Announcements
2024 Environmental Justice Advisory Council Workplan
DEP Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) and the Environmental Justice Advisory Council (EJAC) are excited to announce the publication of the 2024 EJAC Workplan. The document outlines the projects and priorities the council and its four working groups will be undertaking throughout the year to advance environmental justice. Highlights of the plan include increasing public engagement and community projects, such as Community Air Monitoring, Waterfront Public Access, and the Environmental Justice Seminar Series.
Murphy Administration Launches School Bus Electrification Program
New Jersey’s Electric School Bus Grant Program is aimed at safeguarding children's health from harmful pollutants. The program, funded by legislation signed by Governor Phil Murphy, will provide up to $45 million over three years for electric bus purchases and charging infrastructure. The initiative aligns with efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and addresses the health risks posed by diesel buses.
Interested parties can find more information on program advantages and application processes at the DEP website. Applications are due May 17, 2024. Learn more online.
Participation Opportunities
 Gloucester 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.
Join us for an opportunity to engage directly with representatives from the DEP and EPA to address the environmental challenges impacting your community. The event will be in-person at the Sons of Italy Lodge in Paulsboro, NJ with Livestream via Zoom.
Register today to attend and receive updates on event information.
Navigating the DEP System: Understanding the Regulatory Process
Our Trenton Seminar has been pushed back but stay tuned for a rescheduled date! More details to follow soon.
"Navigating the DEP System: A Series of Environmental Seminars for Overburdened Communities" is a series tailored to help EJ advocates from across the state learn about our tools, regulations, permitting processes, and opportunities for funding.
Don't miss out on our enlightening seminar series! Following a successful kickoff in Newark,recordings of the presentations are now accessible on our website.The next two seminars will delve into DEP's environmental justice laws, policies, and permitting processes. Join us for invaluable insights and discussions!
All seminars are free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided. Attendance will be in person with an option to join via Zoom. Learn more online.
Upcoming Environmental Justice Law Public Hearings
February 15 - Princeton University, Title V Renewal (virtual)
March 4 - Linden Generating Station, Title V Renewal (virtual)
April 1 - Energy Transfer Marketing - Newark Terminal, 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
EPA's State and Local Climate and Energy Program Hosts
Bringing the Benefits Webinar Series
Throughout February, the State and Local Climate and Energy Program is hosting a three-part webinar series exploring how nonprofits, state and local governments, and Tribal entities have successfully brought the benefits of energy efficiency, efficient electrification, weatherization, and clean energy to low-income and disadvantaged communities. The series will showcase successful models for delivering programs to low-income and disadvantaged communities, featuring on-the-ground experts sharing their practical insights on how to design and deliver effective programs. Session dates, details and registration information are available on the EPA website.
National Environmental Justice Community Engagement Call
EPA invites Environmental Justice advocates to participate in the next National Environmental Justice Community Engagement Call taking place on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. (ET). The purpose of these calls is to inform the community and other stakeholders about EPA's EJ work and enhance opportunities to maintain an open dialogue with EJ advocates. Learn more about the event here.
Virtual Training: SWEA's Environmental Justice & Community Organizing 101
The South Ward Environmental Alliance (SWEA) will host a virtual training session on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at 6 PM for those interested in learning about environmental justice and community organizing. Sign up to attend virtually.
NJ Extreme Heat Resilience Action Plan Survey
The New Jersey Interagency Council on Climate Resilience (IAC) released the NJ Extreme Heat Resilience Action Plan Survey to enhance the IAC's understanding of the needs of New Jersey residents in building resilience against extreme heat. With the 2023 calendar year marking the warmest on record and New Jersey experiencing a faster warming rate than our region, your input is crucial.
The survey responses will inform the Extreme Heat Resilience Action Plan (anticipated spring 2024). Visit the Extreme Heat Survey Promotion Kit webpage for links to the survey in Spanish and English and complete the survey by the closing date of February 29, 2024.
Call for Nominations: New Jersey's Black Heritage Trail
New Jersey Historical Commission's African American History Program invites nominations for sites along New Jersey's Black Heritage Trail. This initiative aims to highlight Black heritage through historical markers and a trail-like path, connecting stories of resilience and community. Submit nominations by March 8, 2024 at 2 PM.
EPA Seeking Grant Application Reviewers for Community Change Grants
Interested in Environmental Justice projects? EPA seeks diverse experts to review grant applications for the $2 billion Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program. Participate in the process to award transformative climate action and pollution reduction projects, supporting community-driven initiatives.
Compensation available for non-federal reviewers. Apply online.
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.
DEP Seeks Community Partners for Youth Inclusion Initiative
The Youth Inclusion Initiative is a six-week summer program that gives participants, ages 16 to 20, the opportunity to gain hands-on experience and skills in areas such as water monitoring, wildfire response, conservation investigation and forest management. Up to $100,000 is available to applicants who partner with the DEP to provide outreach, recruitment, supervisory support, professional job training, community building and exposure to post-program employment opportunities for youth from overburdened communities.
Interested organizations can find more information on proposal requirements and the application process here. Proposals are due by 5 p.m. on March 21, 2024.
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.
Applications close on November 21, 2024. Initial award selections will occur in March 2024 – with the suggested deadline of February 23, 2024 – and the anticipated start for initial selections will be in May/June 2024.
Leafing Out Grants Program
The NJ Urban and Community Forestry Program is now accepting applications for Leafing Out Grants! The program seeks to encourage, promote, and support the stewardship and effective management of trees and forest ecosystems in overburdened communities. Through this funding, communities can strengthen responses to climate change, combat urban heat island effects, increase resiliency to pests and storm events, and more.
Proposal applications for two distinct Forestry Management and Education grants are due April 5th, 2024 at 5pm.
EPA Thriving Communities EJ Small Grants
EPA has launched its Thriving Communities Environmental Justice Grantmaking program, in which one organization in each EPA Region will serve as a Grantmaker - with Fordham University serving EPA Region 2 - awarding at least $600 million in Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Subgrants.
Fordham has already posted a form for those interested in applying from EPA Region 2. Those interested should also complete the Environmental Protection Network's survey for community organizations and other under-resourced entities interested in receiving pro bono assistance to create/envision projects for these funding opportunities.
Career Opportunities
OEJ is Looking for a Summer Intern!
OEJ is seeking an Outreach and Engagement summer intern to support the office's work. The role involves collaborating with staff to support engagement sessions, educating the public about relevant DEP resources, and building relationships with advocates to more effectively and equitably respond to local concerns. Strong research, writing, and graphic design skills are required. Applications close March 13th, 2024.
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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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