Announcements
Air Quality Action Day for June 8th
The Air Quality Action Day for Thursday, June 8th is being upgraded to the Unhealthy category statewide. In addition, this alert has been extended to Friday, June 9th at 11:59 pm.
Wildfire smoke creates tiny particles in the air that can be harmful to health. Levels of these tiny particles will remain in the unhealthy category through the daytime hours today due to the wildfire smoke from eastern Canadian wildfires. As the weather pattern shifts, the smoke plume is forecast to slowly begin to dissipate, however fine particle concentrations are still expected to remain elevated in the unhealthy for sensitive groups (USG) category through the evening on Friday night.
See resources on how to remain safe on poor air quality days below:
Should any new developments occur, the forecast on AirNow.gov will be updated accordingly. Airnow.gov recursos en Español.
Sign up for air quality notifications with Enviroflash.
Reduce Your Smoke Exposure
Reduzca su exposición al humo
Air Quality Fact Sheet
Governor Murphy Announces Filing of
Landmark Inland Flood Protection Rule
Governor Phil Murphy announced the Administration’s upcoming adoption of the landmark Inland Flood Protection Rule to better protect New Jersey’s communities from worsening riverine flooding and stormwater runoff. This rule updates New Jersey’s existing flood hazard and stormwater regulations by replacing outdated precipitation estimates with modern data that account for observed and projected increases in rainfall. These changes will help reduce flooding from stormwater runoff and increase the resiliency of new developments located in flood-prone inland areas. A copy of the rule and additional information are available here.
NJDEP Has Issued 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. Read the full RFP. Answers have been posted for the RFP Q&A.
Attention New Jersey Public Schools, Colleges and Universities: Apply for a Tree-Planting Grant
The Trees for Schools program will provide $2.5 million in grants to New Jersey public school districts, county colleges, and state colleges and universities to fund the planting of trees on campuses across the state. Competitive grants of $10,000 to $500,000 will fund costs associated with planning, site preparation, trees, planting, watering, monitoring, and related expenses over a three-year period. 40% of the grant funding will be set aside for applicants located in overburdened communities. Applications are due on July 13, 2023, for spring 2024 plantings. More information.
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.
Participation Opportunities
Upcoming Environmental Justice Law Public Hearings
June 12 - Equinix (virtual)
June 14 - J. Josephson (virtual)
June 15 - Lamart Corporation (virtual) (español)
June 20 - NJIT (virtual) (español)
June 29 - Middlesex County Utilities Authority- Title V Renewal (virtual)
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. Subscribe to EJ Law notices by County.
Middlesex County
Environmental Justice Community Engagement Session
Livestream: via Zoom. Click here to register
This community engagement session is part of the Administration’s commitment to promoting environmental justice in New Jersey to ensure that all state residents, regardless of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, or income are able to live, learn, work, and recreate in a healthy and clean environment and to have equal access to green space, clean energy resources, and other environmental benefits.
 Public Comment for Proposed Federal Rule: Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a new set of standards to address the challenges of air pollution and global climate change in communities near major roadways. The goal of these standards is to provide cleaner air for communities across the country, especially frontline communities. EPA expects communities near roads will benefit from the reduced emissions and mobile source air toxics in this proposal. EPA is requesting public comments from Environmental Justice stakeholders on this proposed rule, and all members of the public are invited to share their perspectives.
The public comment period will remain open through June 16th. Comment online for this proposal on the Federal eRulemaking Portal. Comments can also be sent via email to a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov with Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0985 in the subject line of the message.
Visit Commenting on EPA Dockets for more information on submitting comments.
Updates Regarding Hearings Subject to EJ Law
Extended: Sims Metal Newark Facilities
Comment Period Now Open until June 12
DEP is granting a 30-day extension to ensure community members have ample time to submit comments on the Preconstruction Air Permit Applications under the Administrative Order 2021-25. Comments on the four Newark 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.
Extended: Camden Iron & Metal
Comment Period Now Open until June 15
DEP is granting a 30-day extension to ensure community members have ample time to submit comments on the Preconstruction Air Permit Application under the Administrative Order 2021-25. Comments can be submitted via survey monkey, or emailed to Katherine Puccio at US.Permit.Comments@emrgroup.com. Comments can also be mailed to Katherine Puccio at 201 N. Front Street, Camden, NJ 08102.
Extended: EMR Camden
Comment Period Now Open until July 1
DEP is granting a 30-day extension to ensure community members have ample time to submit comments on the Preconstruction Air Permit Application. under the Administrative Order 2021-25. Comments can be submitted via survey monkey, or emailed to Katherine Puccio at US.Permit.Comments@emrgroup.com. Comments can also be mailed to Katherine Puccio at 201 N. Front Street, Camden, NJ 08102.
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.
Career Opportunities
BOEM Engagement Advisor for Environmental Justice Communities Fellowship
The Fellowship is hosted within Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's Office of Environmental Programs, but is intended to support fellows working within environmental justice communities in New York and New Jersey. The appointment is part-time (20 hours per week). Participant will receive a monthly stipend based on education and experience. Apply here by June 23, 2023.
|
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.
|
|
