Leaders of several New Jersey environmental organizations plan a news conference today at 1 p.m. on the State House steps in Trenton to publicize what they call the Christie Administration’s “further attack on New Jersey’s supply of clean water.”

This, they say, comes in two forms: NJDEP’s proposed increase in development on septic systems allowed in the Highlands Preservation Area  and the agency’s Flood Hazard Rules.

“We’re coming together to launch a campaign to protect New Jersey’s drinking water and waterways from attacks by the Christie Administration,” says Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. 

“The Legislature needs to step in to protect the people of New Jersey from additional water pollution and flooding with the Flood Hazard Rules that have just been adopted,” Tittel says.

“These changes would allow for more development in some of the most environmentally sensitive parts of The Highlands. We are also expressing the need to stand together against the weakening of clean water protections in our state such as rollbacks in Water Quality Planning Rules, development in environmentally sensitive areas, and rollbacks of the Highlands septic density rules.” 

In addition to the New Jersey Sierra Club, expected participants will include the New Jersey Highlands Coalition, Raritan Headwaters, ANJEC, Environment New Jersey, Clean Water Action and the Delaware Riverkeeper Network.