EnviroPolitics Blog

NJ Environmental Bar to meet with NJDEP Regulator

All members of the Environmental Law Section, Land Use Section, and Renewable Energy, Clean-Tech, and Climate Change Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association are invited to another virtual Meet the Regulators” event on Friday, January 26, 2024, from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

*NJDEP Chief Enforcement Officer Kimberly Cahall*

Don’t miss this opportunity to meet, hear from, and interact informally with NJDEP’s Kimberly Cahall, NJDEP’s Chief Enforcement Officer.

The topics to be discussed may include the office and programs for which Ms. Cahall is responsible, Departmental reorganization, regulatory enforcement initiatives, and hot topics. Time will be allotted for Q & A.

There is no cost to attend this online event but pre-registration is required. If you haven’t already done so, Click here to register.

Hosted by:
Ray Papperman, Esq., Sills Cummis & Gross, PC
Dawn Lamparello, Esq., K&L Gates LLP
David Scott, Esq., Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP

If you liked this post, you’ll love our daily environmental newsletter, EnviroPolitics. It’s packed daily with the latest news, commentary, and legislative updates from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware…and beyond. Don’t take our word for it, try it free for an entire month. No obligation.

NJ Environmental Bar to meet with NJDEP Regulator Read More »

EPA is taking its funding opportunities show on the road

Roadtrip Driving GIF by Dan Woodger - Find & Share on GIPHY

WASHINGTON (Jan. 17, 2024) – As part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Community, Equity & Resiliency initiative, a groundbreaking effort to help communities across the nation navigate EPA’s Inflation Reduction Act investments and other new funding opportunities made possible by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, EPA will host the first in a national series of in-person, community-based Regional Roadshow events, starting tomorrow, January 18 in Albany, New York. These events provide community leaders the opportunities to engage with their peers to develop or leverage community-based partnerships to access funding and technical assistance to implement local climate and environmental justice solutions.

“Region 2 is happy to kickoff this roadshow that will showcase the historic funding that is available under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and discuss opportunities on how communities can access it,” said EPA Region 2 Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “The funding has many opportunities to advance Environmental justice which is a key focus of the EPA.”

“We are excited to participate in the first EPA Roadshow to discuss ways to support and build capacity for organizations to navigate federal grant application systems, write strong grant proposals, and effectively manage grant funding. We will also leverage this opportunity to build power and capacity in environmental justice organizations working in underserved communities in New Jersey and New York and to develop networks and partnerships throughout the region,” said Peggy Shepard, Co-founder and Executive Director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice.

The Regional Roadshow is part of EPA’s Community, Equity & Resiliency initiative – a new innovative effort to help communities across the nation navigate EPA’s once-in-a-lifetime new funding opportunities. Through this initiative, EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation and Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights is providing spaces for communities to develop new or deeper community-based partnerships.

Regional Roadshow attendees will learn about historic funding and technical assistance through programming that is designed to be especially helpful for overburdened communities. These events will help them confront the climate crisis and advance environmental justice locally as they learn, connect, and cultivate ideas on how to access these extraordinary resources.

Learn more and register for the Regional Roadshow event in Albany, New York.

EPA is taking its funding opportunities show on the road Read More »

New Jersey Governor Murphy deracinates invasive species bill

Bamboo trees in Tinton Fall are considered an invasive specie in New Jersey.

By Juan Carlos Castillo, Asbury Park Press

A bill that would have created a task force to try and eliminate invasive plant species in New Jersey was vetoed by Gov. Phil Murphy.

The bill sought to ban the sale, distribution, propagation, import, and export of invasive plants that are harmful to New Jersey’s ecosystem.

A photo gallery of invasive plants in New Jersey

While Murphy said he considered the legislation laudable, he was “concerned that the bill does not consider the existing authority of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection,” according to the veto document.

The bill would have created of list of regulated invasive species published by the Department of Agriculture, which would create regulations to facilitate the safe sale and distribution of these species.

The bill would also re-establish the New Jersey Invasive Species Council, created in 2004. The Council’s establishment was intended to identify and manage invasive plant species in the state and to update the New Jersey Strategic Management Plan for Invasive Species.

Read the full story here

New Jersey Governor Murphy deracinates invasive species bill Read More »

Dangerous Snow Squalls Forecast Today in New Jersey

*Snow squalls are expected Sunday afternoon in New Jersey. (Shutterstock)*

By Anna Schier, Patch Staff

MOUNT HOLLY, NJ — Drivers, beware: Snow squalls are in the forecast this afternoon in New Jersey.

An Arctic cold front accompanied by an abrupt wind shift and increase in wind speeds as well as possible snow showers and squalls was expected to start around noon in the area of Trenton, Flemington, and Morristown before moving southeast toward Long Branch, Toms River and Atlantic City, authorities said.

The squalls were particularly likely north and west of the Interstate 95 corridor, according to the National Weather Service at Mount Holly. The front was expected to reach the coast between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

“If a Snow Squall Warning is issued for your area, delay travel,” the service said in a social media post. “If you’re driving, find a place to pull safely off of the road.”

The short but intense snowfall bursts can quickly reduce visibility and create whiteout conditions when accompanied by gusty winds, sometimes causing roads to become icy in minutes and leading to chain-reaction crashes.

“There is no safe place on a highway during a snow squall event,” according to a graphic posted by the weather service. “Consider an alternate route or delaying travel, reduce speed and turn on headlights.”

Dangerous Snow Squalls Forecast Today in New Jersey Read More »

Maine’s historic landmarks under siege from powerful storms

Efforts to cleanup rubble from the midweek storm and stabilize what remains are adding a sense of urgency at Pemaquid Point Lighthouse and other hard-hit areas along the state’s coast

Steve Hendrix of the Bristol Parks & Recreation Department recovers items from the Bell House at Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park. High waves and strong winds carried away two of the structure’s walls. In a stroke of luck, the fog bell, left, was recently removed from its perch on the structure because of wood rot, said Shelley Gallagher, director of Bristol’s Parks & Recreation Department. Otherwise, it would have been lost in the storm, she said. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

By Kay Neufeld, Portland Press Herald

Shelley Gallagher was busy Thursday assessing the damage the midweek storm wreaked on the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park, one of Maine’s iconic landmarks.

But it’s been a challenge for the director of Bristol’s Parks & Recreation Department to fulfill that responsibility this week. Pemaquid Point was battered by high waves and 79 mph winds on Tuesday night and Wednesday, Gallagher said. The gusts and surges toppled an entire wall of the historic Bell House, scattering bricks and exposing its interior to the elements.

“We have security cameras, so first thing I did this morning is I looked to see to make sure the lighthouse was actually still standing,” she said.

The lighthouse tower is still in good shape. And, as luck would have it, the actual bell was not swept away because the town had moved it inside the house in August to address issues with its stand. Gallagher is confident that the Bell House can be restored to its former glory.

Mills declares civil emergency for coastal counties dealing with flood damage

But picking up the pieces and charting a plan will be all the more difficult with another storm en route for Friday night through Saturday, expected to once again flood the coast and bring in hurricane-force winds. And Gallagher is worried, knowing that this week of weather isn’t simply a fluke.

Read the full story here

Maine’s historic landmarks under siege from powerful storms Read More »

Delaware’s climate case can go forward, mostly intact

By Jennifer Hijazi, Bloomberg Law

Delaware’s Superior Court will allow the state’s climate deception suit to move forward while granting some concessions to BP America Inc. and other industry defendants.

In a decision issued on Tuesday, Judge Mary M. Johnston scrapped claims of misrepresentation against certain individual companies and also claims regarding global emissions that don’t originate in Delaware. She wrote that claims against emissions “from out-of-state or global greenhouse emissions and interstate pollution” are preempted by the Clean Air Act and beyond the limits of state law.

Johnston did, however, find that “the CAA does not pre-empt state law regulation of alleged claims and damages resulting from air pollution originating from sources in Delaware. Air pollution prevention and control at the source is the primary responsibility of state and local governments.”

The judge also denied companies’ other major arguments against the case, including claims that the lawsuit raises nonjusticiable political questions.

Delaware’s attorney general filed the case in September 2020, joining other states, cities, and counties looking to hold energy companies liable for allegedly misleading climate change statements.

Read the full story here

Delaware’s climate case can go forward, mostly intact Read More »

NJ Environmental Bar to meet with NJDEP Regulator

EPA is taking its funding opportunities show on the road

New Jersey Governor Murphy deracinates invasive species bill

Dangerous Snow Squalls Forecast Today in New Jersey

Maine’s historic landmarks under siege from powerful storms

Efforts to cleanup rubble from the midweek storm and stabilize what remains are adding a sense of urgency at Pemaquid Point Lighthouse and other hard-hit areas along the state’s coast

Mills declares civil emergency for coastal counties dealing with flood damage

Delaware’s climate case can go forward, mostly intact

Subscribe For Latest Updates