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Environmental Justice Newsletter
April 24th 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
Murphy Administration to Mark Earth Week with Green Acres Funding Announcement
Tomorrow, DEP Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette will announce one of the largest-ever funding packages for Green Acres parks and open space projects benefiting communities statewide. Through this funding, communities will establish, expand, or revitalize new and existing parks, acquire land, improve waterfront access, develop athletic fields and playgrounds, improve public access, create open space, and enhance land stewardship. With this funding package, green space investments made under the Murphy Administration will total nearly $700 million, facilitating greater access to quality places for gathering, playing and enjoying the outdoors for all New Jersey communities. Many of the park development projects serve Adversely Stressed Overburdened Communities in Urban Aid municipalities that are disproportionately impacted by environmental and public health stressors, reinforcing the Murphy Administration’s commitment to environmental justice. Learn more online.
New Online Library of Climate Change Lessons and Solutions for All K-5 Subject Areas
As part of Earth Week, DEP's Office of Environmental Education has launched a new online library of curated resources from environment-focused nonprofit organizations, government agencies and academic institutions. These materials will help K-5 teachers incorporate climate change resources and lesson plans into all subject area curriculums, including lessons on how pollution impacts communities and the power of collective action. The library will be updated continuously to incorporate insights from the New Jersey Department of Education to reflect New Jersey’s best available climate science as well as additional no-cost teaching resources from environment-focused nonprofit organizations, government agencies and academic institutions. Explore DEP's State Environmental Education Directory for more information.
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
NJDEP Earth Day Celebration
In celebration of Earth Week, NJDEP is hosting a family- and kid-friendly festival this Saturday, April 26 from 10am to 3-m at Liberty State Park in Jersey City.
The theme for Earth Week 2025 is Our Power, Our Planet. During the celebration, the public will have numerous opportunities to learn about the many interesting facets of New Jersey’s diverse environment and the work the DEP does to protect it. The day will feature immersive activities, informative displays, walks, crafts, and activities specially tailored for kids.
Stop by our table to write a question to the Commissioner and learn more about DEP's work to safeguard and advance environmental justice statewide. More information is available 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.
Port Infrastructure Development Program
Funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) supports projects that improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of the movement of goods into, out of, around, or within a port. The program provides funding for key port infrastructure planning and development to enhance port resilience, implement pollution reduction measures, and provide economic benefits directly to port communities. Eligible projects include port electrification, equipment retrofitting, workforce training and development, charging infrastructure installation, and idling reduction initiatives.
Applications are due by April 30, 2025. Learn more online.
National Coastal Resilience Fund 2025 Request for Proposals
The National Coastal Resilience Fund is seeking proposals to reduce risks to coastal communities. Projects should aim to enhance, conserve or restore coastal marshes and forests, floodplains, rivers and lakes, dune and beach systems, and oyster and coral reefs that can provide communities with enhanced protection and buffering from the growing impacts of natural coastal hazards and environmental stressors.
Applications are due May 6th, 2025. Learn more online.
Safe Streets and Roads Planning and Demonstration Grant
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program provides grants to local, regional, and Tribal communities for implementation, planning, and demonstration activities as part of a systematic approach to prevent deaths and serious injuries on the nation’s roadways. The program provides $5 billion over 5 years to fund community-led projects that incorporate safety features into local road infrastructure and vehicles, support intersection improvements, provide pedestrian safety education, and improve post-crash care. Approximately 60% of funds will benefit underserved communities, providing equitable investment to places that need funding the most.
The Department of Transportation is hosting 3 upcoming informational webinars for the FY25 Grant Opportunity. Applications are due. June 25th, 2025. Learn more online.
Trees for Schools Grant: $4.5 Million Available 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.
Applications are due May 13, 2025, for spring 2026 plantings. 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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