Announcements
DEP and DOH Released an Addendum to Healthy Community Planning NJ (HCP-NJ)
DEP and DOH released Healthy Community Planning NJ in 2022 to provide each NJ municipality with their own specific data on over 30 health and environmental indicators and give them prospective on how they are doing compared to their county and the State as a whole.
HCP-NJ includes different resources to help municipalities take action to address highlighted environmental and public health concerns.
 Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Get the Lead Out Initiative to Accelerate Removal of Lead Service Lines Nationwide as Part of Investing in America Agenda
The Get the Lead Out (GLO) Initiative funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help 200 underserved communities access technical assistance to identify and remove lead service lines and ensure safer drinking water. Communities can request assistance from the Get the Lead Out (GLO) Initiative by completing a request form online.
New Authoritative Guide Released to Assist Municipalities in Conducting Climate Vulnerability Assessments
The Climate Change-Related Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (CCRHVA) Guide is now available online for municipal leaders and planners to bring their municipalities in compliance with the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL) and prepare their communities for climate change. The guide is aimed at assisting New Jersey’s elected and appointed officials and community leaders with efforts to assess and address impacts of climate change throughout all systems that sustain their communities.
Murphy Administration Unveils Report Highlighting State Government Climate Resilience Accomplishments
The Murphy Administration’s Interagency Council on Climate Resilience has released a Two-Year Anniversary Accomplishments Report highlighting New Jersey state agencies’ climate resilience success stories covering a spectrum of initiatives ranging from financial and tax implications of mitigation strategies to new flood protection measures for inland communities.
Read the 2021 New Jersey Climate Change Resilience Strategy and the Two-Year Anniversary Accomplishments Report online.
Participation Opportunities
Somerset 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. Spanish translation is available.
  Upcoming Environmental Justice Law Public Hearings
December 4 - Bergen Generating Station - AO25 - Ridgefield, Bergen County (virtual)
December 5 - Bloom/Equinix Facility - AO25 - Secaucus, Hudson County (virtual)
December 6 - Diversified Global Graphics Group - AO25 - Jersey City, Hudson County (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
NJDEP Grants and Loans Needs Survey
Help us help you! Please take the NJDEP's survey to share your environmental needs and challenges as a local government or nonprofit organization. Your responses will help the NJDEP better assist you through grants, loans, and other opportunities.
- If you represent or work for a county or municipality, please take this survey.
- If you work for a nonprofit organization, please take this survey.
Questions can be sent to unitingfinancialresources@dep.nj.gov.
Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program Webinar
The CPRG program is a nationwide, two-phase grant funded through the Inflation Reduction Act. In phase one New Jersey received $3 million from the USEPA to update and enhance the state’s existing climate action plans.
This is an opportunity for overburdened communities to provide valuable feedback on the state’s greenhouse gas reduction priorities and learn what can be expected throughout the CPRG planning and implementation process.
NJDEP is working with the New Jersey Climate Change Resource Center at Rutgers University to gather input from stakeholders regarding transportation on November 28 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM.
The NEJAC and WHEJAC December Virtual Public Meetings
The National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) and White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council (WHEJAC) will host a meeting, each, in early December. The meetings are free and open to all members of the public. Individual registration for the events is REQUIRED. The meetings require registration for participants to submit comments orally or written.
NEJAC will convene a virtual public meeting on Tuesday, December 5 from 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM. The meeting discussions will focus on several topics including, but not limited to, updates on NEJAC recommendations related to air quality and community monitoring, PFAS, finance and investments and responses to community concerns brought forward in Puerto Rico.
Webinar: Technical Assistance for Tribes and Indigenous Peoples to Advance Environmental Justice and Climate/Energy Justice
The EPA Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights (OEJECR) will host a webinar to present information on the new technical assistance programs, such as the Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers (TCTAC’s), that are available to Tribes and Indigenous Peoples.
This webinar series is intended to build the capacity of Tribal governments, Indigenous Peoples and other environmental justice practitioners by discussing priority environmental justice issues of interest to Tribes and Indigenous Peoples.
This webinar will take place on December 14 from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM.
A Guide to CSO Public Engagement
The Division of Water Quality (DWQ) posted a revised draft guidance entitled “A Guide to CSO Public Engagement”. This guidance provides permittees with resources and best practices to engage effectively with the affected communities and interested public, as well as meet public engagement requirements. The permit requires the permittee to engage with OBCs within combined sewer service areas in order to solicit representation and engagement, ensure the OBCs’ awareness of the meeting schedule, and encourage participation.
Another virtual stakeholder meeting will be held on November 28 from 2pm to 4pm. This meeting will discuss the revised document.
Learn About Extreme Heat Health Risks
Take the Heat Hub NJ Survey!
Heat Hub NJ is a digital resource on all things related to extreme heat in NJ. To prepare for the launch of the cooling center locator, Heat Hub NJ welcomes all to take a survey to test your knowledge on extreme heat and the health risks associated with it. The results of the survey will help prepare for cooling center openings, operations, and alerts once the cooling center locator launches in Spring 2024.
Learn about extreme heat and take the survey online.
Funding and Technical Assistance Opportunities
2024 Green Acres and Urban Parks Funding
Green Acres and Urban Parks 2024 round of grants and loans to local governments and nonprofits is now open. Funds can be used to establish, expand, or revitalize new and existing parks, acquire land, improve waterfront access, develop athletic fields and playgrounds, create open space, and enhance land stewardship. These grants aim to incentivize projects in Overburdened Communities within Urban Aid municipalities.
Upcoming virtual application information sessions will be held on December 13 and January 17. More information about the applications are available online.
Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants
To support opportunities for tribes, and/or tribal entities, and underserved communities to meaningfully engage in coastal habitat restoration activities. Potential activities include:
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Capacity building, (municipal or regional-scale resilience planning, project planning and feasibility studies, stakeholder engagement, proposal development for future funding, and outreach and education, hiring of staff to increase capacity to support implementation)
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Actionable science support (collection and/or analysis of climate, habitat or other community- or conservation-related data that informs planning and decision making)
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Restoration project activities (engineering and design, permitting, on-the-ground restoration, and pre- and post-project implementation monitoring)
More information is available online. Applications are due December 19.
2023 Clean School Bus Rebate Program
EPA has announced their 2023 Clean School Bus Rebate Program providing $500 million in funding for electric school buses. EPA is prioritizing applications that will replace buses serving high-need local education agencies, rural areas, Tribal school districts funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and public school districts receiving basic support payments for students living on Tribal land.
The EPA has designated 54 New Jersey school districts as priority. An additional 145 school districts are eligible to self-certify as priority. Eligible applicants can apply to receive funding for the purchase of up to 25 zero-emission (ZE) and/or clean school buses, along with ZE charging infrastructure and eligible workforce development costs.
More information is available online. Applications are due on January 31 at 4 PM.
Request Assistance through the Training and Technical Assistance Program for Rural, Small, and Tribal Wastewater Systems
The Clean Water Rural, Small, and Tribal Technical Assistance (RST TA) Grant Program aims to provide technical assistance and training to improve rural, small and tribal wastewater system operations and management practices, making them more sustainable and resilient, and supporting EPA’s mission to protect public health and the environment. The program also aims to provide technical assistance in planning, developing and accessing finance and funding for clean water projects under the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), including Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds.
Communities may request technical assistance support through the EPA’s Water Technical Assistance (WaterTA) Request Form. More information about the RST TA is available online.
Career Opportunities
DEP OEJ Environmental Justice Design Intern
The Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) is seeking an Environmental Justice Design Intern who will work to 1. Improve DEP’s public engagement tools, and 2. Better inform communities of how the NJDEP operates. The intern will create a series of pamphlets, fact sheets, charts, and timelines to better highlight and educate residents of New Jersey’s overburdened communities on DEP’s various programs, how they can become involved, and how their input is used to inform the agency’s work. Strong graphic design, artistic, research and writing skills required. Apply by January 2.
DEP OEJ Environmental Justice Policy Intern
The Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) is seeking an Environmental Justice Policy Intern. OEJ has multiple initiatives to integrate environmental justice principles into the DEP’s operations, and the intern will assist in OEJ's integration efforts through projects that include topics such as Trends in Environmental Justice and Civil Rights, and Environmental Justice through Enforcement. Prospective applicants must have strong research and technical writing skills, and collaborate well with others. Apply by January 2.
EPA Environmental Justice Team Supervisor
EPA launched a hiring effort for two supervisory positions to support the equity, justice, and Inflation Reduction Act activities in OEJECR! Supervisors selected to serve in this position will be dedicated to leading and coordinating work to help advance equity and justice through grant funding and policy decision making! Apply by December 1.
EPA is looking to fill the following vacancies:
EJ Disrupt Design: An Environmental Justice Movement Fellowship
EJ Disrupt Design: An Environmental Justice Movement Fellowship launches its request for applications on December 1. The fellowship is a 2-year experience made up of progressive phases in Environmental Justice and Design for leaders of the Environmental Justice Movement. Launched by The New School's Tishman Environment and Design Center, Fellows will participate in a combination of virtual and in-person retreats, group coaching sessions, and community ideation to scale project prototypes and build power.
Learn more about this career opportunity online.
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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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