Announcements
NJDEP Has Released a Request for Proposals for a Facilitator Skills Development Program
Through this RFP, DEP is seeking a partner to create a Facilitator Development Program with the goal of helping DEP employees to effectively communicate complex environmental issues, solicit and interpret stakeholder feedback, and demonstrate the agency's commitment to make use of that feedback in future decision-making. Deadline to submit proposals is June 29, 2023. Questions can be submitted until June 2, and answers will be publicly posted after that date. Read the full RFP.
Governor Murphy Announces Nation’s First Environmental Justice Rules to Reduce Pollution in Vulnerable Communities
On Monday, April 17th, Governor Phil Murphy announced the final adoption of regulations to implement New Jersey’s landmark Environmental Justice (EJ) Law. The EJ Law and implementing rules are the first in the nation aimed at reducing pollution in historically overburdened communities and communities of color that have been subjected to a disproportionately high number of environmental and public health stressors. The EJ Rules pioneer a community-first approach to planning and permitting certain pollution-generating facilities. Read the full press release here.
NJDEP Launches Interactive Dashboard to Provide Regularly Updated Information on Water Infrastructure Investments
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection launched an interactive dashboard that provides regularly updated information to help local governments and the public track the progress of funding for much-needed drinking water and clean water infrastructure projects that are important to the health and economic vitality of the Garden State. Read the full press release here.
AG Platkin and DEP Commissioner LaTourette Announce Eight New Environmental Justice and Environmental Enforcement Actions and Other Settlements
Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Shawn M. LaTourette today announced eight new environmental enforcement actions targeting polluters across the State whose toxic legacies continue to threaten public health, safety, and the environment. They also announced that settlement agreements had been reached in two other environmental justice cases. Read the full press release here.
Murphy Administration Launches NJ-TAP to Help Disadvantaged Communities Deliver Safe and Reliable Drinking Water
DEP Commissioner LaTourette announced the launch of NJ-TAP, an initiative providing enhanced technical assistance to help disadvantaged communities provide safe and reliable drinking water to residents.
NJ-TAP (New Jersey Technical Assistance Program) will prioritize aid to communities identified as disadvantaged or overburdened to identify lead service lines, develop asset management and capital improvement plans, and identify sources of state and federal funding to assist with important water-quality improvement projects. This aid is being provided free of charge to participating water systems. Water system representatives interested in participating in NJ-TAP should contact the NJDEP using the web form available online.
Hurricane Ida Recovery Programs Update
The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has launched the Small Rental Repair Program (SRRP) as part of its storm recovery assistance programs. SRRP provides zero-interest forgivable loans to owners of rental properties with one to seven units that require repair and/or elevation as a result of damages from Hurricane Ida, as well as improvements that will make structures more resilient in future storm events. Apply for assistance and learn more on the Hurricane Ida Recovery program page.
Participation Opportunities
Upcoming Environmental Justice Law Public Hearings
May 11 - Marcal Manufacturing (virtual)
June 6 - Owens-Corning (virtual)
June 12 - Equinix (virtual)
June 14 - J. Josephson (virtual)
June 15 - Lamart Corporation (virtual) (español)
Facilities subject to the Environmental Justice Law must facilitate meaningful opportunities for overburdened communities to engage in permitting decisions for pollution-generating facilities through an enhanced public participation process.
Open House for the Liberty State Park Revitalization Program
Wednesday, May 24, 6 - 8 p.m.
Liberty State Park – CRRNJ Terminal
1 Audrey Zapp Drive, Jersey City, 07305
Parking available in Lot 9
Sign up for the Liberty State Park email list to get updates.
Updates Regarding Hearings Subject to EJ Law
Extended: Sims Metal Comment Period Now Open until June 12
DEP is granting a 30-day extension to ensure community members have ample time to submit comments under the Administrative Order 2021-25. Comments can be sent to smmna.permits@simsmm.com or via the United States Postal Service to Sims Newark
Facilities EJ, Sims Metal, 1 Linden Ave E., Jersey City, NJ 07305.
Bayonne Energy Center (Title V Modification) Public Hearing Documents Now Available Online
Following the February 22 virtual public hearing for the Bayonne Energy Center's Title V Modification, meeting documents are now available online. The meeting recording, responses to comments and presentation slides can be viewed here.
Funding Opportunities
EPA Clean School Bus Grant Funding and Webinars
EPA has announced the 2023 Clean School Bus (CSB) Grant Program! Under the 2023 CSB Grant Program, the Agency is asking for applications nationwide to award approximately $400 million in competitive grant funding to eligible applicants for the purchase of zero-emission (ZE) school buses, clean school buses, and ZE charging infrastructure. Applications are due by Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at 11:59PM ET.
To assist potential applicants, EPA will host a series of public webinars May through August. Check the Clean School Bus Webinars webpage for upcoming dates.
Murphy Administration Offering $19 Million in Grants to Assist Municipalities with New Stormwater Permitting Requirements
The Murphy Administration announced the availability of $19 million in grants to help municipalities with the transition to new municipal stormwater permitting system requirements designed to better protect NJ's waterways from pollutants in stormwater. These permitting changes will also help mitigate localized flooding that is increasing due to climate change.
Full details of the Notice of Funds Availability (NOFA) are available online. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis through December 31, 2023.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $550 Million to Advance Environmental Justice Through EPA’s New
Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program
The Biden-Harris Administration announced the availability of $550 million from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act to expedite investments through the EPA's new Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking (EJ TCGM) program. This program will fund up to 11 entities to serve as grantmakers to community-based projects that reduce pollution.
EPA intends to award up to 11 cooperative agreements under this RFA for up to approximately $50 million each to be funded incrementally over a 3-year period. The deadline to apply is May 31, 2023. To view the Request for Applications, please visit the grants webpage.
EJ in the News
EPA Orders Occidental Chemical Corp. to Design Cleanup Plan for the Upper Nine Miles of the Lower Passaic River at the
Diamond Alkali Superfund Site
EPA issued an administrative order requiring Occidental Chemical Corp. (OxyChem) to design the interim cleanup plan that EPA selected in September 2021 for the upper nine miles of the Lower Passaic River Study Area of the Diamond Alkali Superfund site in New Jersey. OxyChem will be responsible for preparing work plans and conducting a preliminary investigation. This includes sampling to identify contamination boundaries. OxyChem will also conduct studies to assess the river bottom, shoreline, and other aspects of the river in preparation for the cleanup. Following EPA approval, the final design report will include monitoring plans, health and safety plans, and provide a detailed outline of the cleanup plan, including specific details on how the cleanup will be conducted.
Visit the Diamond Alkali Co. Superfund site profile page for additional background and site documents.
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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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