New Jersey's waterways continue to act as a dumping ground for polluters, according to a new report from Environment New Jersey.

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Steve Frost, iStock
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Using the most recent federal data available, the report cited more than 5.8 million pounds of toxic chemicals dumped into New Jersey streams and rivers by industrial facilities over a one-year period.

The pollutants listed include cancer-causing chemicals and toxins that can affect the way children grow, learn and behave.

"These chemicals that are being dumped in our waterways - they're things that really shouldn't be anywhere close to our rivers and streams," said Greg O'Malley, director of Environment New Jersey.

The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) called the report inaccurate, misleading and bogus, as facilities are required to treat their wastewater to certain standards before it's flushed out.

"We do not allow the dumping of toxins into the waterways of New Jersey," said a DEP spokesman.

The report applauded a proposed rule on the federal level that would restore Clean Water Act protections to thousands of waterways throughout the state and country. A public comment period on the rule was recently extended into the fall.

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