The huge oil Bayway refinery complex in northern New Jersey—unmissable on most approaches to New York City and an unfortunate state icon—now is the focus of a political and legal uproar involving original owner ExxonMobil, environmentalists and even a former state official.
The tiff follows New Jersey's March 5 confirmation of a $225-million proposed deal with the firm to settle its liability for natural resources damages at the 1,300-acre refinery in Elizabeth, owned by the oil giant from 1909 until its 1990s sale to ConocoPhillips. Exxon merged with Mobil Corp. in 1999.