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Environmental Justice Newsletter
March 13th, 2025
Summary of Important Dates
Upcoming EJ Law Hearings
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There are no upcoming public hearings at this time.
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Announcements
DEP, TCNJ and Sustainable Jersey Announce $4.5 Million in Grants for Tree Plantings at Schools
NJDEP, in partnership with The College of New Jersey and Sustainable Jersey, recently announced $4.5 million in Trees for Schools grants for New Jersey public school districts, county colleges, and state colleges and universities through the Trees for Schools grant program. Competitive grants from $10,000 to $250,000 will fund tree planting and associated planning and maintenance costs over three years, with a portion of funding allocated specifically for schools in overburdened communities. Tree plantings at schools will provide a range of environmental and educational benefits, filtering air pollutants, mitigating extreme heat, and creating new learning opportunities for students.
An informational webinar will be held on March 19th, 2025, at 3:00 pm. Applications are due May 13, 2025, for spring 2026 plantings. Learn more online.
Participation Opportunities
Upcoming Environmental Justice Law Public Hearings
There are no upcoming public hearings at this time.
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
 Register Now for "Navigating the DEP System: Explaining Enforcement"!
Building on the success of the Navigating the DEP System Environmental Justice Seminar Series, OEJ's first seminar of 2025 will take place during the first three weeks of April! The 3-part seminar will focus on enforcement issues: What DEP enforces, how the processes work, and how you can get involved.
Explaining Enforcement will provide an overview of how DEP's Air, Water, Solid Waste, and Land Use programs enforce environmental regulations, rules, and permits. Sessions will discuss the agency's existing enforcement authority within each program, exploring what constitutes a violation under state law, what actions DEP can take to ensure compliance, and how environmental justice communities can engage with DEP to expand enforcement efforts that effectively and equitably protect public health and the environment.
Topics include:
- Overview of the Office of Enforcement Policy
- What are DEP's enforcement mechanisms?
- How to look up enforcement reports on EJMAP
- How to report odors and other issues to the WARN-DEP Hotline
- Case studies of enforcement actions from different DEP programs
- How to get involved
 Attend the First Environmental Justice Advisory Council Public Meeting!
EJAC is an 18-member advisory board of environmental justice constituents and stakeholders, representing grassroots, community organizing, academic, industry, and local government sectors throughout the state.
The Environmental Justice Advisory Council (EJAC) uses its diverse expertise to advise DEP on how best to integrate Environmental Justice into agency-wide programs, policies, and activities, and build agency capacity. In addition to their advisory role, members also identify priority issues in NJ's environmental justice communities and work to address them through EJAC's established Air, Land, Water, and Environmental Education & Communication Working Groups.
DISCUSSION TOPIC: What environmental issues in overburdened communities require more attention from NJDEP?
The topic of discussion for this meeting will be around the environmental issues facing overburdened communities (OBCs) that require more attention from NJDEP. The purpose of these public meetings is to receive input on how EJAC can advise NJDEP on various environmental justice initiatives.
 Apply Now to Become a Member of the Environmental Justice Advisory Council!
Join the Environmental Justice Advisory Council (EJAC) and make a difference in New Jersey's environmental justice initiatives! NJDEP is seeking applications to fill seven (7) vacancies for 3-year terms through 2028.
EJAC advises the DEP Commissioner on environmental justice matters, coordinates with the Department's Office of Environmental Justice, and provides guidance to Executive Branch departments and agencies. Members represent diverse sectors and have contributed to crucial initiatives like the Environmental Justice Law, the Environmental Justice Seminar series and the What’s in My Community Tool.
Selected candidates will represent the following stakeholder sectors:
- Business and Industry (1 vacancy)
- Local Grassroots or Community Groups (2 vacancies)
- Faith-Based Organizations or State or Federally Recognized Tribal Government or Indigenous Groups (1 vacancy)
- Statewide Social Justice/Civil Rights or Labor Organization (1 vacancy)
- Public Health (2 vacancies)
To apply, you must have a current connection to the sector you're interested in.
Submit your application, resume/CV, outside employment questionnaire, and one letter of recommendation by April 23, 2025. Learn more online.
New TCTAC Training: Procedural Justice in Environmental Justice Decision-making
Join WEACT's EPA Region 2 Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center on April 16th from 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm for the fourth installment of their Environmental Justice Law and Policy series. This session, presented in partnership with the Institute for Policy Integrity, will explore the complex activities that public utility or public service commissions (PUCs) undertake in the name of climate and energy policy. Participants will learn what PUCs are, the kinds of decisions they make, common PUC procedural processes, and how environmental justice communities can engage with PUCs to inform equitable decision-making. Learn more online.
Statewide Trail Users Survey
NDEP and the New Jersey Department of Transportation have launched an online Trail Users Survey as part of the Murphy Administration’s efforts to expand and improve the public’s access to safe, inclusive outdoor recreation and active transportation opportunities. The Survey is designed to help the agencies better understand the needs, priorities, and economic impact of existing and potential trail users. Survey findings will inform the New Jersey Trails Playbook, a series of planning guidance documents for trail managers and stakeholders.
Members of the public and users of trails are asked to complete the survey by Friday, March 31. 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.
NJ Water Bank Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants
The New Jersey Water Bank is now accepting applications for The Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grants. Up to $2 million in funding is available to municipal entities for the planning, design, and construction of infrastructure to prevent combined and sanitary sewer overflows and support local stormwater management. Priority will be given to projects in financially distressed and overburdened communities.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more online.
State Land Urban Acquisition Partnership
The State Land Urban Acquisition Partnership Program aims to acquire properties in Urban Aid municipalities, Community Collaborative Initiative (CCI) communities, and counties creating parks and greenways in these communities. The program is dedicated to repurposing undesirable structures and remediated land, promoting healthier, more resilient and vibrant communities by increasing public green space. Current State land acquisitions enhance and expand recreation and conservation opportunities, particularly in overburdened communities with limited financial resources or capacity to acquire property. All municipalities listed previously are eligible to apply.
Applications are not required. Local governments are encouraged to contact Green Acres to discuss the specifics of potential property acquisitions and receive personalized guidance on how to proceed. Learn more 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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