NJ Assembly Judiciary hearing on ExxonMobil settlement

Here’s a video report from NJTV News’ David Cruz on the public hearing held on June 3 by the New Jersey Assembly Judiciary Committee in Bayonne regarding the state’s proposed $225 million pollution settlement with ExxonMobil.

At the hearing,  some residents and politicians testified that the deal goes too easy on the company that polluted Bayonne, Linden and Elizabeth.

What do you think? Let us know in the comment box below.

If you find this information important, consider sharing it.

Was this of value to you? Click here for free updates 
The social media icons below make it easy to share this.


Recent Blog Posts:
NJ enviros push ballot question to reject Exxon settlement

NJ Assembly Judiciary hearing on ExxonMobil settlement Read More »

NJ enviros push ballot question to reject Exxon settlement

Protesters
gather outside the N State House to protest a settlement with ExxonMobil (Sara
Jerde/NJ.com)

About 45 environmental activists on Thursday staged a Statehouse protest against the settlement between Gov. Chris Christie’s administration and ExxonMobil and in favor of a constitutional amendment that would dictate how money would be spent in similar environmental litigation settlements, Sara Jerde reports today for NJ.com

The measure (SCR163/ACR230), if approved, would put a motion on the ballot for voters to choose whether they would want dedicate all money from environmental damage settlements to “repair damage to, restore, or permanently protect the State’s natural resources.”

A bill with the same intention was vetoed by Christie following his administration’s $225 million settlement with ExxonMobil for polluting at two New Jersey refinery sites, the Bayonne and Bayway facilities. Lawmakers introduced the constitutional amendments to bypass the governor’s approval and put it on the ballot for the voters to decide.
“Monies from environmental litigation should go to the communities and environmental groups that have been affected,” said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “Stop stealing the people’s money and send it to where it belongs.”


NJ enviros push ballot question to reject Exxon settlement Read More »

The mammoth methane mystery in the U.S. Southwest

A team of scientists scrambles to better
understand a gigantic cloud of methane looming over the Four Corners region of
the U.S. Southwest. This single cloud is believed to comprise nearly 10 percent
of all methane emissions derived from natural gas in the United States. But its
origins remain a mystery.


That’s the teaser to the recent PBS NEWSHOUR program that poses the question: 

Why is there a huge methane hotspot in the American Southwest?

If you’re at all like us, you can’t possibly NOT check out this story. When you do, let us know what you think in the comment section below. Have friends also might enjoy it? You can use the social share icons below to pass it on.  

The mammoth methane mystery in the U.S. Southwest Read More »

PA Senate confirms John Quigley as DEP Secretary

NJDEP’s John Quigley- State Impact photo

We wondered if the fact that Republican members of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee on
Tuesday released
(without recommendation) Gov. Tom Wolf’s nomination of John Quigley to serve as Secretary
of the Environmental Protection Agency was as a sign of some level of
dissatisfaction with Mr. Quigley or with his boss, Mr. Wolf.

But the gesture didn’t amount to a hill of beans today as the full Senate voted
44-4 to approve Quigley’s nomination.
Quigley has served as acting DEP secretary since January. He
previously headed the state Department
of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) during the Rendell administration.

 

Was this of value to you? Click here for free updates 
The social media icons below make it easy to share this. 





Recent Blog Posts:
John Quigley’s nomination as PADEP Secretary advances

PA Senate confirms John Quigley as DEP Secretary Read More »

John Quigley’s nomination as PADEP Secretary advances

PADEP Acting Secretary John Quigley

Katelyn Ferral and David Conti reported yesterday in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that:

John Quigley is one step closer to becoming Pennsylvania’s leading oil and gas regulator.


The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to pass along Quigley’s nomination with no recommendation to the full Senate after about two hours of questioning that sometimes turned tense.


“We’re going to have to work together for maybe several years, but I do have questions about some of the things you said in the past,” said Chairman Gene Yaw, R-Williamsport. “I think the proof is in action.”

Quigley, a former adviser and consultant for environmental group PennFuture, was nominated by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf to lead the Department of Environmental Protection. He was Conservation and Natural Resources secretary from 2009 to 2011 under Gov. Ed Rendell.


Lawmakers questioned Quigley on specific policy proposals and questioned whether his appointment could be a conflict of interest. Wolf has tapped two other PennFuture alums for roles in his administration.


“There’s somewhat of a revolving door at PennFuture,” Yaw said.


Quigley said he did not see any conflict, noting that he left PennFuture’s employ 11 years ago and stopped working with it as a client of his consultancy business three years ago.
“When you work in the environmental field … there are limited amounts of employment opportunities in that field,” he said. “My relationship with that organization is in the past.”


Read the full story here

Quigley also responded to questions about his role at the the DEP following a legislative budget hearing on April 2. You can watch that PCN video interview here.  




   

Was this of value to you? Click here for free updates 
The social media icons below make it easy to share this. 



Recent Blog Posts:
Natural gas industry testifies against PA severance tax
A big federal land-planning effort to save a small bird
NJ energy, environment bills in committee-June 4, 2015
All 3 parts in NJ Spotlight/WHYY series on gas pipelines  
Is Christie’s Exxon enviro-settlement Paulsboro’s loss?   





John Quigley’s nomination as PADEP Secretary advances Read More »

Natural gas industry testifies against PA severance tax

Here’s a video segment of testimony presented earlier today in Harrisburg by natural gas industry representatives opposed to Governor Tom Wolfe’s proposed 5% gas severance
tax to fund education in the Commonwealth.

The speaker is Marcellus Shale Coalition President David Spigelmyer.

Later, we’ll have print coverage of the hearing which was streamed live
by the Pennsylvania Cable Network

   

Was this of value to you? Click here for free updates 
The social media icons below make it easy to share this. 






Recent Blog Posts:
A big federal land-planning effort to save a small bird
NJ energy, environment bills in committee-June 4, 2015
All 3 parts in NJ Spotlight/WHYY series on gas pipelines  
Is Christie’s Exxon enviro-settlement Paulsboro’s loss?   
Remember when EPA regs did not trigger Olympian rage?  


Natural gas industry testifies against PA severance tax Read More »