By Juan Carlos Castillo, Asbury Park Press
A bill that would have created a task force to try and eliminate invasive plant species in New Jersey was vetoed by Gov. Phil Murphy.
The bill sought to ban the sale, distribution, propagation, import, and export of invasive plants that are harmful to New Jersey’s ecosystem.
A photo gallery of invasive plants in New Jersey
While Murphy said he considered the legislation laudable, he was “concerned that the bill does not consider the existing authority of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection,” according to the veto document.
The bill would have created of list of regulated invasive species published by the Department of Agriculture, which would create regulations to facilitate the safe sale and distribution of these species.
The bill would also re-establish the New Jersey Invasive Species Council, created in 2004. The Council’s establishment was intended to identify and manage invasive plant species in the state and to update the New Jersey Strategic Management Plan for Invasive Species.
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