The Assembly Appropriations Committee will meet on Thursday, January 4, 2024, at Noon in Committee Room 11, 4th Floor, State House Annex in Trenton, NJ.
Among more than 20 bills up for a vote are:
A2836 – Requires DEP, DOH, owners or operators of public water systems, and owners or operators of certain buildings to take certain actions to prevent and control cases of Legionnaires’ disease.
A4715 – Establishes uptime requirement for electric vehicle charging station incentive programs.
S3102 – Establishes uptime requirement for electric vehicle charging station incentive programs.
S1006 – Requires DEP, DOH, owners or operators of certain public water systems, and owners or operators of certain buildings to take certain actions to prevent and control cases of Legionnaires’ disease.
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New Jersey’s bobcat population has witnessed a significant surge, pointing to positive strides in conservation efforts, according to a recent study by the Department of Environmental Protection.
The study, delving into the habitats and population density of bobcats, estimates a striking increase, indicating there are 200 to 400 bobcats thriving in the Garden State. This marks a substantial rise from previous statistics and indicates a successful response to conservation initiatives.
Historically, bobcats faced challenges in New Jersey stemming from habitat loss, hunting, human conflicts, and road accidents. The toll of road-related fatalities on bobcats was particularly concerning, with the confirmed number reaching its peak at 15 in 2019. Mary Conti, director of marketing at the Nature Conservancy nonprofit, said car crashes cause annual mortality of up to 20% of New Jersey’s bobcat population.
The Department of Environmental Protection highlighted a poignant statistic: Over 70% of bobcats struck by vehicles in New Jersey are under 2 years old and likely unfamiliar with road hazards. The young cats disperse over long distances, traversing unfamiliar terrains and roads in search of their own territory.
Reports of bobcats encountered or killed on roads persisted through the 1950s and 1960s, leading to the species being listed as endangered in June 1991. In response, conservationists and wildlife agencies rallied, implementing measures to preserve their habitats and regulate hunting practices. These efforts and heightened public awareness have been pivotal in the bobcat’s recovery.
Conti said the mountain ridges, natural fields, and forests of northwestern New Jersey are key areas for bobcats.
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Two attorneys specializing in representing nonprofit organizations recently shuttered their Philadelphia-based boutique to join Archer & Greiner PC and gain access to the firm’s wider reach and deeper resources.
Noel A. FlemingKayci D. Petenko
Noel A. Fleming and Kayci D. Petenko have been welcomed as partners in Archer & Greiner’s Philadelphia office, the firm announced Monday. Fleming and Petenko co-founded their own law firm in July 2019 and decided after more than four years to close the office and move across the street to Archer & Greiner.
“This was a robust opportunity to further our practice, especially into New Jersey,” Petenko told Law360 Pulse in an interview Wednesday. “We are also getting access to the firm’s resources and support, which is great for our clients.” Fleming and Petenko said all their clients supported the move to Archer & Greiner and joined them in the transition.
The two were already familiar with attorneys at the firm, including partner Frances McElhill in the Voorhees, New Jersey office, and both were comfortable with Archer & Greiner’s reputation. “We did our due diligence and spoke with other firms that had worked with Archer,” Fleming said. “Every person we talked to said the firm has a great culture and good, quality people to deal with. That was very attractive to us.”
Fleming and Petenko will continue their practices representing nonprofit, charitable, and tax-exempt organizations in all areas of their operations, from creation to dissolution.
“Noel and Kayci joining Archer presents an exciting opportunity for our firm and further strengthens our services already being provided to our nonprofit clients,” Chris Gibson, president of Archer & Greiner, said in a statement. “We are always looking for our strategic services and capabilities to match our clients’ needs. With their broad background across different practice areas and invaluable perspectives, they will significantly bolster our exceptional team of attorneys supporting, advocating for, and partnering with our nonprofit clients.
With his varied background, Fleming has developed a reputation in the nonprofit industry providing a full array of legal services to his clients, including in the areas of corporate law and governance, charitable trusts, federal, state and local tax matters, fiduciary duties, charitable fundraising, and related matters. He regularly acts as outside counsel to a variety of nonprofit organizations advising on a broad manner of issues impacting their operations.
Active in the nonprofit community, he is the Chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Charitable Organizations Committee. He has been a long-time course planner and presenter for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute’s Annual Nonprofit Institute and is an adjunct professor at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Noel received his law degree, M.B.A., and LL.M. in taxation from Temple University Beasley School of Law.
Petenko’s practice focuses on advising a variety of nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations, including private foundations, public charities, and donor-advised funds. She has significant experience representing clients in corporate, financial, and litigation matters. She also brings to her practice a deep knowledge of and experience advising clients on the nuances of tax law as it applies to nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations.
An active member of the nonprofit community, Petenko serves on the Tax Council for the Philadelphia Bar Association and the Charitable Organizations Committee Council for the Pennsylvania Bar Association. She is an adjunct professor at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. Kayci received her law degree and M.B.A. from Rutgers University and her LL.M. in taxation from Temple University Beasley School of Law.
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This image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard shows a reported fire aboard the 410-foot cargo vessel Genius Star XI, approximately 200 miles southwest of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, Dec. 29, 2023.
By The Associated Press. December 31, 2023, 2:08 PM
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — After lithium-ion batteries burned in a large cargo ship’s hold for a number of days, the U.S. Coast Guard said late Saturday that the fire was out and directed the ship to anchor near Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
The 19 crew members of the ship, Genius Star XI, were uninjured and technicians from the Salvage and Marine Firefighting team remained onboard to ensure the fire didn’t return, according to a Coast Guard press release.
Dangers associated with lithium-ion batteries They degrade as soon as they leave the factory and are extremely sensitive to high temperatures. They are extremely volatile and can spontaneously ignite and then explode when they overheat. The likelihood of them overheating, catching on fire, and even leading to explosions increases when they are damaged. Throwing these batteries in the trash or recycling bin can lead to major fires on garbage trucks, recycling trucks, recycling trucks, landfills, and recycling centers. Lithium-ion batteries contain a flammable electrolyte and lithium is highly reactive which poses dangers when handling it as a waste item.
“This protected anchorage … will allow the vessel to remain stable, minimizing the risk of any re-flash of the fire as we continue our response,” Capt. Chris Culpepper said in the press release, which said an investigation into the fire’s origins will begin once response efforts wrap up.
Genius Star XI was shipping lithium-ion batteries from Vietnam to San Diego. The crew alerted the Coast Guard early Thursday morning to the fire, after pumping carbon dioxide into hold No. 1 — where the blaze began — and sealing it, fearing an explosion.
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Sniffer Robotics’ drone was approved for surface emissions monitoring of landfills in December 2022 by the U.S. EPA. Retrieved from Sniffer Robotics on December 18, 2023
By Jabob Wallace, Waste Dive Editor
Hamm, the owner and operator of a landfill in Lawrence, Kansas, agreed to pay a $4,206 civil fine and use drones and light detection and ranging technology to monitor methane emissions and ensure the landfill’s cover integrity, the U.S. EPA’s Region 7 announced last week.
Inspectors determined that the landfill violated Clean Air Act regulations during a site visit in March 2022. Hamm allegedly exceeded methane emissions standards and failed to correct the emissions, per a release.
Hamm is expected to pay about $30,000 to implement the technologies. The operator proposed using Sniffer Robotics’ drones for its monitoring, according to EPA. It’s the first settlement involving the use of drones for surface emissions monitoring, an EPA spokespersonsaid via email.
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