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Environmental Justice Newsletter
July 4, 2024
Summary of Important Dates
Announcements
DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette Releases Statement on Supreme Court's Chevron v. NRDC Ruling
On June 28, following the Supreme Court's majority ruling in Loper Bright v. Raimondo, DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette released a statement condemning its decision to effectively overturn the Chevron Deference. Established under the EPA vs. NRDC ruling 40 years ago, the Chevron Deference instructed lower court judges to defer to reasonable agency interpretations of ambiguous federal statutes. This reinforced a balance of power between the judicial and executive branches, allowing agencies to use their specialized expertise in implementing laws and respond quickly to developing issues.
In his statement, Commission LaTourette argued that last Friday's ruling "irresponsibly threatens national efforts to improve and protect public health and the environment, and disrespects and undermines the scientists, technical experts, and other public servants responsible for reducing pollution and improving [air quality]." Despite the federal decision, the Commissioner reaffirmed New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's commitment to protect public health and the environment. Learn more online.
DEP Welcomes New Environmental Justice Advisory Council Members!
On June 12th, the Office of Environmental Justice appointed 3 new members to serve on the Environmental Justice Advisory Council (EJAC). EJAC provides a valuable forum for discussions about integrating Environmental Justice into DEP’s programs and policies. It helps build DEP's capacity and improves its support of the state’s Environmental Justice constituents and stakeholders. The Office of Environmental Justice is pleased to welcome X Braithwaite representing the Statewide Environmental Advocacy Organization sector, Timi Lindsay representing the Local Grassroots Sector, and Nicole Brown representing Business and Industry, each of them offering their unique perspectives to inform environmental initiatives throughout the state. Learn more online.
Murphy Administration Launches New Interactive Website to Track Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investments
On June 20th, The Murphy Administration launched the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Formula Funding Tracker, an interactive website monitoring the use and impact of more than $7.28 billion in BIL funding and state matching dollars statewide. Projects funded under the BIL are varied and far-reaching, spanning from infrastructure improvements and natural resource protection to initiatives addressing longstanding inequities experienced by underserved communities. The Tracker provides users with project locations and descriptions, phases of work, exact funding allocations, and the amount expended, enabling a greater degree of government transparency and accountability in delivering equitable and sustainable outcomes for environmental justice communities. Learn more online.
Participation Opportunities
Upcoming Environmental Justice Law Public Hearings
July 16- Kingsland Landfill- Lyndhurst, Bergen County, AO (virtual)
August 7- Shell Oil Newark Terminal, EJ Rule (hybrid)
August 22- Calpine/Sherman Ave Energy Center, EJ Rule (hybrid)
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
Call For Nominations: Environmental Justice Governor's Excellence Awards
Have you or someone you know organized to further environmental justice in NJ's overburdened and disadvantaged communities this year? Consider nominating them for the 2024 Environmental Justice Govenor's Excellence Award!
Nominees can include individuals, educators, organizations, businesses, and youth who have worked to improve environmental quality, public health, and access to natural resources for EJ communities through the reduction of stressors and the increase of environmental benefits such as trees and open space. Nominations can also highlight advocates' work to empower residents of disadvantaged and overburdened communities to participate in meaningful decision-making or initiatives to develop technologies for cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated/brownfields sites in overburdened communities.
Award nominations are due Wednesday, September 4. Learn more 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.
Free Technical Assistance through NJ Fleet Advisor
As part of NJDEP's Drive Green NJ program, the New Jersey Fleet Advisor is a new initiative providing free technical assistance to fifteen eligible New Jersey fleets interested in vehicle electrification. Each fleet selected to participate will receive a personalized Fleet Electrification Roadmap developed by NJDEP’s technical experts to help reduce practical barriers to EV adoption. Eligible applicants include private, non-profit, or public fleets that are registered and operate in New Jersey that have 10 or fewer medium- or heavy-duty vehicles fleet. Priority will be given to fleets in overburdened communities, many of which have disproportionate rates of diesel emissions and higher concentrations of truck traffic.
Applications are due August 15, 2024. Interested fleets are encouraged to join NJDEP for an informational webinar on July 11, 2024, at 11am. More information is available online.
Applications for Brownfield Designation Areas Now Open!
The Office of Brownfield and Community Revitalization has relaunched of the Brownfield Development Area Program and is now accepting applications for new designation areas. Through the Brownfields Development Area Program, OBCR works with selected communities affected by multiple brownfields to design and implement remediation and reuse plans for these properties simultaneously. This approach enables remediation and reuse to occur in a coordinated fashion that addresses cumulative impacts in areas concentrated with brownfields, often located in overburdened communities.
Applications for new BDA designations are open through July 31, 2024. Learn more online.
Trainings & Office Hours on EPA’s Environmental Justice Mapping Tool
This summer, EPA’s Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights is holding a series of trainings and office hours to help users with new updates to EJScreen, EPA's environmental justice (EJ) screening and mapping tool. EJScreen 2.3 offers important updates, highlighting new environmental indicators and map layers, providing interface improvements, and incorporating updated demographic and environmental data. Trainings are structured webinars, while office hours provide an opportunity to discuss how to use and apply the tool, troubleshoot technical issues, and talk with EJScreen experts. More information 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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