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Monmouth County Environmental Newsletter: September 2017
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Nominate Project or Plans for the 2017 Planning Merit Award
Established in 1984, the Monmouth County Planning Board's Planning Merit Award Program recognizes those plans, projects, programs, individuals, municipalities, businesses, community leaders, and stakeholder organizations that have made a significant contribution to the advancement of planning and planning outcomes in Monmouth County. The purpose of the Planning Merit Award is not only to recognize and honor exceptional examples of planning in Monmouth County, but to inspire others to pursue the same level of planning achievement and excellence.
This year's nomination cycle include several environmental and outdoors related categories including Environmental Conservation, Best Management Practices, Resiliency, and Sustainability.
The nomination deadline is September 29, 2017. See the link below for details on submitting nominations.
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Two Rivers Region, NJDEP Seek Public Input
 As part of the Two Rivers, One Future campaign,the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and municipalities surrounding the Shrewsbury and Navesink Rivers have created an opportunity for the public to have a role in determining future flood-protection strategies for their communities.
Community members are asked to use a mapping tool or social media to identify places such as public buildings, police and fire stations, municipal buildings, hospitals or urgent care centers, schools, important businesses, and popular gathering spots.
There are two ways to report locations:
- visit www.TwoRiversOneFuture.nj.gov to drop pins at favorite locations and describe why the place is important
- Use the hashtags #MapWhatMatters and #TwoRiversOneFuture on Twitter or Instagram
Submitted information will be reviewed by the NJDEP and used to develop strategies focused on protecting important places from coastal flooding risks. The Two Rivers, One Future campaign is a component of the New Jersey Fostering Regional Adaptation through Municipal Economic Scenarios (NJ FRAMES) Project, which will use resiliency planning to help the Two Rivers Council of Mayors region prepare for and respond to coastal hazards and flooding risks.
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Sustainable Jersey Gardinier Environmental Fund Grants Available for Municipalities & Schools
Sustainable Jersey's annual Small Grants Program cycle for municipal governments and public school districts is accepting applications until October 31. Courtesy of the Gardinier Environmental Fund, two $30,000 grants and nine $10,000 grants will be awarded to applicants to complete projects focused on conservation, efficiency, and/or renewable energy. Sustainable Jersey will host an informational webinar on Sept. 19 from 3-4pm for those interested in applying to the grants. Please see the link below for full details.
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Sustainable Jersey for Schools Small Grants Program-NJEA Cycle Now Accepting Applications
Supported by a $180,000 contribution from the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), Sustainable Jersey will be awarding ten $10,000 projects grants to school districts and schools, as well as forty $2000 grants to support school green teams. The application period ends October 31; grant recipients will be notified in mid-December. Sustainable Jersey will host an informational webinar on Sept. 14 from 3-4pm for those interested in applying to the grants. Please see the link below for applications and full information.
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EPA Requests Stakeholder Input
for "Waters of the United States"
On February 28, 2017, President Trump signed "Presidential Executive Order on Restoring the Rule of Law, Federalism, and Economic Growth by Reviewing the 'Waters of the United States' Rule", which instructs the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to review and revise the definition of "Waters of the United States" under the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA). The E.O. directs the agencies to consider interpreting the term "navigable waters" according to Justice Antonin Scalia in Rapanos v. United States, 547 U.S. 715 (2006), which considered CWA jurisdiction to include "relatively permanent waters and wetlands with a continuous surface connection to relatively permanent waters". For more information, please view the EPA's Waters of the United States (WOTUS) webpage to learn more about the current rule and current rulemaking process.
The EPA and the Corps will be holding a series of teleconferences to receive stakeholder input, as well as receiving written comment. Each teleconference will solicit input from a designated sector of stakeholders, closing with a teleconference from the general public. For more information on Outreach Meetings or to submit written recommendations, please visit the corresponding EPA webpage.
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US Fish & Wildlife Offers $14 Million for Coastal Programs
The US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) is now accepting grant applications, due September 30, to assist with aquatic/riparian restoration activities, wetland/estuarine restoration activities, and outreach and education activities. A total of $14 million is available to eligible applicants from federal, state, local, and tribal governments/agencies, public nonprofit institutes and organizations, and private landowners including individuals and businesses. Grant awards will include technical and financial assistance on projects to benefit species and habitats in coastal areas. Projects aiding in the adaptation of coastal ecosystems and communities to sea level rise, green house gases, and the expected effects of climate change will likely be favored in the selection process. See the link below for full information.
Free Reprints Available of US EPA Report: Indicators of Climate Change in the United States
The US Environmental Protection Agency has published a report "Climate Change Indicators in the United States (4th Edition)". EPA partners and more than 40 data contributors from various government agencies, academic institutions, and other organizations have compiled this key set of indicators related to the causes and effects of climate change. Much of this information is now available on the EPA's Climate Change Indicators webpage. For a single free copy of the report, those interested are asked to send a request including your full postal mailing address to EPA"s Climate Change Indicators Team at climateindicators@epa.gov
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Local Sustainability Hero: Adrianne Spota
Adrianne Spota, Founding Member/Chair of the Marlboro Township Green Team and a member of the Sustainable Jersey Monmouth County Hub, was named the August 2017 Sustainability Hero by Sustainable Jersey.
Adrianne has served as chair of the Marlboro Township Green Team for the past seven years, helping them achieve their first Sustainable Jersey certification in 2010 and recertifications in 2013 and 2016. She has a background in land use on various township boards and committees, and has worked closely with the Marlboro Mayor, the Township Council, and the Business Administrator in efforts to increase the sustainability of Marlboro Township. Under her leadership, the Marlboro Green Team has hosted community movies with different sustainability-minded themes, the Marlboro Mayor Hornik Ice Cream Bike and Stroll to increase awareness of the Henry Hudson Trail as a zero footprint form of recreation and transportation, and partnered with the Marlboro Environmental Commission to obtain an Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) grant for the development of the Sustainability Element of Marlboro's Master Plan.
For more information on these and the other projects Arianne has championed, please see Sustainable Jersey's full feature on her accomplishments, linked below. The Monmouth County Sustainable Jersey Hub is lucky to have members such as Adrianne who are so active in making their community a greener place.
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About This Newsletter
The purpose of the newsletter is to inform Monmouth County citizens on the health of their environment and list environmental outreach events in their community. The newsletter is produced by the Monmouth County Division of Planning Environmental & Sustainability Planning Section in coordination with the Monmouth County Environmental Council. The County of Monmouth and the Board of Chosen Freeholders do not necessarily share the viewpoints of any environmental group mentioned in this newsletter.
If you have questions, comments, or wish to have an event listed in the newsletter, please contact: Kyle Clonan Kyle.Clonan@co.monmouth.nj.us
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