Announcements
DEP to Begin Series of Public Engagement Sessions on
Next Phase of Climate Pollutant on Reduction Initiatives
Governor Phil Murphy announced a comprehensive set of initiatives to combat climate change and power the “Next New Jersey.”
Building upon the New Jersey Protecting Against Climate Threats reform agenda first directed by Governor Murphy in January 2020 the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will begin a series of public engagement sessions to explore the next phase of Climate Pollutant Reduction (CPR) initiatives.
DEP will launch its public engagement process with a virtual general session on Tuesday, March 7 at 11 a.m. Additional public engagement sessions on the proposed CPR initiatives are planned throughout the spring and summer.
During the March 7 general session, DEP will provide a recap of its first phase of CPR rules, introduce potential new initiatives and solicit stakeholder feedback. Please stay tuned for details of these meetings, including meeting links, which will be posted online.
DEP to Host Public Engagement Session on Proposed Settlement of Natural Resource Damages related to Ciba-Geigy Site in Toms River
Monday, March 13, 6 p.m.
Toms River High School North (Auditorium)
1245 Old Freehold Road, Toms River, NJ
DEP will hold a public engagement session on Monday, March 13, to provide the public with additional information and take questions regarding the assessment, and proposed restoration, of injured natural resources related to the former Ciba-Geigy chemical plant site in Toms River, Ocean County. The engagement session will be held in the Toms River North High School Auditorium and begin at 6 p.m.
The DEP first published notice of the proposed settlement on Dec 5, 2022 and extended the public comment period until Feb. 3, 2023. Due to the strong public interest that has been expressed, the DEP will make a final extension of the public comment period to April 5, and also host a forum for direct engagement with the interested public.
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Participation Opportunities
Upcoming Administrative Order 2021-25 Public Hearings
February 22 - Bayonne Energy Center (virtual)
February 28 - Competitive Power Ventures (CPV) Woodbridge Energy Center (virtual) (español)
March 1 - Interstate Waste Services Closter Transfer Station (virtual)
March 2 - Interstate Waste Services SAJO Transfer Station (virtual)
March 2 - Veolia ES Technical Solutions (in person)
Facilities subject to the Environmental Justice Law and the Administrative Order 2021-25 must facilitate meaningful opportunities for overburdened communities to engage in permitting decisions for pollution-generating facilities through an enhanced public participation process.
Public Meetings for Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook Bay
NJ Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study
Tuesday, February 21, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Friday, February 24, 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Link provided above or dial in at Toll-Free: (844) 800-2712 using
Access Code: 2762 162 802
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announce the initiation of the Raritan Bay and Sandy Hook Bay, NJ Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) Feasibility Study. The study will focus on measures including, but not limited to, beach renourishment, dune and beachfill profile changes, potential structural and non-structural measures to reduce risk of damages from coastal storm events, including hurricanes and nor’easters, and modifications to the existing project to provide improved erosion control and storm damage prevention in the project area.
The USACE and DEP invite the public to attend a virtual public meeting to learn more about the study and solicit provide feedback in identifying issues, alternatives, and potentially significant impacts to be considered in the analysis. The public is invited to submit comments during the meeting and/or submit comments electronically at: CWS1@usace.army.mil. Written comments can be sent to David M. Schulte, USACE Norfolk District, Fort Norfolk, 803 Front St., Norfolk, VA 23510.
Webinar Dates Approaching for Overview on Developing New Jersey Extreme Heat Resilience Action Plan
New Jersey’s Interagency Council on Climate Resilience is seeking public input on how the state should address extreme heat priorities and concerns as part of the Interagency Council’s development of a series of plans outlining how state agencies will incorporate climate resilience into their policies, programs and regulations.
The series of documents, known as Resilience Action Plans, will build on the Statewide Climate Change Resilience Strategy released in 2021 and provide more detail on how the strategy’s recommendations are being implemented. The first Resilience Action Plan, to be released later this year, will focus on state agency efforts to address increasing extreme heat events resulting from climate change, such as those experienced during the summer of 2022.
The Interagency Council is seeking public feedback through Friday, March 17 on extreme heat priorities and concerns, as well as a scoping document that addresses the Resilience Action Plan’s purpose, development process and content. The Resilience Action Plan initiative and the scoping document will be presented at a webinar on Thursday, March 2 seeking public input on potential extreme heat issues.
Comment Opportunities
NY NJ Harbor and Tributaries Study
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New York District released the NYNJHAT Study Draft Integrated Feasibility Report (FR) and Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for public comment. This report identifies a Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP) which outlines solutions that help affected communities adapt to future coastal storms, including, but not limited to levees, storm surge barrier gates, berms and non-structural components.
The public is invited to submit comments on the Draft Integrated Feasibility Report (FR) and Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) electronically (nynjharbor.tribstudy@usace.army.mil) or in writing, by March 7 to:
Mr. Bryce W. Wisemiller, Project Manager
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District
Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, Room 17-401
c/o PSC Mail Center 26 Federal Plaza
New York, New York 10278
or
Ms. Cheryl R. Alkemeyer, NEPA Lead
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District
Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, Room 17-420
c/o PSC Mail Center 26 Federal Plaza
New York, New York 10278
Details on the public comment period are also available on the USACE’s project website.
EPA Seeks Input on Inflation Reduction Act Environmental and Climate Justice Program
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking input on its Environmental and Climate Justice (ECJ) program funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. This program provides EPA with approximately $3 billion for ECJ program grants and technical assistance for environmental and climate justice efforts that benefit overburdened communities.
This RFI seeks public input on new and innovative strategies and approaches for competition design, community engagement, equitable distribution of financial resources, grantee eligibility for funding, capacity-building and outreach, and technical assistance. EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights is seeking public input on multiple aspects of the ECJ Program including, but not limited to:
- ECJ Program Design
- Types of Projects to Fund
- Reducing Application Barriers
- Reporting and Oversight
- Technical Assistance
The deadline to provide input is March 17.
Funding Opportunities
Green Acres Opens 2023 Funding Round
The Green Acres Program is accepting applications for the 2023 Local and Nonprofit Assistance funding round for land acquisition, park development, stewardship, Jake’s Law (Inclusive Playgrounds), and Urban Parks projects. Funding for 2023 will be used to advance the DEP’s environmental justice and climate change priorities by prioritizing projects that offer equitable and meaningful public access, and maximize social, environmental and health benefits to the public. The deadline is March 1, 2023. Supplemental funding requests for active projects also are due on March 1st.
An upcoming application information session will be held on February 22nd. Applications and details about the virtual sessions are posted on the Green Acres website.
FTA Announces Approximately $20 Million Funding Opportunity to Help Communities Prosper Through Access to Transit
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announced a new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to help improve transit in areas experiencing long-term economic distress. The $20 million in competitive grant funding through FTA’s Areas of Persistent Poverty (AoPP) Program provides more resources to underserved and disadvantaged communities seeking to expand or improve transit systems.
The AoPP program supports planning and technical studies to improve public transportation in areas experiencing long-term economic hardship. The AoPP program also funds planning for transit agencies to transition to low- and no-emission vehicles and associated charging equipment.
Projects will be evaluated by criteria outlined in the NOFO. This NOFO will utilize Fiscal Year 2021 and 2022 funding. Applications are Due by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time on March 10, 2023. Read the press release for more information.
Notice of Funding: Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program
HUD's Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes made available $403 million for the Lead Hazard Reduction grant program. Grants are for evaluating and mitigating threats from lead-based paint hazards in privately-owned pre-1978 housing that is not receiving federal assistance (the residents may have housing choice vouchers, however), as well as for identifying and controlling additional housing-related health and safety hazards in those homes; outreach, training, and related work are eligible activities. As listed online, the funds are for States and Native American Tribes that have EPA-authorized lead abatement certification programs.
Download the application package here.
The completed application package is due (through Grants.gov) by 11:59:59 PM EDT March 14, 2023.
Recordings of the Q&A webinars regarding this funding are available online.
New Jersey American Water Accepting Applications for
15th Annual Environmental Grant Program
Applications are being accepted for green project funding through New Jersey American Water’s Fifteenth Annual Environmental Grant Program. The program offers grants of $1,000 to $10,000 for qualifying innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore, or protect watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies throughout the company’s service areas. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis and projects are selected based on various criteria including goals, impact, innovation, design, and sustainability. Applications are due by March 31, and recipients will be notified in mid-April. More information and application requirements can be obtained on the New Jersey American Water website. Read more on the press release.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Availability of $100 Million through Inflation Reduction Act for Environmental Justice Grants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of approximately $100 million for projects that advance environmental justice in underserved and overburdened communities across the country. This funding, made possible through President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, marks the largest amount of environmental justice grant funding ever offered. Read the full EPA news release here.
EJ Tools
New Jersey Departments of Community Affairs, Health, and Environmental Protection Launch Expanded
Potential Lead Exposure Mapping Tool
New Jersey’s Department of Community Affairs (DCA), in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), announced the launch of an expanded version of the Potential Lead Exposure Mapping or PLEM tool, which provides new publicly available data that indicate potential sources of lead exposure.
The PLEM tool can be found here: Potential Lead Exposure Mapping (PLEM) – Housing in New Jersey (arcgis.com). The DCA contributed the latest data layers visualizing one- and two-bedroom rental housing units constructed prior to 1980 and applicable lead inspection methodology required in each municipality.
The tool may be used by local health officers, community groups, and other members of the public to help identify the potential sources of lead exposure. The PLEM tool also will have multiple uses that will be phased in over time. Phase 1 will look specifically at lead paint in housing as a source of exposure while future phases will examine other indicators of childhood blood lead poisoning risk.
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All New Jersey residents, regardless of income, race, ethnicity, color, or national origin, have a right to live, work, and recreate in a clean and healthy environment. Historically, New Jersey’s low-income communities and communities of color face a disproportionately high number of environmental and public health stressors and, as a result, suffer from increased adverse health effects. New Jersey seeks to correct these outcomes by furthering the promise of environmental justice.
DEP’s Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) aims to improve the quality of life in New Jersey’s most vulnerable communities by educating and empowering communities who are often outside of government decision-making processes and guiding DEP’s programs and other state departments and agencies in implementing environmental justice.
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