Cost, length of Exxon's cleanup of contaminated NJ sites still unclear after $225M deal

The $225 million settlement between ExxonMobil and New Jersey reached this week confirms the oil giant must clean up more than 1,500 contaminated properties from gas stations to refineries.

But exactly how much they'll spend or how long it'll take remains murky.

Tuesday's settlement between the Department of Environmental Protection and ExxonMobil is a payment for the public's loss of the use of land.

But the company is also required to clean up the sites, which include oil refineries in Bayonne and Linden, 16 other facilities and gas stations across New Jersey.

The state previously oversaw site cleanup but a 2009 law established the Licensed Site Remediation Program and aimed to loosen a backlog of cleanups across the state.

Officials say the cleanups except for Linden will take place under the new program.