NJ suing to get justice for polluted, low-income towns

Director of Multimedia

This property, 323 N. Olden Ave. in Trenton, is the site of historic illegal dumping and is the focus of a new lawsuit from the state attorney general. (Tim Larsen | Office of the AG)

Michael Sol Warren reports for NJ.com


State officials gathered in Camden on Thursday to announce new action aimed at getting justice for low-income and minority communities that have been plagued by dangerously polluted environments.


And, thanks to some restructuring in the state bureaucracy, more future action for environmental justice could be on the way.
Like this? Click to receive free updates
Speaking at the headquarters of the community nonprofit Camden Lutheran Housing, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Catherine McCabe detailed the filing of eight new lawsuits.
The lawsuits focus on situations where companies, ranging from small businesses to publicly traded corporations, have been found responsible for polluting sites years ago and taking no responsibility for the clean-ups. Communities from Newark and Camden to Flemington and Phillipsburg are encompassed in the new lawsuits.
“Environmental justice means that everyone, no matter race, ethnicity, color, national origin, or income, deserves to live and work in a healthy and clean environment,” Grewal said. “But too often, the same communities suffer the worst environmental problems over and over again but don’t get the support that they need.”
NJ files suit to force cleanup of Palmyra site
David Levinsky reports for the Burlington County Times:

Among the eight complaints filed by the office and the DEP, was one targeting the owners and operators of the Fillit Corp. property on Route 73 in Palmyra.
The 104-acre property is located along the Pennsauken Creek next to the Palmyra Cove Nature Center and the foot of the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge. It was formerly a municipal landfill before being converted to a sand and gravel business in the 1990s and then a leaf and yard waste recycling business, the Attorney General’s Office said.
In the lawsuit, the Attorney General’s Office alleges Fillit’s operations resulted in the destruction of wetlands along the creek, along with the importation of unauthorized solid waste. In 2012 the property was leased to Jersey Recycling Services, whose owners are accused of bringing in “thousands of tons” of illegal solid waste, including concrete, asphalt and contaminated soils.
The Attorney General’s Office said the DEP brought multiple enforcement actions against both Fillit and Jersey Recycling demanding that they clean up the site and pay penalties, but both companies failed to comply and in 2014 Jersey Recycling abandoned the property without completing remediation there.
The illegal dumping was described in a State Commission of Investigations report released in March 2017, which also revealed that Jersey Recycling was run by Bradley Sirkin, a convicted felon with ties to organized crime.
According to the SCI report, during Jersey Recycling’s 18 months of operations it accepted more than 380,000 cubic yards of material, much of it unauthorized construction debris such as crushed brick, concrete aggregate, asphalt and contaminated soil, which it then mixed with grass clippings, weeds and branches and sold as mulch and topsoil.
Sirkin, who resided in Boca Raton, Florida, last year, was among the defendants named in the environmental lawsuit. According to last year’s SCI report, he has ties through marriage to the Lucchese crime family, and he was convicted in 1992 for conspiracy, wire fraud and unlawful interstate transportation stemming from a so-called “bust out scheme” involving the resale of $500,000 worth of cosmetics.
Sirkin served two years in federal prison and later, when in a halfway house, became associated with former Philadelphia/South Jersey mob boss Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino, according to the SCI report, which described Sirkin as Merlino’s “constant companion” and frequently his driver.

NJ suing to get justice for polluted, low-income towns Read More »

NJ enviros blow horn on Trump’s planned seismic blasts

While New Jersey is not the immediate target, there’s concern that Trump approval of controversial process could open the door to offshore drilling in the region

Raven Santana reports for NJTV News:

Environmental advocates joined Congressman Frank Pallone on Asbury Park’s boardwalk to denounce President Donald Trump’s approval of five incidental harassment authorization permits, which allow companies to use seismic air guns to search for offshore oil and natural gas in the Atlantic.
“It’s like being stuck in an underwater fireworks display for days at end, with no end in sight, creating havoc in our coastal environment,” said NJ Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel.
It’s a process, they say, that can disturb, harm and potentially kill marine life.
“I don’t want to draw any conclusions, but it was very suspicious that the last time we had seismic testing off the coast of New Jersey was the Rutgers geological study that was done. And that was a fraction, a mere fraction, of the size of what we’re talking about. And within days of that happening, four whales were found dead in our region — within days of one another — and that was just directly after that seismic blasting,” said Cindy Zipf, executive director of Clean Ocean Action.
Zipf says while seismic testing will not take place directly off New Jersey, it will affect communities along the Jersey coast.
“In the impact zone, you’re going to have the most devastation. But further away, even, there will be harm; marine life won’t know what’s going on, mothers have been known to leave their calves because they’re in a frenzy, they don’t know what’s happening,” Zipf said. “Fish get completely confused, too. They hear this sound and they scatter because they don’t know if it’s a predator or not, so it disrupts the whole ecosystem for tens of thousands of miles away.”
The concern is that seismic testing opens a door for offshore drilling in the Atlantic and along New Jersey’s coast.
The effort to stop seismic testing and offshore drilling is a bipartisan one. U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) has signed on to a letter with 53 other members of Congress to deny a final permit for companies to conduct seismic testing in the Atlantic.

NJ enviros blow horn on Trump’s planned seismic blasts Read More »

How serious is New Jersey about transportation pollution?

Lawmakers consider bill that would clamp down on short-term pollutants like methane but could charge state DEP to restrict CO2 pollution, most of which stems from the transportation sector

Tom Johnson reports for NJ Spotlight:

Warning that it is time to get serious about climate change, lawmakers yesterday approved a bill to clamp down on pollutants contributing to global warming, possibly targeting the biggest culprit of all, carbon dioxide.
The legislation (S-3207), which cleared the Senate Environment and Energy Committee, aims to ensure the state is on target to reduce carbon pollution in New Jersey by 80 percent below 2006 levels by mid-century.
At this point, the bill proposes that the state Department of Environmental Protection adopt strategies to curb emissions from short-lived, but very potent, pollutants, such as methane. But Sen. Bob Smith, the chairman of the committee, appeared to endorse a recommendation from the New Jersey Sierra Club that the state also target carbon dioxide, the most pervasive greenhouse-gas pollutant.

Time to clean up CO2

Jeff Tittel, director of the club, argued the state has had the authority to regulate CO2 as an air contaminant since 2005, but never opted to do so. Recent studies, including the National Climate Assessment released by the Trump administration, warns climate change is happening and will have a devastating impact on the U.S. economy
“We are heading into a climate crisis,’’ Tittel told lawmakers. “What we worried and speculated about is already happening. It’s critical for states to move forward.’’
Smith echoed that sentiment with a not-so-subtle shot at the Christie administration’s failure to address climate change during the former governor’s eight years in office. “We went through the dark ages,’’ he said, “and nothing happened.’’
Although not amending the bill, he urged the DEP to take a look at whether CO2 should be regulated as a pollutant with permits and fees attached to emissions, just like other more conventional pollutants like nitrogen oxide, which causes ground-level ozone, or smog.
If the DEP chooses to follow that course, it could serve as a backstop for regulating emissions of the pollutant, particularly at a time when President Donald Trump is rolling back efforts by the previous administration to combat climate change.

How serious is New Jersey about transportation pollution? Read More »

Legislation would cut tax for some NJ metal manufacturers

A New Jersey Assembly committee today approved a bill to exempt material used to make industrial sand castings from state sales tax today. 

Nancy Munoz (R-NJ)

The legislation (A4060), sponsored by Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz, eliminates the tax on sand, binders, washes and other material used in the manufacturing process.

“Manufacturing is essential for a thriving economy and a robust job market,” said Munoz (R-Union). “This bill makes our state more affordable and more attractive to industry. The majority of states don’t charge this tax. If we’re going to compete, we need to pass this bill.”

Foundries pour molten metal into sand castings to manufacture tools, gears, engine parts and thousands of other products. Sand castings are used in the production of more than 60 percent of metal castings, and parts can be made of steel or nearly any alloy.

“Manufacturing jobs are coming back to this country at a record rate,” said Munoz. “New Jersey was once a thriving center of manufacturing, and we want to make sure we get our share of these high-paying career opportunities.”

The Senate unanimously passed a version (S515) of Munoz’ bill in June.


Like this? Click to receive free updates

Legislation would cut tax for some NJ metal manufacturers Read More »

Microgrids: How effective in combating storm outages?

power outage2
A New Jersey Assembly panel today passed legislation prompting a study of microgrids and electric generators to reduce the duration of power outages in the state.


The bill (A4499) is sponsored by Assemblyman Hal Wirths, who represents part of Sussex County that was hard-hit by extended blackouts after back-to-back snowstorms in March.

Wirths’ measure directs the Board of Public Utilities to conduct a six-month review of the effectiveness of microgrids in restoring power after a storm or natural disaster.

“Microgrid technology holds tremendous promise,” said Wirths (R-Sussex, Warren, Morris). “We had families who were without power for almost a week last winter. Tens of thousands of customers were kept in the dark while they waited for repairs to be completed. The study will consider whether there is a better way to deliver power and keep the lights on in a storm.”

The electric grid is an interconnected web of wiring that links homes, businesses, and schools to a power source. Damage to the grid, common during and after storms, can sever service to neighborhoods or entire towns.

Microgrids operate within the grid but can function independently in the case of a power failure, seamlessly providing homes with electricity from local generators.


The bill now goes to the Assembly floor for consideration.


Like this? Click to receive free updates

Microgrids: How effective in combating storm outages? Read More »

Gov’s soccer team drops Pinelands stadium plans after Sierra Club sounds alarm. Developer Alan Nau presses on

Developer Alan Nau wants to build a $120 million sports complex on 194 acres of land in Jackson Township near Prospertown Lake with or without the support of  Gov. Murphy’s soccer team.  (Photo: Doug Hood )

Michael L. Diamond reports for the Atlantic City Press:


A developer is pushing ahead with his plan to build a $120 million sports complex on nearly 200 acres in Jackson township, even though a potentially high-profile tenant withdrew support.

Alan Nau said he still wants to build a 6,000-seat soccer stadium that was to be home to Sky Blue FC, the professional women’s soccer team whose majority owner is Gov. Phil Murphy.

“It will have no impact at all,” Nau said of Sky Blue’s decision. “The stadium was being built anyhow for our championship games.”

Nau is scheduled to seek approval of the project, called Trophy Park, from the Jackson Planning Board on Monday night.


Developer Alan Nau wants to build a $120 million sports complex on 194 acres of land in Jackson Township.
He is waiting on approval from the township.
(Photo: Doug Hood )


The project on Route 537 would be adjacent to Six Flags Great Adventure. If approved, it would join Adventure Sports & Entertainment, another sports complex that broke ground in June, and give Jackson another venue that would attract tourists.


Nau, a Jackson resident, owns the construction company Alan Nau Consulting, providing maintenance and logistical services for the sports and entertainment industry.

Trophy Park is his latest project. In addition to the soccer stadium, it would include:

  • 16 baseball fields
  • A 400,000-square-foot indoor arena with a total of 18 NBA-size basketball courts on two floors
  • Two hotels with 98 rooms each, and
  • Housing for teams


He scrambled to replace investors who were scared off when environmentalists opposed a solar farm proposed by Six Flags Great Adventure. He went back to the drawing board after Jackson officials last year banned the construction of dormitories. And he lined up partnerships with youth sports organizations to help bring tournaments to the site.

He also reached out to Sky Blue, the Murphy-owned soccer team that has been under fire of late, not only for its record last year of 1-17-5, but also for shoddy conditions that reportedly left its players with low morale.

Once Upon a Metro, a website, reported that the team was playing its home games at Yurcak Field at Rutgers University in Piscataway, a 5,000-seat stadium that featured a cramped locker room with no air conditioning and no showers.

Nau said he never spoke to Murphy, but he reached out to Sky Blue officials after reading about the team’s conditions.

“It’s not like we’re going to build this place and expect them to come,” Nau said. “I’m booked. Every sport is there, and they are signed up to be there because they need this place.”

Like this? Click to receive free updates

If approved, Trophy Park would join another giant sports complex. Adventure Sports & Entertainment broke ground in June on a $21 million, 150-acre project near Interstate 195 and Monmouth Road. It is expected to open by 2020.

That project’s centerpiece is an 89-foot-high, 117,000-square-foot sports bubble. And its developer has said Hilton Garden Inn hotel plans to build a 134-room hotel.


Nau said he wasn’t concerned about the competition, noting that Adventure Sports includes attractions like laser tag and rock-climbing walls that could complement his business plan.

He said he had private investors lined up and was close to an agreement to purchase Trophy Park’s property from its current owner, Six Flags Great Adventure.

It seemed like Nau had Sky Blue’s blessing, too.

In an email Thursday morning, Sky Blue President Tony Novo said: “Though we support (the project), Sky Blue FC is not an owner of the Trophy Park project, nor do we have any formal agreement of any sort with the proposed application.”

“To the extent that there is a complex built by any developer that suits our facility needs, we would be interested, as we have been of Trophy Park and a number of other proposed developments. We are strongly committed to ensuring Sky Blue FC players and fans have access to first-class facilities befitting their needs.”

By then, though, the New Jersey Sierra Club flagged the project and announced its opposition. The group said it would abut Prospertown Lake and a state wildlife refuge.

“This is one of the most environmentally sensitive areas in New Jersey,” Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, said.

It posed a political problem for Murphy, who has lined up with environmental causes. By the end of the day on Thursday, Sky Blue had withdrawn its support.

Nau said he was prepared for opposition, but he found nothing in state or municipal regulations that would prevent him from building there.

“I have always been environmentally correct about everything,” Nau said. “We have gone through everything to make sure we have done everything the best possible way.”


Like this? Click to receive free updates

Gov’s soccer team drops Pinelands stadium plans after Sierra Club sounds alarm. Developer Alan Nau presses on Read More »