we will continue to fight this sellout,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.
 
“Exxon's massive damage to New Jersey's environment couldn't have been more clear. Today's decision by the Court sadly rubberstamps the Christie Administration's sell-out settlement. This settlement still stinks," said Doug O'Malley, Director of Environment New Jersey." The disregard of a generation of pollution at hundreds of Exxon facilities around the state is a slap in the face to New Jersey. Exxon has created a legacy of pollution and public health risks in our state, and we will be taking further legal action to hold the Christie Administration accountable."
 
“Our Delaware River has been done a great disservice by this settlement. That the Court would sign off on this sell out by the Christie Administration without even giving us our fair day in Court is a travesty,” said Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper.