By: Richard L. Smith
A long-awaited environmental cleanup effort is now underway at the Allied Textile Printing (ATP) site in Paterson, as crews have begun dismantling the top portion of a dangerously unstable smokestack that looms over the area near Quarry Lawn Park.
According to information released by Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has initiated the deconstruction of the 118-foot-tall smokestack, a key step in addressing asbestos and lead contamination at the site, which sits adjacent to the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park. 
Work on the project is scheduled to continue throughout the month of June.
The smokestack has long posed a risk of collapse, creating a safety concern for both workers and the nearby community.
EPA officials say the removal process is designed to minimize the spread of hazardous materials, particularly asbestos, as the agency works to stabilize the site and prepare for a broader environmental remediation.
Workers equipped with protective gear will dismantle the structure brick by brick, using a manlift to reach the top and a specialized fabric chute to carefully transport materials to the ground without releasing contaminated dust.
The bricks will be tested at several stages to determine whether they contain asbestos and whether they can safely remain onsite.
To further reduce the risk of airborne contamination, the EPA will continuously spray the smokestack and surrounding area with water during the dismantling process.
Air quality monitors have also been set up around the perimeter to track dust levels in real time.
Once the upper portion of the smokestack is removed and the structure is considered stable, the EPA will move on to clean up the neighboring Boiler House Complex.
That portion of the site will undergo a carefully controlled demolition, with removal of asbestos and lead-containing materials as part of the effort.
Inside the building, contaminated ash will be extracted from historic boilers—expected to be preserved for their cultural significance—before soil sampling is conducted to confirm that cleanup efforts have been effective.
EPA crews will also take additional soil samples within Quarry Lawn Park to ensure the area is safe for the public before reopening.
This phase marks the most significant action taken yet to address the long-standing environmental concerns at the former industrial site, which has remained a symbol of Paterson’s industrial past and environmental challenges.