NJ’s LSRP licensing board is nearing full strength

** Correction: We erred in our original listing of Michael Pisauro as representing the New Jersey Environmental Federation. Mr. Pisauro represents the New Jersey Environmental Lobby**

The New Jersey Senate’s Judiciary Committee tomorrow (9/23) is expected to approve the nominations of five of the remaining six persons named by Governor Chris Christie to the New Jersey Site Remediation Professional Licensing Board. The full Senate will need to confirm the committee action but that vote generally is virtually automatic. 

If approved by the committee and the Senate, the makeup of the board will look like this:

Site Remediation Professional Licensing Board  – 13 members

DEP Commissioner or designee  (1)

State Geologist  (1)

Business (1)
Richard T. Dewling, PhD    Dewling Associates, Inc.    3-year term
Academic (1)
James Mack   NJIT York Center for Environmental Engineering & Science   4 years

Environmental Organizations (3)
Joann L. Held                      Alliance of New Jersey Environmental Educators   3 years
Michael L. Pisauro, Jr.,        New Jersey Environmental Lobby                  2 years
**Benjamin Alter  (LSRP)     GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. – GreenFaith             1 year    
** (Nomination pending)

Site Remediation Professionals (6)
Christopher J. Motta     ARCADIS                                                            1 year
Ira Whitman                 Whitman Companies                                            4 years
Lawra Dodge                Excel Environmental Resources, Inc.                     3 years
Jorge Berkowitz            Langan Engineering and Environmental Services     2 years
Philip I. Brilliant             Brilliant Lewis Environmental Services                   2 years
Constantine Tsentas      ATC Associates, Inc.                                          1 year

Our most recent posts:
Bills in the NJ Senate Environment Committee – Sep 23
Rutgers’ Fall Seminars for Environmental Professionals

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Bills in the NJ Senate Environment Committee – Sep 23

The New Jersey Senate’s Environment Committee will meet at 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 23, in Room 10 of the State House Annex in Trenton to consider the following pieces of environmental legislation:

S-59  Cardinale, G. (R-39); Weinberg, L. (D-37)
Creates bi-state commission to coordinate management and flood prevention of waterways flowing between Bergen County, NJ and Rockland County, NY.  Related Bill: A-2440
     
S-793  Madden, F.H. (D-4)
Encourages purchase of NJ solar panels and wind turbines for State projects and State-funde
projects.  Related Bill: A-1555 

S-1123  Van Drew, J. (D-1); Connors, C.J. (R-9)
Permits members of Pinelands Commission to approve revisions to comprehensive management plan. Related Bill: A-2424
     
S-2196  Smith, B. (D-17); Bateman, C. (R-16)
Directs BPU to undertake local government renewable energy generation demonstration project utilizing renewable energy technologies.  Related Bill: A-3142
S-2275  Smith, B. (D-17); Bateman, C. (R-16)
Directs DOT to study stormwater basins in Barnegat Bay watershed.
     
SR-58  Kean, S.T. (R-11); Gordon, R.M. (D-38)
Opposes development of liquefied natural gas facilities off NJ coast.
Related Bill: AR-59
    

To view full copies of any of the above bills, left-click on the bill number. 

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Rutgers’ Fall Seminars for Environmental Professionals

Rutgers University in Fall


From Brownfields and  Environmental Forensics to Flood Hazard Area Rules and Site Remediation Basics, Rutgers University is offering an interesting assortment of seminars this fall for environmental professionals in New Jersey.

Below is the lineup (Click on the links for details).

 Brownfields:  Emerging Issues

Hot Topics for Licensed Site Remediation Professionals

Environmental Forensics

Geology Hydrology and Chemistry:  The Basics of Environmental Applications

Sewer Extensions: Treatment Works Approval

NJDEP Flood Hazard Area Control Act Rules

Regulatory Training in Underground Storage Tanks
Mastering Radius

Innovative Technologies for Site Remediation

Site Remediation Basics

Emissions Using Radius

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Highlights from EPA’s fracking hearing in New York

Hundreds of people showed up in Binghamton yesterday (September 13), representing a full range of interests – from those who would support a full-on ban on fracking, to those who want to be sure we have a full understanding of the risks and how they might be managed if fracking gets a green light here, to those who believe drilling in New York’s Marcellus Shale promises much-desired revenue that can’t come fast enough.  Although passions on this issue run very high, the assembled were respectful and the overall tone was measured.  EPA should be commended for running the meeting in a way that helped keep the discourse civil and the comments, for the most part, on the substance. — Switchboard (NRDC staff blog)

On one end of the street where the Environmental Protection Agency session was held Monday stood a few hundred anti-drilling people — about half the crowd of some 500. They held signs like “Protect Our Water Stop Fracking America,” referring to the EPA study to determine the effect of the horizontal drilling method of hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” on drinking water. The anti-drillers heard speakers like Josh Fox, the Honesdale (PA) director of the film, “Gasland” say, “The”» EPA’s mission is to stop fracking now.”  A few hundred feet away, separated by TV crews from CNN, CBS and even Norway, stood a smaller crowd of a few dozen pro drillers. They held signs like “America’s Energy: Natural Gas.” — Times Herald-Record
“They have never done a hydraulic fracking study as comprehensive as the one now beginning,” says Scott Anderson, a senior policy adviser for the Environment Defense Fund. “The results of this study will inform future congressional decisions on whether to continue to exempt hydraulic fracturing from the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.” — Christian Science Monitor
Instances across the country, including some in Northeastern Pennsylvania, have occurred in which drinking water has been tainted in the vicinity of gas wells. That the damage was caused by fracking, and not inadequate well casings, surface spills or other reasons, has not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt, according to gas drilling supporters.
— Times Leader
John Harmon of the New York-New Jersey African American Chamber of Commerce said full development of the Marcellus Shale would create 280,000 jobs over the next 10 years, jobs sorely needed in the black community. “This is not the time to further limit energy job opportunities for those in need,” Harmon said. — Associated Press
The industry is increasingly concerned by signs that the EPA is taking seriously the concerns of drilling critics that fracking puts drinking water at risk. On Friday, the API organized a conference call and publicized a study highlighting that if drilling in the Marcellus Shale — which stretches from New York to West Virginia — begins in 2011 under a middle-range scenario, production could reach 9.5 billion cubic feet a day in 2020, generating more than 180,000 jobs and almost $4 billion in additional tax revenue.– Wall Street Journal

Related:
Rendell terminates contract with anti-terrorism firm

Battle begins to place severance tax on Pa. Marcellus Shale drillers
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Bill would require solar panels in all new NJ schools

UPDATE: The bill was released by the Assembly Education Committee on September 16, 2010 and referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. 

The New Jersey Assembly’s Education Committee on Thursday will consider environmental legislation requiring the incorporation of solar panels in the design and construction of all new public schools in the state.

In the statement to his bill, A-1084, Assemblyman Reed Gusciora says the legislation is good for the community and the environment.  
“The use of solar power means less consumption of fossil fuels, reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from local power plants.  A solar power system can also reduce or eliminate a school building’s electric bill.  Installing a solar power system is equivalent to prepaying for 40 years of power at a fraction of the current cost.  As energy rates increase this difference will only increase, leading to escalating savings for the school district over the life of the system.”
Do you agree?  Use the comment box below to share your opinion.  If one isn’t visible, open it
by clicking on the tiny ‘comment’ line below.

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Environmental bills scheduled for votes this week

Bill would require solar panels in all new NJ schools Read More »

Environmental legislation scheduled for votes this week in the New Jersey Legislature

New Jersey Dome
The New Jersey Legislature is back in action after its summer recess.
Several committees will be meeting this week to consider the environmental and energy bills listed below. 

To view a copy of any bill below,  left click on bill number. 

MONDAY, September 13, 2010
           ASSEMBLY TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND UTILITIES 
           9/13/10 10 AM Room 9, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ
A-915  Chivukula, U.J. (D-17); Ramos Jr., R.J. (D-33) Authorizes creation of local renewable 
energy collaboratives and central renewable energy generation systems, and provides for sale
of renewable power generation. Related Bill: S-463  

A-2574  Stender, L. (D-22) Revises the definitions of Class I renewable energy and
renewable energy certificate under the Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act.

A-3139  Quijano, A. (D-20); DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14)

Permits development of solar and photovoltaic energy facilities and structures over
landfills and quarries. Related Bill: S-2126


A-3142  Chivukula, U.J. (D-17); Wilson, G.L. (D-5)
Directs BPU to undertake local government renewable energy generation
demonstration project utilizing renewable energy technologies. Related Bill: S-2196

S-463  Smith, B. (D-17); Buono, B. (D-18) Authorizes creation of local renewable energy collaboratives and central renewable energy generation systems, and provides for sale of renewable power generation.     
______________________________________________________

SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS
09/13/10 11AM Room 4, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ

S-2231  Sweeney, S.M. (D-3); Kean, T.H. (R-21) Allows tax credits for development
of qualified wind energy facilities in port district of Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
_________________________________________________

SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY
09/13/10 01:00 PM Room 10, 3rd Floor, State House Annex  

S-1793  Cardinale, G. (R-39); Lesniak, R.J. (D-20)
Creates cooperative farm winery licenses .
_________________________________________________

ASSEMBLY COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
09/13/10 02:00 PM Room 9, 3rd Floor, State House Annex  

A-2474  Coughlin, C.J. (D-19); Coutinho, A. (D-29)
Provides a corporation business tax credit for certain investment in
manufacturing equipment and manufacturing facility renovation,
modernization and expansion.  Related Bill: S-1865  

A-2977  Coutinho, A. (D-29); Quijano, A. (D-20)
Exempts from payment certain taxes and energy charges for manufacturing
facilities.  Related Bill: S-1733
(See: Tax Exemption Could Cut Manufacturers’ Energy Bills by 10 Percent)
__________________________________________________

WEDNESDAY, September 15

SALES AND USE TAX REVIEW COMMISSION
09/15/10 10:00 AM


The Commission will meet via conference call.  The call dial-in number is
877-322-9654 and the participant code is 201376. 
A-3126  Quijano, A. (D-20); Ramos Jr., R.J. (D-33)
Provides sales and use tax exemption for wind energy equipment.
Related Bill: S-2005
________________________________________

NOTE:  Subscribers to our daily newsletter, EnviroPolitics, get to monitor
the progress of all environmental and energy bills in New Jersey and Pennsylvania
–from introduction to enactment.  We supply links to all updated versions of bills,
including committee and floor amendments. 

Try EnviroPolitics without charge or obligation for 30 full days!

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Environmental legislation scheduled for votes this week in the New Jersey Legislature Read More »

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