Our new podcast: Interviews with NJ Spotlight Energy reporter Tom Johnson and NJ State Senator Bob Smith

Welcome to our new EnviroPolitics Podcast.

If you’re not familiar with the term podcast, just think of it as a radio show that you access via the Internet.

In our first episode on January 11, we spoke  with Tavia Danch of  Clean Ocean Action to learn what her organization is doing to match up volunteers with towns and homeowners who need help cleaning up after superstorm Sandy.

Today, in Episode 2, we visit NJ Spotlight‘s Energy Roundtable. You’ll hear energy reporter Tom Johnson talk about alternative fuel vehicles and Bob Smith, chairman of the NJ Senate’s Environment and Energy Committee, discuss:

  1. how a court decision is complicating dune-rebuilding after Superstorm Sandy, and
  2. legislation that he says could help turn NJ into the Saudi Arabia of solar energy.  

 Let us know what you think of the show. Subscribe to it in the iTunes podcast directory.

Related environmental news stories:
NJ Moving Closer to Cheaper, Greener Transportation, Experts Say  
Experts: Clean energy goals still a priority, post-Sandy


***********************************************************************************************************For thorough coverage of environmental news, issues, legislation and regulation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, try a FREE subscription to EnviroPolitics, our daily newsletter that also tracks environment/energy bills–from introduction to enactment
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Our most recent posts:

Environmental bills up for vote Monday in NJ Assembly
Good news for those who like surf fishing at the NJ shore
What’s the latest on site remediations in New Jersey?
What day to recycle? This NJ county has an app for that
Ill wind stirs: Chris Christie, Sandy, and the Tea Party

Our new podcast: Interviews with NJ Spotlight Energy reporter Tom Johnson and NJ State Senator Bob Smith Read More »

Environmental bills up for vote Monday in NJ Assembly


Members of the New Jersey Assembly will be asked to consider more than 60 pieces of legislation when they meet for a voting session in Trenton on Monday, January 28, 2013.  

Among them are the following seven energy and environmental bills:      

A-329  Dancer, R.S. (R-12); Conaway, H. (D-7);
Caride, M. (D-36)
Authorizes prescribed burning in certain
circumstances.
   
A-710  Ramos Jr., R.J. (D-33); McKeon, J.F. (D-27);
DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14)
Requires certain State departments, divisions,
commissions, and authorities to consider use of green or blue roof in
construction of certain new State buildings, facilities, and structures.
    
 A-711  Ramos Jr., R.J. (D-33); McKeon, J.F. (D-27);
DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14)
Requires adoption of certain rules and regulations by DCA
and DEP concerning blue roofs and green roofs.
    
A-1154  Lampitt, P.R. (D-6); Vainieri Huttle, V.
(D-37); McKeon, J.F. (D-27)
Requires BPU to establish Energy Efficiency Leadership
awards program.
     
A-1822  Conaway, H. (D-7); Singleton, T. (D-7);
Riley, C.M. (D-3)
Requires DEP to conduct vibration analysis along
routes for disposal of dredged material from Delaware River.  Related
Bill: S-2310
     
A-2887  Chivukula, U.J. (D-17); McKeon, J.F. (D-27)
Requires Energy Master Plan to include long-term
capacity planning and infrastructure planning.
  
A-3019  Wilson, G.L. (D-5); Lampitt, P.R. (D-6);
Caride, M. (D-36)
Authorizes public schools to serve to students certain
produce grown in community garden.

*********************************************************************************************************** For thorough coverage of environmental news, issues, legislation and regulation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, try a FREE subscription to EnviroPolitics, our daily newsletter that also tracks environment/energy bills–from introduction to enactment
************************************************************************************************************

Our most recent posts:

Good news for those who like surf fishing at the NJ shore
What’s the latest on site remediations in New Jersey?
What day to recycle? This NJ county has an app for that
Ill wind stirs: Chris Christie, Sandy, and the Tea Party
New energy & environment legislation in Pennsylvania

Environmental bills up for vote Monday in NJ Assembly Read More »

Good news for those who like surf fishing at the NJ shore


A segment of one of New Jersey’s outdoor jewels, highly popular with bathers, naturists and those who love surf fishing, has been partially reopened following the collection of tons of debris that piled up during Superstorm Sandy.

The entire 10-mile-long Island Beach State Park, located at the southern end of the barrier island that includes Seaside Park, had been closed since the storm ripped through dozens 
of NJ shore communities in October. 


Now, after the collection of tons of debris and the removal of up to seven feet of sand drifts from the road that runs through the park, one segment (Ocean Bathing Area 1) is open to the public for sport fishing, four-wheel driving and walking–with the usual user fees suspended.

*********************************************************************************************************** For thorough coverage of environmental news, issues, legislation and regulation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, try a FREE subscription to EnviroPolitics, our daily newsletter that also tracks environment/energy bills–from introduction to enactment
************************************************************************************************************

The video above, shot by The (Bergen) Record’s Thomas E. Franklin, shows how Sandy ripped out a boardwalk that gave handicapped fishing enthusiasts access to the water and washed away many heavy rocks that formed a jetty at the southern tip of the park. The thought of what it took to move those boulders gives us renewed respect for the expression “the power of nature.”      


Curiously, the governor’s summer beach home on the beach was left relatively unscathed. Proof that Mother Nature is a moderate to right-leaning Republican?       

Related environmental news stories:

Video: Island Beach State Park partially reopens 3 months after superstorm Sandy 

Island Beach State Park is reopened after Sandy

Island Beach State Park Partially Reopened To Public, Three Months After Sandy

Island Beach State Park after Sandy (photos) 

Bearing signs of Sandy’s strength (story & photos) 

Our most recent posts:
What’s the latest on site remediations in New Jersey?
What day to recycle? This NJ county has an app for that
Ill wind stirs: Chris Christie, Sandy, and the Tea Party
New energy & environment legislation in Pennsylvania
Buying an all-electric 2013 Nissan Leaf for only $18,800
Ivette P. Alvarado named a director at Gibbons law firm

Good news for those who like surf fishing at the NJ shore Read More »

What’s the latest on site remediations in New Jersey?

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (“NJDEP”) continues to develop new policies, rules and guidance since full implementation of the Site Remediation Reform Act began in May 2012.


Court decisions, too, are shaping the new regulatory landscape.
  
Parties responsible for the cleanup of polluted sites and the Licensed Site Remediation Professionals (LSRPs) they have hired to conduct the remediations face many new questions.


Are you among those who need an update on where things stand?

If so, you should hurry to sign up for a January 31 breakfast program in Morristown, NJ. 
Sponsored by the Environmental Practice Group at the Riker Danzig law firm, the event is free but registration is required.

Heads up: You should register online or by email spikowski@riker.com by January 24.  


The program will  include updates from NJDEP’s Assistant Commissioner David Sweeney and LSRP Board Member Jorge Berkowwitz of Langan Engineering and Environmental Services.

Riker experts on site remediation will lead a discussion of regulatory and court decisions affecting cleanups and promise to provide time for interaction and questions. Questions?
Call 973-538-7278, x. 7558. 

For more information on this event and other important environmental forums, seminars, webinars and workshops in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware, sign up for free email updates on our Enviro-Events Calendar webpage.


*********************************************************************************************************** For thorough coverage of environmental news, issues, legislation and regulation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, try a FREE subscription to EnviroPolitics, our daily newsletter that also tracks environment/energy bills–from introduction to enactment
************************************************************************************************************

Our most recent posts: 
What day to recycle? This NJ county has an app for that
Ill wind stirs: Chris Christie, Sandy, and the Tea Party
New energy & environment legislation in Pennsylvania
Buying an all-electric 2013 Nissan Leaf for only $18,800
Ivette P. Alvarado named a director at Gibbons law firm



What’s the latest on site remediations in New Jersey? Read More »

What day to recycle? This NJ county has an app for that

To help residents remember to take their recycling containers out to the curb, Mercer County (New Jersey) officials have launched a smartphone app that lets residents set reminders, alerting them when it is recycling day, Jenna Pizzi reports today in the Times of Trenton.

“The app enables residents to select their township and recycling zones to see the days they are scheduled for pickup. Users can get reminders for regular and special collections, find out how to properly recycle different household items and report problems, such as a missed pickup day.”

Read the full story here.


*********************************************************************************************************** For thorough coverage of environmental news, issues, legislation and regulation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, try a FREE subscription to EnviroPolitics, our daily newsletter that also tracks environment/energy bills–from introduction to enactment
************************************************************************************************************

Our most recent posts: 
Ill wind stirs: Chris Christie, Sandy, and the Tea Party
New energy & environment legislation in Pennsylvania
Buying an all-electric 2013 Nissan Leaf for only $18,800
Ivette P. Alvarado named a director at Gibbons law firm
Feds arrest 30 in North Jersey garbage racketeering bust

What day to recycle? This NJ county has an app for that Read More »

Ill wind stirs: Chris Christie, Sandy, and the Tea Party

“People love his bluntness when it applies to President Obama. People don’t love his bluntness so much when it’s applied to his own party.”                                            —Michael Tanner, a senior fellow at the libertarian Cato Institute


Interesting Sunday story by The Star-Ledger‘s Jenna Portnoy on New Jersey’s super-popular, middle of the (Republican) road governor, his reaction to his party’s foot dragging on Sandy relief aid in the House, and push-back from some in the GOP’s dominant right wing.  

Read it at: Hurricane Sandy vote shows Gov. Christie’s influence has limits

*********************************************************************************************************** For thorough coverage of environmental news, issues, legislation and regulation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, try a FREE subscription to EnviroPolitics, our daily newsletter that also tracks environment/energy bills–from introduction to enactment
************************************************************************************************************

Our most recent posts:
New energy & environment legislation in Pennsylvania
Buying an all-electric 2013 Nissan Leaf for only $18,800
Ivette P. Alvarado named a director at Gibbons law firm
Feds arrest 30 in North Jersey garbage racketeering bust
Why climate-change legislation has been a total bust

Ill wind stirs: Chris Christie, Sandy, and the Tea Party Read More »