OEJ Newsletter - May 8th, 2025

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Announcements

AG Platkin and DEP Commissioner LaTourette Announce Filing of Three Environmental Enforcement Actions in Overburdened Communities

On May 1st, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette announced three new environmental enforcement actions against polluters in overburdened communities. The three enforcement actions filed involve defendants who ran illegal junkyards or solid waste facilities in Hamilton, Kearny, and Woodbridge. In addition to these actions, the State also issued an administrative order and notice of violation against a spray drying facility located directly outside of several overburdened communities and settled a 2021 lawsuit filed against a Trenton auto recycling facility. As part of the Securing Environmental Justice Initiative, these actions work to ensure equitable enforcement of environmental regulations, address disproportionate exposures to pollution, and hold polluters accountable in overburdened communities. Learn more online. 

ICYMI: Navigating the DEP System- Explaining Enforcement Seminar Recordings Now Available!

In April, as part of its Navigating the DEP System Seminar Series, the Office of Environmental Justice hosted a three-part seminar on DEP Enforcement processes. Over the course of three weeks, participants learned about the DEP's existing enforcement authority within the Air, Solid Waste, Water, and Coastal Land Use programs. Sessions explored 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. View the recordings from each session and learn more online.

Contaminated Sites Explorer Web Mapping Application

NJDEP's Contaminated Site Remediation & Redevelopment (CSRR) program recently launched the Contaminated Sites Explorer Web Mapping Application! Designed for the general public, the Explorer is comprised of three parts: an interactive Explorer Web Map, an Explorer Dashboard, and Remediation Background. The Explorer Web Map provides a high-level summary of a remediation of interest, including locational information, media impacted, areas of concern, remediation status, phase of remediation, and past and upcoming timeframes. Residents of overburdened communities may find this tool useful for locating active contaminated site cleanups and finding information about the process that sites of interest undergo to complete remediation. More information is available online. 

Murphy Administration Marks Earth Week with $131 Million Investment in Community Recreation and Open Space Acquisitions

On April 25th, DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette announced more than $131 million in Green Acres investments for 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. 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. 

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

Community Meeting on Trenton's Drinking Water System

Join NJDEP’s Divison of Water Supply and Geoscience, in partnership with East Trenton Collaborative, for an informational meeting on May 15th, from 6 to 8pm at Darlene C. McKnight Elementary School to discuss how drinking water for Mercer County residents in Trenton, Ewing, Hamilton, Hopewell, and Lawrence is currently managed and supplied, and receive updates related to the community's drinking water system. DEP staff will present findings from two recently published assessments of Trenton Water Works' management, answer questions, and engage with residents to inform a long-term improvement plan for the water system.

Register now to stay up to date on meeting information and take the survey to let NJDEP know what questions/concerns you want addressed in the meeting. Learn more online. 

IAC Asks Webinar Series: How Can We Build Heat Resilient Infrastructure in NJ?

The New Jersey Interagency Council on Climate Resilience (IAC) is hosting a heat and built infrastructure webinar on Tuesday, May 20th, 2025, at 11am. The webinar will highlight valuable insights on transportation and energy infrastructure impacts during periods of extreme heat. Panelists will spotlight efforts to improve New Jersey’s infrastructure resilience through innovative heat mitigation efforts such as cool paving. 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.

Water Quality Improvement and Planning Grants

NJDEP's Water Quality Restoration Grant Program provides funding for local governments, nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions and others to carry out water quality improvement projects and develop watershed-based plans that protect the ecological health of New Jersey's waterways and increase local flood storage. The grants will also fund programs that are making communities more resilient to extreme weather through nature-based solutions, addressing emerging contaminants, and implementing green infrastructure. Projects that may be eligible for funding include the installation of living shorelines, storm basin retrofits, construction of green infrastructure such as rain gardens and pervious paving systems, and the implementation of approved watershed-based plans that reduce nonpoint source pollution. This funding will benefit communities in addressing contaminated waterways, updating infrastructure, and improving climate resilience. 

Project Proposals are due June 2nd, 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.