Below are just a few of the environmental and political news stories for New Jersey, Pennsylvania and beyond that appeared in EnviroPolitics during the week of Sep. 28 to Oct 2, 2009.
New Jersey Environment
Popular oyster program nearly out of money
Federal funding has hit a predetermined $5M cap, and now the Delaware Bay Oyster Restoration Project can’t go for more AC Press
NJ utility CEO fights for climate bill A new Senate bill putting limits on carbon dioxide emissions will raise the cost of electricity, but national regulation is needed and could makeNew Jersey more competitive, the head of the state’s largest utility said Wednesday The Record
Campaign seeks support for open space bond issue A coalition of 135 conservation, environmental and historic preservation groups launched a campaign today to win voter support for a $400 million referendum to replenish state funds for open space preservation Star-Ledger
Regulators want limit on weakfish by 2010 After a brief, dismal 2009 season for weakfish, recreational anglers may be limited to catching one or two weakfish on their 2010 trips — or not fishing for the species at all AP Press
Enviros, developers disagree over state plan’s shape Enviro activists charged Thursday that an influential coalition of developers and their allies are hiding behind smart growth, economic recovery, and the election, to push a series of bills though the Legislature that the activists see as proposals that would undermine environmental protections NJ Newsroom Star-Ledger NJBIZ Gannett
New Jersey Politics
Governor candidates clash in first TV debate In the first televised debate of the hotly contested New Jersey governor’s race, the three leading candidates last night focused on the economy, property taxes, health care, and education, with each arguing that he would be the best person to lead the state through difficult financial times Inquirer Star-Ledger Debate Excerpts
Former Irvington mayor admits corruption Former Irvington Mayor Michael Steele will serve at least five years in prison for accepting thousands of dollars in kickbacks while working as the school business administrator Star-Ledger NJNR
> Opinion: The political culture must change Bob Villare
Sweeney says he has the votes to unseat Codey Key senators from all regions said to endorse him PolitickerNJ
> Codey accuses Norcross of underhanded campaign As he wages the fight of his life to hold on to his Senate presidency, Dick Codey sees work of his arch enemy everywhere Star-Ledger
Ex-Bergen Democratic counsel Oury pleads guilty Dennis Oury pleads guilty in federal court to charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and failing to file a tax return for 2006; plea comes two days before trial The Record
Poll: Property taxes top Jerseyans’ concerns Half the residents say they’d like to move out of state NJ Newsroom
Pennsylvania Environment
Enviros fight gas leasing in PA forests
A buried treasure of natural gas under Pennsylvania’s state forests and hills has a lot of people hoping for a big payoff: rural landowners, big energy companies and, now, the state’s politicians Inquirer Towanda Daily Review Editorial: Fools Gold
Pennsylvania farm pollution – from bad to worse? A PA environmental group is warning that pollution from large-scale livestock farms in that state is worsening, and it’s calling for stricter government regulations and enforcement to help restore the Chesapeake Bay Baltimore Sun blog
Environmental compliance and safety promised by natural gas driller Nearly 200 people listened Monday night to remarks from a principal of Rice Energy LP, a company that plans to drill for natural gas beneath Farragut in the Marcellus Shale layer, and most of the queries were about how waste water is managed Sun-Gazette
Editorial: Sales-tax insanity The legislature might not be scrounging to pay for schools and roads if the statewide 6 percent sales tax were applied more fairly and were updated to reflect changes in the economy Inquirer
Opinion: Budget targets environment The state budget agreement being finalized by Gov. Rendell and legislative leaders would have a devastating impact on Pennsylvania’s environment Inquirer
Pennsylvania Politics
State budget deal appears jeopardized The tenuous bipartisan budget deal that Gov. Rendell and legislative leaders announced two weeks ago appeared to be in jeopardy last night Inquirer
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Behind the budgetary chaos Inquirer
11th-hour gas pains cloud state budget deal Battle lines are drawn in the House over whether Pennsylvania should expand natural gas drilling in state-owned forests, raising $60 million a year, or join more than three-dozen other states and impose a ”severance tax” on the extraction of natural resources Morning Call
New York/ Nation/ World
Mob infiltration seen in New York City Agency The latest indictment to hit the New York City Buildings Department taps into the usual themes of bribery, corruption and compromised inspections. But it also introduces a new criminal element into the agency: the mob New York Times
Study warns of mercury near site Elevated levels of toxic mercury and other heavy metals are in neighborhoods around the Lafarge cement plant in Ravena Albany Times Union
Experts advise re-licensing for Indian Point Independent experts advising federal regulators on nuclear safety say Indian Point should be granted a 20-year extension LoHud. News
US bans sea bass fishing in its waters The federal government is banning black sea bass angling, beginning Monday, for 180 days because the year’s catch is already over the 2009 quota
AC Press
Invasive species threaten New York’s natural order As a threat, invasives have been judged second only to habitat loss when it comes to a region’s biodiversity LoHud Journal
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“Does your project development due diligence checklist include a review of resolutions passed by the Council on Affordable Housing (“COAH”)? If not, your project might be at risk, and you may not discover it until you are ready to start construction.”
