NJ ag, energy, environment bills posted for votes – May 14

A total of eleven
agriculture, energy and environment bills will be up for votes in a committee and on the Assembly floor in Trenton on Thursday, May 14, 2015.


Here’s the lineup:


SENATE ECONOMIC GROWTH – 10:30 AM
Committee Room 1, 1st Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ

A-1294  Dancer, R.S. (R-12); Space, P. (R-24);
Andrzejczak, B. (D-1)
Extends Right to Farm Act protections to commercial
beekeepers, with some restrictions.  Related Bill: S-1328
A-1295  Dancer, R.S. (R-12); Space, P. (R-24);
Andrzejczak, B. (D-1)
Establishes exclusive State regulatory authority over
apiary activities and allows for delegation of monitoring and enforcement
authority to municipalities.
Related Bill: S-1975
    
A-1296  Dancer, R.S. (R-12); Space, P. (R-24);
Caride, M. (D-36)
Establishes penalty for destruction of man-made native
bee hive.
    
S-1328  Van Drew, J. (D-1); Oroho, S.V. (R-24)
Extends Right to Farm Act protections to commercial
beekeepers, with some restrictions. Related Bill: A-1294
S-1975  Van Drew, J. (D-1); Oroho, S.V. (R-24)
Establishes exclusive State regulatory authority over
apiary activities and allows for delegation of monitoring and enforcement
authority to municipalities.
Related Bill: A-1295
S-2302  Van Drew, J. (D-1)
Establishes penalty for destruction of man-made native
bee hive.
Related Bill: A-1296
 _______________________________________________________________

ASSEMBLY VOTING SESSION – 1 PM
A-3169  Greenwald, L.D. (D-6); Vainieri Huttle, V.
(D-37); Webber, J. (R-26)
Requires DEP to submit annual financial report on
status of certain fund balances.
A-3849  DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14); Eustace, T. (D-38);
Mazzeo, V. (D-2)
Requires BPU to provide consumer information on
third-party electric power and gas supplier pricing and services.  Related Bill: S-2466
    
 A-3850  DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14); Eustace, T. (D-38);
Mazzeo, V. (D-2)
Requires BPU to establish procedures allowing electric
power and gas supplier customers to switch energy suppliers.  Related Bill: S-2467
     
A-3851  DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14); Eustace, T. (D-38);
Mazzeo, V. (D-2)
Imposes contract standards between customers and
third-party electric power and gas suppliers.  Related Bill: S-2468
     
A-4258  Eustace, T. (D-38); Mazzeo, V. (D-2)
Clarifies liability for discharges of hazardous
substances from drilling platforms that enter NJ waters.   Related Bill: S-2172
   
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Tonawanda Coke to pay $12M in NY pollution settlement

Under a $12 million settlement with the United
States and the state of New York, Tonawanda Coke Corporation will pay $2.75
million in civil penalties, spend approximately $7.9 million to reduce air
pollution and enhance air and water quality, and spend an additional $1.3
million for environmental projects in the area of Tonawanda, NY. 


The
agreement was announced jointly by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck, U.S. Assistant Attorney General John C.
Cruden, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)
Commissioner Joseph Martens and New York State Attorney General Eric T.
Schneiderman.


According to EPA’s news release:

“Under the consent decree lodged today in federal court in
the Western District of New York, Tonawanda Coke must improve its processes,
operations and monitoring for coke oven gas leaks, assess key equipment, repair
or replace equipment, install new pollution controls, and take many additional
measures under a prescribed schedule. 
This work, estimated to cost approximately $7.9 million, will secure
significant reductions of benzene, ammonia and particulate matter emissions
from the plant, improving air quality in Tonawanda and protecting public health.
Benzene is a carcinogen.
“The settlement also requires Tonawanda Coke to pay a
$1.75 million civil penalty to the United States to resolve violations of the
Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Emergency Planning and Community
Right-to-know Act, and pay a $1 million civil penalty to the State of New York,
which is a co-plaintiff with the United States. 
In addition to the state penalty, Tonawanda Coke will pay another $1
million to fund projects that will benefit the environment and the residents of
Tonawanda.  

“Additionally, $357,000 will
be provided to Ducks Unlimited, a not for profit organization, to acquire and
preserve wetlands. In addition to protecting and enhancing water quality,
wetlands reduce flooding, filter pollutants, and provide habitat for fish and
wildlife.”
Read the full news release here.

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NJ ag, energy, environment bills posted for votes – May 11 
Only in New Jersey political ads–‘The Shady Bunch’   
NJ Gov. Christie’s latest nominations and appointments  
Trenton today: Two wind energy bills held, one moved 




Tonawanda Coke to pay $12M in NY pollution settlement Read More »

How did Delaware's rivers and ponds get so polluted?

Over the past century, Delaware’s industrial and agricultural past, poor wastewater management, as well as lax regulation over storm water runoff all had a hand in dirtying Delaware’s waterways.

Today, except for the beaches, nearly all of Delaware’s waterways are polluted.

WHYY is undertaking a two-year project to report on how the state’s rivers, ponds and streams. The first report with Shirley Min is an assessment of Delaware’s water health.

If the video above fails to appear, you can open it here 

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NJ ag, energy, environment bills posted for votes – May 11
Only in New Jersey political ads–‘The Shady Bunch’  
NJ Gov. Christie’s latest nominations and appointments 
Trenton today: Two wind energy bills held, one moved
‘Rent The Chicken’– One eggstraordinary business 

How did Delaware's rivers and ponds get so polluted? Read More »

NJ ag, energy, environment bills posted for votes – May 11

Fifteen agriculture, energy and environment  bills will be considered in two committees meeting in Trenton on Monday, May 11, 2015.
Here’s the lineup:


SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

5/11/15 10 AM
Committee Room 10, 3rd Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ
SCR-163 (Smith, B) (pending intro and referral) – Amends Constitution to
dedicate all State moneys received from settlements and awards in cases of
environmental contamination for certain environmental purposes.
S-2690  Greenstein, L.R. (D-14); Bateman, C. (R-16)
Allows certain on-site generation facilities to deliver
electricity without utilizing electric public utility infrastructure.
    
S-2691  Greenstein, L.R. (D-14); Bateman, C. (R-16)
Establishes microgrid pilot program.
  
S-2782  Turner, S.K. (D-15)
Requires New Jersey Turnpike Authority and South Jersey
Transportation Authority to provide natural gas refueling, propane refueling,
and electric vehicle recharging stations at certain rest areas on New Jersey
Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and Atlantic
Related Bill: A-1728
      
SCR-159  Whelan, J. (D-2)
Urges President and Congress to reinstate and extend
production tax credit for wind energy.
Related Bill: ACR-143
SCR-163  Smith, B. (D-17)
Amends Constitution to dedicate all State moneys
received from settlements and awards in cases of environmental contamination
for certain environmental purposes.
Related Bill: ACR-230

     
———————————————————————————————————————-


ASSEMBLY AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES
5/11/15 – 2 PM
Committee Room 15, 4th Floor, State House Annex, New Jersey
Continuation: A-4382 Establishes “Jersey Frozen Foods
Program”; A-4383 Requires issue of “Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition
Program” food vouchers in multiple monetary denominations and establishes
pilot voucher program for community supported agriculture;
A-3944  Garcia, C.G. (D-33); McKeon, J.F. (D-27);
Auth, R. (R-39); Eustace, T. (D-38)
Allows cultivation of commercial shellfish species in
certain coastal and inner harbor waters for research and educational purposes.
Related Bill: S-2617
      
A-4055  Dancer, R.S. (R-12)
Prohibits NJ State Forest Nursery from undercutting
private nurseries by selling forestation stock below average market price.
     
A-4376  Burzichelli, J.J. (D-3)
Clarifies definition of agricultural deed restriction.
     
A-4377  Mazzeo, V. (D-2); Burzichelli, J.J. (D-3)
Directs State Board of Agriculture and Department of
Agriculture to develop and adopt certain terms and standards concerning local
agricultural and horticultural products.
      
A-4378  Singleton, T. (D-7); Burzichelli, J.J. (D-3)
Allows collection of seeds from wild native plants.
       
A-4379  Mazzeo, V. (D-2); Burzichelli, J.J. (D-3)
Directs DOH to issue guidance concerning food safety at
farmers markets.
      
A-4380  Andrzejczak, B. (D-1)
Establishes multi-species depredation permit.
      
A-4381  Taliaferro, A.J. (D-3); Mazzeo, V. (D-2)
Establishes “Jersey Canned Goods Program.”
      
A-4382  Taliaferro, A.J. (D-3); Mazzeo, V. (D-2)
Establishes “Jersey Frozen Foods Program.”
   
A-4383  Mazzeo, V. (D-2); Taliaferro, A.J. (D-3)
Requires issuance of food vouchers in “Senior
Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program” in multiple monetary denominations;
establishes pilot program to allow Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program
participants to obtain shares of farm products from community

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Only in New Jersey political ads–‘The Shady Bunch’

Politics in NJ’s Hudson County can get downright nasty–and funny at the same time.

Witness this new ad from the incumbent North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco who is fighting a re-election challenge from Larry Wainstein.

For more on Sacco vs. Wainstein, check out: Briana Vannozzi’s NJTV story and video

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NJ Gov. Christie's latest nominations and appointments

NJ State Seal

Governor Chris Christie filed the following nominations today for positions on the
New Jersey Board of Agriculture that require Senate approval and also made
direct appointments to the Clean Air Council that are automatic

NOMINATIONS

State Board of Agriculture

Public Members
Nominate for appointment Erick K. Doyle (Readington Township, Hunterdon)
Nominate for appointment Angelo Trapani (Clarksburg, Monmouth)
Nominate for appointment Shirley Todd Kline (Bridgeton, Cumberland)

DIRECT APPOINTMENTS
Clean Air Council
New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce Representative
Reappoint Michael A. Egenton (Voorhees, Camden)
New Jersey Society of Professional Engineers, Inc. Representative
Reappoint William Hanna, III, PE (Delaware Township, Hunterdon)
New Jersey State League of Municipalities Representative
Reappoint the Honorable Pamela H. Mount (Lawrenceville, Mercer)
New Jersey Business and Industry Association Representative
Reappoint Sara C. Bluhm Gibson (Lambertville, Hunterdon)
New Jersey State AFL-CIO Representative
Appoint Robert Weber (Clark, Union)
Public Members
Reappoint Leonard Bielory, M.D. (Springfield, Union)
Reappoint Joseph A. Spatola, Ph.D. (Scotch Plains, Union)
Reappoint Nicky Sheats, Ph.D., Esq. (Trenton, Mercer)
Appoint Eric B. Svenson, Jr. (Mendham Township, Morris)
Appoint John G. Valeri, Jr., Esq. (Basking Ridge, Somerset)

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