The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) announce the following site-specific recommendations regarding the consumption of squirrels taken from the Ringwood Mines/Landfill Superfund site. The recommendations are based on an analysis by NJDHSS, NJDEP, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry/National Center for Environmental Health. The EPA had found an elevated level of lead in one of six squirrels taken from the site.

* Children should not eat squirrel meat taken from the Ringwood Mines/Landfill Superfund site more than once per month.
* To protect the fetus, women of child-bearing age and pregnant women should not eat squirrel meat taken from the Ringwood Mines/Landfill Superfund site more than twice per month
* Other adults may eat squirrel meat taken from the Ringwood Mines/Landfill Superfund site up to two times per week.

This advisory is intended to prevent elevations in blood lead levels among people who may consume squirrels taken from the site. The recommendations are based on a typical portion of approximately one-quarter pound of squirrel meat per meal.

Representatives of all these agencies will be on hand at an EPA-sponsored public information session scheduled for Tuesday, January 30 at 630 p.m at the Ringwood Municipal Building. The purpose of the meeting is to provide an overview of the site status and ongoing biota investigations. You are encouraged to attend this session so we can address any of your concems.