EnviroPolitics Blog

Safe to go back into the water? Check here for NJ beach closings

Each week during summer, recreational beach water quality monitoring is performed by the New Jersey Department of Health at some 195 ocean and 25 bay monitoring stations along the coast of New Jersey. Samples are analyzed for the presence of Enterococci, a type of bacteria found in animal and human waste that is an indicator of possible poor bathing water quality.

The New Jersey State Sanitary Code requires that the concentration of bacteria not exceed 104 colonies of Enterococci bacteria per 100 milliliters of sample. An exceedance of this concentration may be harmful to human health. When a sample exceeds the state standard, a swimming advisory is issued and additional sampling is conducted and continues each day until the sample result is below 104 Enterococci/100 mL. If two consecutive daily samples exceed the standard, the bathing beach closes until sample results are below the standard. In addition to bacteria monitoring, regional health or enforcement agencies may close beaches at any time at their discretion to protect public health and safety.

There are two categories of actions that take place when water quality exceeds the recreational standard; advisories and closings.

Advisories:

Any initial sample that exceeds the state standard requires that the local health agency issue a swimming advisory at the bathing beach where the sample was collected. Swimming Advisories warn the public of potentially unhealthy water conditions. Additional sampling is conducted until water quality results are again within the standard.

Beach Closings:

Beaches are closed if two consecutive samples collected at a bathing beach exceed the state standard. Beach closings remain in effect until subsequent sampling indicates bacteria levels are again below the standard. The closure applies to water activities like swimming, wading, and playing in the water. Other beach-related activities like sunbathing and walking on the beach are unaffected.

Health authorities may close beaches at any time for any reason as a precaution in order to protect public health. Precautionary beach closings can be caused by wash-ups of debris or trash or household medical products, breaks or spills to sewer lines that may discharge to a bathing beach, extraordinary weather events, or any other condition that may affect public health. If a health authority closes a beach due to a wash-up of debris, they may limit all access to the beaches, if needed, to protect public health.

Check this site for New Jersey beach advisories and closings

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Eversource takes first step to exit wind farm development

Wind turbines located off of Block Island in Rhode Island. Eversource Energy officials announced Thursday, May 25, 2023 that they are selling the company's 50 percent ownership stake in 175,000 acres ton which a wind farm can be developed that are located 25 miles off the southern coast of Massachusetts — Wind turbines located off of Block Island in Rhode Island. Eversource Energy officials announced Thursday, May 25, 2023 that they are selling the company’s 50 percent ownership stake in 175,000 acres ton which a wind farm can be developed that are located 25 miles off the southern coast of Massachusetts Don Emmert / AFP via Getty Images

By Luther Turmelle, Staff writer, Stamford Advocate

Eversource Energy took its first steps Thursday to getting out of the wind farm development business, selling its 50 percent ownership stake in a 175,000- acre site located 25 miles off the southern coast of Massachusetts.

The company sold its ownership stake for $625 million to its joint venture partner, the wind farm developer Orsted, Eversoujrce officials said. The Danish energy company currently owns the other 50 percent of the joint venture.

The deal between the two companies is expected to close by the end of the third quarter this year. Because Orsted is a Danish company, the lease sale will require the approval of the U.S. government’s Committee on Foreign Investment.

At the same time that Eversource is selling its ownership stake in the uncommitted wind farm site, the company has also signed a letter of intent with Orsted to buy tax credits that the Danish company has in the South Fork Wind project. The two companies are currently equal partners in that project, which is under construction 35 miles east of Montauk Point on Long Island and is scheduled to begin operating this fall, producing enough electricity to power 70,000 average homes.

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NJ Senate pushes ‘on’ button for electric vehicle battery recycling

From the New Jersey Senate Democrats

TRENTON – New Jersey would be a leader with the creation of a statewide program to provide for the recycling of electric vehicle batteries, under terms of legislation authored by Senator Bob Smith that was approved by the Senate today.

Senator Smith’s initiative, one of the most advanced in the country, has gained the support of the National Resources Defense Council, a leading international environmental organization.

The bill, S-3723, entitled the “Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Battery Management Act,” would require producers of electric vehicle batteries to develop policies and practices for the safe reuse, recycling, or disposal of the lithium-ion batteries used in electric and hybrid-electric cars and trucks in the state.

“The steady growth in the use of electric vehicles is good for the environment, public health, and the economy,” said Senator Smith, who chairs the Environment Committee. “We should take the next step by ensuring the safe and responsible management of the lithium batteries that are used to power these zero-emission vehicles. The best way to accomplish this is to create a ‘circular market’ that recycles or safely disposes of the batteries.”

Senator Smith’s bill would put the responsibility on the EV industry to create a framework that would facilitate a local market for recycled batteries and their ingredients.

“New Jersey is taking a step in the right direction by proposing the NJ Electric Vehicle Battery Management Act because it will lead to the increased reuse and recycling of the lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles. Several minerals within these batteries can be reused to avoid additional mining, but recycling policies are few and far between and it’s up to state officials to create new pathways for reuse,” said Eric Miller, Director of New Jersey Energy Policy at NRDC. “Without electric vehicles, we won’t be able to address air and climate pollution in New Jersey, but we also need to ensure that the batteries that allow these vehicles to run are not causing additional waste and pollution problems.”

A 2018 study found that only 50 percent of lithium batteries that reach the end of life are recycled.

Anyone seeking to discard an EV or EV battery would be able to bring it to a location designated by the producer, or to a recycling center authorized by the DEP, under the bill. The producers would be required to accept the batteries at no cost to the consumer.

The bill would prohibit anyone from disposing of the batteries in landfills.

“Strengthening the lithium-ion battery aftermarket will help advance the Biden Administration’s efforts to strengthen domestic production of EV components at the same time we promote a growing market in New Jersey,” Senator Smith said. “We can take advantage of the opportunities created by the national EV policies by fostering a vibrant marketplace for electric vehicles and the products that support them.”

The legislation would take effect one year after enactment, giving the industry the opportunity to put in place the business practices and the Department of Environmental Protection the time to adopt rules and regulations for the program.

The measure was approved with a Senate vote of 34-0.

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Newest plan for NJ’s most contentious park draws positive reaction

By DAVID CRUZ, SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, NJ Spotlight

A long-awaited plan for a facelift of Liberty State Park was unveiled by Shawn LaTourette, commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection. In three phases, the facelift will begin this fall with the cleanup of the park’s 230-acre-plus contaminated interior, which will be turned into an urban park with wetlands and tree canopy.

During an open house on Wednesday night, LaTourette said there would be no commercialization or privatization in the park’s future. “It’s a crown gem of our state park system, but if we’re honest it’s a rough cut gem, one that we will fashion together and shine together to better serve the needs of all of our families,” LaTourette said.

“I think it’s awesome that they’re going to clean up the park finally. I mean it’s been like 60 years we’ve been living around this contamination so I think that’s a plus for the area and the environment. I also think that adding active recreation is a plus as well,” said Hudson County Commissioner Jerry Walker.

See the video report here

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Chemical company fined $2.4M for multiple environmental violations at West Elizabeth Pa. facility

From the USEPA

PHILADELPHIA (May 25, 2023) – Eastman Chemical Resins Inc. will pay a $2.4 million penalty for environmental violations at the sprawling 56-acre manufacturing facility in West Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, that is now owned and operated by Synthomer Jefferson Hills, LLC, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.

“Compliance with our nation’s laws that protect the environment and the health of our communities is an obligation a company can’t take lightly,” said EPA Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “The actions required by this settlement will help ensure that the facility operates in a manner that is protective of environmental resources and the health of nearby communities.”

Along with the financial penalty being paid by Eastman, Synthomer has agreed to take actions to eliminate ongoing violations and prevent future violations. This includes conducting a comprehensive review of stormwater discharges and groundwater contamination and implementing initiatives to ensure compliance with environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and parallel Pennsylvania laws.

Violations include:

Chronic Clean Water Act violations include exceeding allowable limits for zinc, xylene, and other pollutants that are discharged to the Monongahela River.
Unpermitted discharges of oil and other pollutants.
Failure to comply with operation and maintenance obligations of its Clean Water Act permit.
Violations of the facility’s Clean Air Act risk management program.
Numerous hazardous waste management violations.

The penalty will be divided equally between the United States and Pennsylvania, who are co-plaintiffs in this consent decree. Pennsylvania DEP assisted EPA in the investigation and litigation. The settlement addresses alleged federal and state environmental law violations that have occurred since 2017, which threaten to degrade receiving streams and impact public health and harm aquatic life and the environment.

The chemical-producing facility is bordered on the southeast by the Monongahela River and bisected by an unnamed tributary to that river. The proposed consent decree, filed in the federal district court in Pittsburgh, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court.

A copy of the consent decree with more specifics about the violations is available online at https://www.justice.gov/enrd/consent-decrees.

For further information: r3press@epa.gov

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Energy and environment bills up for votes in NJ Senate on Monday

The energy and environment bills below are scheduled for floor votes Monday, 5/22/23 in the New Jersey Senate

S3723 – “Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Battery Management Act.”

SJR73 – Designates the first full week of June each year as “New Jersey Fishing and Boating Week.”

A2271 – Designates cranberry juice as State juice.

A4089 – Extends deadlines, under certain circumstances, for completion and commercial operation of certain solar electric power generation facilities.

S2732 – Extends deadlines, under certain circumstances, for completion and commercial operation of certain solar electric power generation facilities.

A4866 – Establishes Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program in, and authorizes the issuance of bonds by, NJ Infrastructure Bank to fund certain hazard mitigation and resilience projects; makes various changes to NJ Infrastructure Bank’s enabling act.

S3337 – Establishes Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program in, and authorizes the issuance of bonds by, NJ Infrastructure Bank to fund certain hazard mitigation and resilience projects; makes various changes to NJ Infrastructure Bank’s enabling act

[NOTE: Enter bill numbers here to see full versions]

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