By Sara Jerde | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

As President Donald Trump's administration continues to propose cuts to federal funding that protects the environment, and the head of the EPA has made changes at the agency that limits what it can do to go after polluters, advocates and environmentalists have been left wondering about the fate of sites in New Jersey that pose ecological risks.

Formed in 1970 under the Nixon administration, the EPA has overseen a variety of cleanup projects in the Garden State. Here's what the state could look like without the authority.

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George Washington Bridge, 1973

Heavy smog covers the George Washington Bridge. The picture was one of many taken at the EPA's infancy to document the environmental effects on the country (U.S. National Archives).

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Jersey City, 1973

A sign posted that dumping was not allowed on private property is ignored. The site, with Manhattan views, was frequently used for trash (National Archives Catalog).

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Jersey City, 1973

The Statue of Liberty stands in the distance. An illegal dumping ground in New Jersey once had remarkable Manhattan views. Now, much of the property is where the Liberty State Park is now located (National Archives Catalog).

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Jersey City, 1973

An illegal dumping ground in New Jersey was once located just across the Hudson River from Manhattan (National Archives Catalog).

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Hoboken, 1973

Near Hoboken, New Jersey flats show the State of Liberty in the background. Liberty State Park was established in the early 1970s and was built on land that was previously abandoned (National Archives Catalog).

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Arthur Kill, 1974

The Arthur Kill, which separates New Jersey and Staten Island was a dumping ground for toxic runoff and industrial wastes (National Archives Catalog).

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Woodbridge, 1973

An exposed and corroded pipe sits in a creek in Woodbridge, paces from a high school and public health center (National Archives Catalog).

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Little Ferry, 1973

Abandoned railroad tracks run over the Hackensack River. Cleaning up the Hackensack River has been in the talks for years and legislators have recently advocated for federal officials to take immediate action (Flickr user Andy Blair).

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Bayonne, 1973

Sunken barges and old vessels occupied this property. A number of construction projects through Bayonne have been controversial due to potential negative effects on the environment (National Archives Catalog).

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Paulsboro, 1973

What was then-Mobil Oil sits in Paulsboro. In 2012, Paulsboro was exposed to vinyl chloride, a toxic chemical used to make plastic, after a train derailed (U.S. National Archives).

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Jersey City, 1973

Garbage covers what was designated as property for the Liberty State Park. The Statue of Liberty stands in the background. The park was established in the early 1970s (National Archives Catalog).

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Bayonne, 1973

A landfill at Bayonne, which was considered an alternative to ocean dumping. Landfills require large, open spaces of land and could still lead to polluting waters (National Archives Catalog).

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Jersey City, 1974

Parts of Jersey City were previously used as an illegal dumping ground. Liberty State Park repurposed many acres of the wasteland when it was established in the 1970s (Flickr user Andy Blair).

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Linden, 1970s

New Jersey Turnpike in Linden with the Exxon oil refinery in the background. A state report found that 7 million gallons of oil went into the ground at the Bayway Refinery (National Archives Catalog).

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Newark Bay, 1974

Newark Bay faces a number of pollution and environmental factors. Water quality tests at Newark Bay previously revealed a number of toxic substances in the water. (National Archives Catalog).

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Linden, 1974

The American Cyanamid Company was a leading manufacturing company in the 1970s and 80s. Located in Linden, the company was believed at the time to be dumping millions of gallons of chemical waste into the Arthur Kill (National Archives Catalog).

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Hackensack River, 1974

The Hackensack River once carried chemical and sewage wastes throughout New York and other waterways. In 2016, officials announced they would consider whether the river should be dubbed a superfund site (National Archives Catalog).

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Newark Bay, 1974

Boats remained anchored amid an oil slick in the Newark Bay. Oftentimes, toxic waste and chemicals ran into the waterway (National Archives Catalog).

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Jersey City, 1976

The abandoned Central Railroad of New Jersey terminal in Jersey City became shabby. The company declared bankruptcy and merged with Conrail in the late 70s (Flickr user Andy Blair).

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Sara Jerde | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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