Final enviro bill list for Monday’s voting sessions in the NJ Assembly and Senate

New Jersey Assembly Chamber viewed from its gallery

By Frank Brill, EnviroPolitics Editor

Additions were still coming in at 6 p.m. Friday but you now can be relatively sure that the lists below contain all the environmental bills likely to be considered during Monday’s (12/16) voting sessions in both houses.

ASSEMBLY VOTING SESSION – 1 PM

A1212 – Clarifies intent of P.L.2007, c.340 regarding NJ’s required participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

A3726 – Requires large food waste generators to separate and recycle food waste and amends the definition of “Class I renewable energy.”

A4382 – Requires paint producers to implement or participate in paint stewardship program.

A5518 – Establishes the “Alternative Fuel Vehicle Transportation Financing Commission” to examine the manner in which alternative fuel vehicles may be taxed to contribute to the cost of maintaining the State transportation system.

A5552 – Concerns provision of energy to certain manufacturing facilities by providing exemptions to certain energy-related taxes.

A5854 – Allows municipalities to adopt an ordinance to enter properties to perform lead service line replacements.

A5971 – Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend additional sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2020.

A6014 – Establishes NJ Climate Change Resource Center at Rutgers University, appropriates up to $500,000.

ACR250 – Urges NJ Sports and Exposition Authority and DEP to take immediate action to close and cap Keegan Landfill.

S1683 – Concerns regulation of solid waste, hazardous waste, and soil and fill recycling industries.

A4267 – Concerns regulation of solid waste, hazardous waste, and soil and fill recycling industries.

S3215 – Requires State to use a 20-year time horizon and most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Assessment Report when calculating global warming potential to measure global warming impact of greenhouse gases.

SENATE VOTING SESSION – 1 PM

S3457 – Appropriates $450,000 for Hooked on Fishing-Not on Drugs Program.

S3920 – Concerns provision of energy to certain manufacturing facilities by providing exemptions to certain energy-related taxes.

S3985 – Expands the definition of “qualified offshore wind project” to include “open access offshore wind transmission facility.”

S4162 – Establishes NJ Climate Change Resource Center at Rutgers University, appropriates up to $500,000.

SCR180 – Urges NJ Sports and Exposition Authority and DEP to take immediate action to close and cap Keegan Landfill.

A1212 – Clarifies intent of P.L.2007, c.340 regarding NJ’s required participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

S611 – Clarifies intent of P.L.2007, c.340 regarding NJ’s required participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

S874 – Requires State’s full participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

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This town’s drinking water shows PFAS contamination among highest in PA

(Photo via Unsplash)

Oliver Morrison reports for Public Source

State test results show that Coraopolis has some of the highest levels of PFAS contamination in its drinking water, though it doesn’t exceed the federal advisory level.

Drinking water from the Coraopolis Water and Sewer Authority showed PFAS contamination among the highest levels found in the state, though still below the federal health advisory level, according to test results released Thursday by the Department of Environmental Protection [DEP].

Editor’s note: Coraopolis is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,677 at the 2010 census. In 1940 the population peaked at 11,086. It is a small community located to the west of Pittsburgh, along the Ohio River and to the east of the Pittsburgh International Airport. Wikipedia

The tests looked for six kinds of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which are chemicals added to a variety of household products such as Teflon pans, waterproof clothing and firefighting foam. 

At 12.9 parts per trillion [ppt], Coraopolis had the sixth-highest total of the two most well-studied PFAS chemicals detected in its water, PFOS and PFOA. 

The state’s first round of testing water systems for the presence of PFAS included 95 other entities besides Coraopolis. About two-thirds of the 96 sites tested did not show any contamination. Thirty-five of the 96 water samples tested in Pennsylvania showed some level of PFAS, with the lowest positive result showing 1.8 ppt at Materion Brush Inc. in Berks County and the highest showing 114 ppt at State of the Art in Centre County. These totals reflect levels of PFOS and PFOA. 

Three other sites tested in Southwestern Pennsylvania did not show any levels of PFAS contamination. Those sites were the Oakmont and Hampton Shaler water authorities in Allegheny County and Rosebud Barrett Mine in Indiana County.

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NJ League of Municipalities exec retiring

Michael Darcy

David Wildstein reports for New Jersey Globe

Michael Darcy, the executive director of the New Jersey League of Municipalities, has announced that he will retire in July.

Darcy has been with the organization, which advocates on behalf of local governments, since 1990.  New Jersey has had ten governors during his tenure.

Hardwick Mayor James Perry, Sr. will head a transition committee that includes current NJLM vice presidents and past presidents.

“On behalf of the Board, we thank Michael Darcy for his three decades of service,” Perry said. “His leadership has seen the services offered to the League membership expand and the League’s annual conference continue as the largest municipal conference in the country.”

Darcy became executive director in 2015 following the retirement Bill Dressel.  Dressel, who joined the NJLM in 1974 was named to the post after Jack Trafford stepped down after nearly 38 years of service.

Considering the organization’s long tradition of promoting from within, the front runner for the executive director post could be the current assistant executive director, Mike Cerra.  Cerra has been with the NJLM since 1996.

“My decades with the League have provided unexpected learning opportunities and a constant variety of experiences,” said Darcy. “The work of local government and the League never ends but rather it transitions along with society and the evolving needs of municipalities and their residents.  I look forward to assisting with the next transition.”

According to the NJLM website, Darcy had held positions in “ every program, service, and management area of the League, including Advertising Manager of New Jersey Municipalities magazine; Program Specialist in charge of producing seminars; Exhibit Manager for the Annual League Conference, which is the largest municipal conference in the United

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More environmental bills set for votes in NJ Legislature

New Jersey Assembly Chamber

By Frank Brill, EnviroPolitics Editor

Yesterday we reported on environment bills scheduled for action in the NJ Assembly. Below is a combination of bills appearing on upcoming committee agendas and board lists in both the NJ Assembly and Senate. Again, we caution that bill additions and deletion are subject to frequent change during the sometimes tumultuous lame-duck session.

A1212 AcaSa (2R) McKeon (D27); Gusciora (D15)
Clarifies intent of P.L.2007, c.340 regarding NJ’s required participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
12/16/2019—Assembly, 11:00a Caucus; 1:00p Voting Session.
12/16/2019—Senate, 11:00a Party Conferences; 12:00p Party Caucus; 1:00p Voting Session.

A4267 Aca (1R) McKeon (D27); Space (R24); Wirths (R24) Concerns regulation of solid waste, hazardous waste, and soil and fill recycling industries.
12/12/2019—Assembly Appropriations Committee, 11:00a, 4th Floor, Committee Room 11, Annex. 12/16/2019—Assembly, 1:00p Voting Session.

A4382 Aca (1R) Pinkin (D18); Lopez (D19); Kennedy (D22)
Requires paint producers to implement or participate in a paint industry-sponsored stewardship program.
12/16/2019—Assembly, 1:00p Voting Session.

A5518 Aca (1R) Benson (D14); Karabinchak (D18); Pinkin (D18) +1 Establishes “Alternative Fuel Vehicle Transportation Financing Commission” to examine the manner in which alternative fuel vehicles may be taxed to contribute to cost of maintaining the State transportation system.
12/12/2019—Assembly Appropriations Committee, 11:00a, 4th Floor, Committee Room 11, Annex. 12/16/2019—Assembly, 1:00 pm Voting Session

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A5854 Aca (1R) Pintor Marin (D29); Speight (D29); Schaer (D36) +5 Allows municipalities to adopt ordinances to enter properties to perform lead service line replacements.
12/12/2019—Assembly Appropriations Committee, 11:00a, 4th Floor, Committee Room 11, Annex. 12/16/2019—Assembly, 1:00p Voting Session

A5971 Mukherji (D33); Pintor Marin (D29); Spearman (D5) +21 Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend additional sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2020.
12/12/2019—Assembly Appropriations Committee, 11:00a, 4th Floor, Committee Room 11, Annex. 12/16/2019—Assembly, 1:00p Voting Session.

A6014 Aca (1R) Vainieri Huttle (D37); Pinkin (D18) Establishes NJ Climate Change Resource Center at Rutgers University, appropriates up to $500,000. 12/12/2019—Assembly Appropriations Committee, 11:00a, 4th Floor, Committee Room 11, Annex. 12/16/2019—Assembly, 1:00p Voting Session.

S611 ScsSa (SCS/1R) Sweeney (D3); Smith (D17); Bateman (R16); Greenstein (D14) Clarifies intent of P.L.2007, c.340 regarding NJ’s required participation in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
12/16/2019—Senate, 1:00p Voting Session.

S874 Sweeney (D3); Smith (D17) +3 Requires State’s full participation in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
12/16/2019—Senate, 11:00p Voting Session.

S1683 ScaSaAca (3R) Smith (D17); Greenstein (D14) +2
Concerns regulation of solid waste, hazardous waste, and soil and fill recycling industries.
12/12/2019—Assembly Appropriations Committee, 1:00a, 4th Floor, Committee Room 11, Annex.
12/16/2019—Assembly, 1:00p Voting Session.

S3215 Sca (1R) Greenstein (D14); Singleton (D7) +1
Requires State to use a 20‐year time horizon and most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Assessment Report when calculating global warming potential to measure global warming impact of greenhouse gases.
12/16/2019—Assembly, 1:00p Voting Session.

S3457 Sweeney (D3); Andrzejczak (D1) +5 Appropriates $450,000 for Hooked on Fishing‐Not on Drugs Program.
12/16/2019—Senate, 1:00 p Voting Session.

S3985 Smith (D17) Expands the definition of “qualified offshore wind project” to include “open access offshore wind transmission facility.”
12/16/2019—Senate, 11:00a 1:00p Voting Session.

S4162 Sca (1R) Smith (D17) Establishes NJ Climate Change Resource Center at Rutgers University, appropriates up to $500,000.
12/16/2019—Senate, 1:00p Voting Session.

SCR180 Sca (1R) Sacco (D32); Stack (D33) +2 Urges NJ Sports and Exposition Authority and DEP to take immediate action to close and cap Keegan Landfill. 12/16/2019—Senate, 100p Voting Session.

Related news stories:
Gov. Murphy says capping Keegan Landfill in the Meadowlands ‘is complicated’
‘Dirty dirt’ soil broker licensing advances in NJ
Eight states now have used-paint recycling laws. NJ governor urged to join them.
Pennsylvania looking to join other RGGI states

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Upcoming environmental bill votes in the New Jersey Legislature

By Frank Brill, EnviroPolitics Editor

Currently scheduled environment bills. Subject to frequent change in this fast-moving lame-duck session.

Bill: A4267 Aca (1R) McKeon (D27); Space (R24); Wirths (R24) +1 Concerns regulation of solid waste, hazardous waste, and soil and fill recycling industries. (‘Dirty Dirt’ Bill)
Related:       2018:S1683; 2016:A1352; 2016:S2306; 2014:A1581; 2012:A2580; 2012:S1351
History:        12/09/2019—Reported out of committee with committee amendments, referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Scheduled:  12/12/2019—Assembly Appropriations Committee, 11:00a, 4th Floor, Committee Room 11, Annex. (Revised 12/10/2019)
12/16/2019—Assembly, 1:00 pm Voting Session.
____________________________________________________________

Bill:  A4382 Aca (1R) Pinkin (D18); Lopez (D19); Kennedy (D22) +3 Requires paint producers to implement or participate in paint stewardship program.
Related:  2018:S2815; 2016:A1373; 2016:S986; 2014:A1603; 2014:S1420; 2012:A4470; 2012:S2958 History:   11/14/2019—Reported out of committee, 2nd reading in Assembly.
Scheduled:  12/16/2019—Assembly, 1 pm Voting Session.
_____________________________________________________________

Bill:  A6014 Aca (1R) Vainieri Huttle (D37); Pinkin (D18) Establishes NJ Climate Change Resource Center at Rutgers University, appropriates up to $500,000. Related:   S4162
History:  12/09/2019—Reported out of committee with committee amendments, referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Scheduled:  12/12/2019—Assembly Appropriations Committee, 11:00a, 4th Floor, Committee Room 11, Annex. (Revised 12/10/2019)
12/16/2019—Assembly, 11:00a Caucus; 1:00p Voting Session.
___________________________________________________________

Bill:  A5971 Mukherji (D33); Pintor Marin (D29); Spearman (D5) +21 Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend additional sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2020.
Related:       2018:S4202
History:        12/09/2019—Reported out of committee, referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Scheduled:  12/12/2019—Assembly Appropriations Committee, 11:00a, 4th Floor, Committee Room 11, Annex. (Revised 12/10/2019)
12/16/2019—Assembly, 11:00a Caucus; 1:00p Voting Session.
|__________________________________________________________

Bill:  5854 Aca (1R) Pintor Marin (D29); Speight (D29); Schaer (D36) +5 Allows municipalities to adopt ordinances to enter properties to perform lead service line replacements.
Related:       2018:S4110
History:      12/09/2019—Reported out of committee with committee amendments, 2nd reading in Assembly.
Scheduled:  12/12/2019—Assembly Appropriations Committee, 11:00a, 4th Floor, Committee Room 11, Annex. (Revised 12/10/2019)
12/16/2019—Assembly, 1:00 pm Voting Session.
___________________________________________________________

Bill: A5518 Aca (1R) Benson (D14); Karabinchak (D18); Pinkin (D18) +1 Establishes “Alternative Fuel Vehicle Transportation Financing Commission” to examine manner in which alternative fuel vehicles may be taxed to contribute to the cost of maintaining State transportation system.
Related:       2018:S4090
History:       12/09/2019—Reported out of committee with committee amendments, 2nd reading in Assembly.
Scheduled:  12/12/2019—Assembly Appropriations Committee, 11:00a, 4th Floor, Committee Room 11, Annex. (Revised 12/10/2019)
12/16/2019—Assembly, 1:00p Voting Session.
____________________________________________________________

Bill:  S1683 ScaSaAca (3R) Smith (D17); Greenstein (D14) +2 Concerns regulation of solid waste, hazardous waste, and soil and fill recycling industries.
Related:       2018:A4267; 2016:A1352; 2016:S2306; 2014:A1581; 2012:A2580; 2012:S1351
History:     12/09/2019—Reported out of committee with committee amendments, referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee.
Scheduled:  12/12/2019—Assembly Appropriations Committee, 11:00 am 4th Floor, Committee Room 11, Annex. (Revised 12/10/2019)
12/16/2019—Assembly, 1:00 pm Voting Session.

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Plastic bag ban hits a snag in New Jersey

Sponsors may be forced to walk back a provision in their single-use, bag-ban bills dealing with the provision of free reusable bags.

By Frank Brill, EnviroPolitics Editor

Legislation to ban single-use plastic and paper bags seemed to be racing toward passage in New Jersey but amendments added last week in the Senate Budget Committee blindsided the supermarket industry and caused a ruckus. So much so that the legislation was pulled yesterday from the agenda of the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee.

What went wrong?

The latest version would require large grocery stores to provide their customers with free, reusable bags for up to two months after the bill takes place.

The New Jersey Food Council was surprised by the change and argued that it would cost a single chain with 30 stores in the state $1.8 million over the two months.

Food Council Executive Director Linda Doherty said that would constitute an unconstitutional ‘taking,’ something that the bill’s Assembly sponsor, John McKeon, seemed to concede when asked about the provision yesterday in the Assembly committee.

Doherty suggested that, rather than providing a free, reusable bag to customers every time they visit a store for two months, grocers would be willing to work with organizations like Clean Communities to provide a limited distribution of free, reusable bags at community events.

Although the current legislative session ends in mid-January, we think it’s still a safe bet that a bag ban will end up on the governor’s desk before then. There are too many parties all agreeing that the legislation is necessary to prevent an ultimate compromise.

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