Announcements
Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards
The Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards recognize outstanding environmental performance, programs and projects throughout the state.
Environmental Justice Category
Nominate an individual or an organization for efforts in New Jersey’s overburdened communities that improve environmental quality, public health and access to natural resources; empower residents to participate in meaningful decision-making about health and environmental quality issues; clean up and redevelop contaminated/brownfields sites; and/or activities from other categories that primarily benefit residents of OBCs.
Eight other award categories for individuals, businesses, communities and nonprofits are also available. Apply by September 10.
Notice of Rule Proposal and State Implementation Plan Revision
The DEP is in the process of publishing new Air Pollution Control rules along with a revision to NJ’s State Implementation Plan for the National Air Quality Standards for ozone. DEP proposes this rulemaking to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and local air pollutants, like nitrogen oxides (NOx) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5), from the transportation sector. For more information on the specific amendments, please reference Rule Proposal Notice bulletin. Additionally, a copy of the proposal is available on DEP’s webpage.
A public hearing concerning the proposal will be conducted virtually on September 21, 2023 at 9:30 A.M. Click here to join the meeting.
If you are interested in providing oral comments at the virtual public hearing, please email the DEP at monica.miranda@dep.nj.gov no later than 5:00 P.M. on September 19, 2023, with your contact information (name, organization, phone number, and email address).
Written comments are due by October 20, 2023.
NJDEP Finalizes Agreement with BASF Regarding
the Ciba-Geigy Superfund Site in Toms River
The DEP and BASF Corporation have reached a revised, final settlement agreement that secures natural resource restoration and resolves state-based natural resource damage claims for natural resource injuries at and related to the Ciba-Geigy Superfund Site in Toms River, Ocean County.
Under the settlement, BASF will permanently preserve approximately 1,000 acres and fully design and implement nine natural resource restoration projects on 375 acres of the preserved land to compensate the public for historic ecological and groundwater injuries caused by Ciba-Geigy.
EPA Releases Environmental Justice Toolkit for
Lead Paint Enforcement Programs
The Environmental Justice Toolkit provides strategies, examples, and other information for federal, state, Tribal and local government enforcement practitioners to use during all stages of environmental enforcement and compliance monitoring activities designed to eliminate harmful exposures to lead paint in housing. This resource is a compilation of best practices and supports commitments made in EPA’s Lead Strategy, which seeks to reduce lead exposures locally with a focus on underserved communities and promote environmental justice through a whole of government approach.
Murphy Administration Releases Its 2nd RGGI Strategic Funding Plan
Continuing Investments in Climate Change Reduction, Environmental Justice and Clean Energy Through 2025
The second Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) Strategic Funding Plan: Years 2023 through 2025 introduces new investments while prioritizing projects that will benefit New Jersey’s environmental justice communities.
The 2023-2025 Strategic Funding Plan identifies four initiatives for funding:
- Accelerate healthy homes and building decarbonization
- Catalyze clean, equitable transportation
- Strengthen New Jersey’s forests
- Promote blue carbon in coastal habitats
In conjunction with the plan’s release, the DEP also announced that it is opening another competitive solicitation to invest over $13 million in the purchase of additional electric trucks in overburdened communities.
More information on RGGI, RGGI strategic investments in New Jersey, NJ's vehicle electrification goals, and updates on RGGI-funded programs are available online.
Participation Opportunities
Salem County Environmental Justice
Community Engagement Session
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.
The event will be in-person with Livestream via Zoom.
Upcoming Environmental Justice Law Public Hearings
September 12 - Hard Rock Hotel - Title V Air Permit Renewal - Atlantic City (virtual)
September 26 - East Jersey State Prison - AO25 Title V Renewal - Woodbridge (in-person)
September 28 - Mercer Group - Solid Waste/Air Application - Trenton (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
EPA Launches Nationwide Series of
Community Lead Awareness Sessions
As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to protect communities from childhood lead exposure and advance environmental justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a series of free educational sessions on the dangers of lead and ways to reduce and prevent lead exposure. These sessions are based on the Lead Awareness Curriculum, an adaptable resource to protect communities from potential lead exposure, and will be held in English and Spanish.
The sessions will supplement EPA’s local lead training and outreach initiative, which has been implemented in 22 communities across the U.S. and Puerto Rico in 2021 and 2022. Learn more about EPA’s upcoming community lead awareness sessions.
Funding Opportunities
Vehicle Electrification Projects Grant Funding and Webinars
In a continuing effort to reduce diesel emissions and mitigate climate change, the DEP is offering another round of funding to replace medium- and heavy-duty diesel vehicles with electric. Leveraging proceeds from New Jersey’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), this solicitation will spend $13 million on local government vehicle electrification projects with a focus on overburdened communities. Project proposals are due by 11:59 pm on September 4, 2023.
Two live informational webinars with DEP Bureau of Mobile Sources staff were held on August 9 and August 16. Click here to view the slides.
Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) is NOW accepting applications for the Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program. This $300 million competitive program offers up to $8 million in tax credits per project for environmental investigation, remediation, abatement, and demolition activities to allow for the redevelopment of brownfield sites in New Jersey. The overarching goal of this program is to redevelop blighted properties into community assets. This is a competitive program which is well funded. Applications are due by 5 pm on Thursday September 21, 2023.
A 2-minute survey is available at eligibility assessment tool to find out if your organization and site may qualify for the program.
Learn more and prepare to apply at Brownfields Redevelopment Incentive Program. If you have questions, please reach out to the NJEDA Brownfields Team at bftaxcredit@njeda.gov.
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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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