For Immediate Release
January 20, 2011 Contact Jeff Tittel, 609-558-9100
Bill Sides with Big Oil Over New Jersey's Lungs Bill released in 4-1 vote from Regulatory Oversight Committee
Today the Regulatory Oversight Committee released ACE132 (Burzichelli) to overturn the New Jersey State Implementation Plan under the Clean Air Act regarding volatile organic compounds, ozone and reducing toxic air emissions. The existing rule would reduce air emissions by more than 130 tons through reasonably available technology. Volatile organic compounds and ozone are major sources of air pollution in the State of New Jersey and directly affect public health and safety. It has been shown that there are links between VOCs and asthma in children. Other health risks include liver and kidney problems, and nervous system damage. These dangerous emissions are also possible carcinogens.
"Today the Legislature took the side of big oil over the lungs of the people of New Jersey," said Jeff Tittel, Director of the NJ Sierra Club. "This legislation is a giveaway to big oil. All it does is enriches the profits of big oil over the public health and safety of our citizens."
The committee has the authority to determine if the existing rule is consistent with the intent of the Legislature in establishing the New Jersey State Implementation Plan, however the committee released the bill without accepting testimony to demonstrate the existing rule did not overstep any New Jersey laws.
"The existing rule is consistent with the New Jersey Clean Air Act and the Air Pollution Control Act," said Jeff Tittel. "The Legislature overstepped its bounds on behalf of big oil."
This rule is part of an overall plan to reduce air emissions in the State of New Jersey that has been accepted by the EPA. The plan uses reasonable available technology that would require floating roofs on petro chemical tanks. If these reductions are taken out of the plan than those reductions have to be made up somewhere else. If New Jersey does not make up these reductions New Jersey is out of attainment for ground level ozone and could lose federal money for transportation as well as for DEP programs. The federal EPA Clean Air Act states New Jersey is out of compliance and needs to go beyond federal programs. New Jersey has some of the worst air quality in the country and has on numerous occasions gone beyond federal programs, most recently with the amount of sulfur in fuel oil rule.
"The federal government signed off on this pollution reduction plan and New Jersey will potentially lose critical transportation funding and suffer continued high levels of pollution if the plan is not implemented," said Jeff Tittel.
A study in Green Technology magazine found that facilities in California using floating roofs, a program proposed to be cut under this legislation, actually saved gas companies money. Implementing the floating roofs system prevented gas from evaporating in storage tanks. Use of this technology is beneficial for both the environment and the companies' bottom line.
Gasoline tank facilities are located within communities in New Jersey with the worst air quality in the nation. These neighborhoods are disadvantaged, minority, and already overburdened with a disproportionate share of pollution. Some facilities are currently located next to schools and playgrounds, with devastating impacts to children's health. There is a school next to the Valero refinery in Paulsboro and a school within walking distance of the Bayway refinery in Linden. The EPA put out their toxic release inventory in 2009 with the Bayway refinery ranking number 2 and Valero refinery ranking number four. The Bayway refinery releases more than 2.1 million pounds of toxic chemicals and pollution and the Valero refinery releases 481,000 pounds. They are two of the top four biggest polluters in the state. The localized impacts from the refineries have direct impacts on children's health and the community. This legislation violates Environmental Justice principles and puts children at risk.
The only purpose of pulling down this plan and taking away these reductions in air pollution is a giveaway to big oil.
"This bill undermines the public health and safety of New Jersey residents, will cause an increase in air pollution, and will make oil companies richer. At a time when gasoline prices and oil company profits are rising this bill is all about taking care of big oil," said Jeff Tittel.
Kate Millsaps, Program Assistant NJ Sierra Club 145 W. Hanover Street Trenton, NJ 08618 609.656.7612 (f) 609.656.7618 <http://www.newjersey.sierraclub.org/> www.newjersey.sierraclub.org
- Download full text: 0120_ACR132_Statement.doc