Announcements
Murphy Administration Announces Tools to Protect New Jerseyans from Increasing Flood Risks Brought by Climate Change
To address New Jersey’s increasing flood risks under climate change, Governor Murphy has unveiled new and enhanced tools and technologies designed to provide prospective homebuyers and renters with critical information needed to make better informed decisions on where they choose to live and how best to protect their property from flood damage. The measures include the publication of new and enhanced property disclosure forms notifying prospective buyers and tenants of a property’s known flood history and potential flood risks, as well as the launch of a user-friendly internet look-up tool searchable by mailing address that identifies properties in flood hazard areas. Learn more and read the full press release online.
Murphy Administration Invests Nearly $13 million Toward a Zero Transportation Emissions Future
Governor Murphy's nearly $13 million investment, funded by New Jersey's participation in RGGI, aims to protect residents, the environment, and the economy from climate change. The initiative involves using auction proceeds to increase electric trucks and buses in communities burdened by air pollution. The program, part of the state's efforts to electrify transportation, supports goals to phase out fossil-fueled vehicles and prioritize clean mobility options, highlighted by the release of the second RGGI Strategic Funding Plan.
Biden-Harris Administration Allocates $600M for Environmental Justice Projects Nationwide
The Biden-Harris Administration allocated $600 million to 11 Grantmakers under the EPA's Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking program, as part of the Investing in America agenda. This policy aims to simplify access to federal environmental justice funding for small community-based organizations. The grants will support various environmental projects, including local cleanups, disaster resilience programs, and initiatives addressing pollution, benefitting disadvantaged communities across the nation.
Governor's Environmental Excellence Award - Environmental Justice Category Winner
The Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards are awarded annually to individuals and organizations that demonstrate commitment and leadership on a variety of environmental issues, including environmental justice, climate change, sustainability and education. The winner of the Environmental Justice category is Dr. Nicky Sheats, the Director of the Center for the Urban Environment at Kean University's John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research. Read more about Dr. Sheats and see the list of other winners of the 2023 Governor's Environmental Excellence Award.
Participation Opportunities
Upcoming Environmental Justice Law Public Hearings
February 5 - Kearny Generating Station, AO25 - 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
Public Hearing: Proposed Plans for Drinking Water and Clean Water
DEP is receiving federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to prioritize projects and funding for upgrading drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in communities. To access funding from the BIL, the DEP is proposing Intended Use Plans (IUPs) for Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs).
An upcoming hearing will be held virtually on January 10 from 10am to 11am, inviting input and comments from interested parties until January 31, 2024.
Webinar: Draft Policy for Public Participation in Agency Decision-Making Processes
EPA announced a draft policy, "Achieving Health and Environmental Protection Through EPA’s Meaningful Involvement," detailing enhanced public engagement across its programs and regions, recognizing that involving individuals with lived experiences strengthens health and environmental protections. The draft policy is available until January 16, 2024.
Two upcoming webinars will provide an overview of the policy and allow the public to ask questions:
Tribes may request policy consultation by January 5, 2024, through EPA's Tribal Consultation Tracking Opportunities System (TCOTS) website.
Open House: Wharton State Forest Visitor Vehicle Use Map
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection will host an open house and public comment session on the draft Wharton State Forest Visitor Vehicle Use Map on Wednesday, Jan. 24, from noon to 7 p.m. at the Batsto Visitor Center. The open house will allow stakeholders to view, ask questions and comment on the draft map, along with several other maps that aided in the development of the map. DEP staff will be on hand to answer questions and participants will have the opportunity to leave written comments at each map location. Learn more and submit public comments on the map online.
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.
Funding and Technical Assistance Opportunities
In case you missed it, see below for opportunities that provide funding and assistance for projects related to green infrastructure, climate change, healthy communities, and more.
EPA Community Change Grants Program
The EPA Environmental and Climate Justice Program (ECJP) Community Change Grants program is NOW OPEN! The program is funding projects to address environmental and climate injustices for communities facing legacy pollution, climate change, and persistent disinvestment. Technical assistance on your application will also be available. In total, $2 Billion will be rewarded with $50 million reserved for U.S. territories.
Recordings and slides from previous webinars are available online.
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 January 17. More information about the applications are available online.
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.
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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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