BPU PJM Study Bill Passes Senate Today
October 29, 2020
Today, the Senate passed S2804 (Smith). The bill requires BPU to conduct certain analyses and a comparison study of electric transmission grid operating in New Jersey. The bill was passed with a vote of 34-0.
NJ Transit in Danger of Missing Key Deadline on Positive Control System
October 26, 2020
NJ Transit currently has only tested 66% of its track miles for Positive Train Control (PTC), a federally mandated safety system. The deadline for NJ Transit to have PTC approved and running is December 31, 2020. Eight of NJ Transit’s 12 rail lines...
EPA Gives Newark Schools $7.5M for Lead - Long Overdue
October 23, 2020
Today, the US Environmental Protection Agency awarded the Newark Board of Education $7.5 million in federal funds to combat lead in Newark schools. The grant will help fund the Newark Safe Water Initiative, which helps reduce sources of lead in...
Trump’s Bedminster Golf Course Water Hearing Delayed, Again
October 22, 2020
For the second time, the New Jersey Water Supply Authority canceled their October 26th hearing on the renewal water permit for Trump’s National Golf Course in Bedminster, New Jersey. The private golf club is located in the middle of the Highlands...
SJ/Solvay is Suing to Try to Avoid PFAS Clean-Up Costs
October 22, 2020
Solvay Specialty Polymers has filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of Gloucester County accusing nearby Paulsboro Refining Company of being the source of water pollution in the area. Solvay has paid $3.5 million over a decade to clean up...
Ciba-Geigy Pollution Still a Threat - Half Done, Long Way to Go
October 22, 2020
The underground pollution plume from the Ciba-Geigy Superfund Site has been cut in half after 24 years of pumping and treating polluted groundwater. Over 10 billion gallons of polluted groundwater have been treated to remove contaminants and then...
Solvay in SJ Using New Harmful Chemicals - DEP Needs to Act
October 20, 2020
Solvay Specialty Polymers is using unnamed “process aids” as a replacement for PFNA at its plant in West Deptford, NJ. Solvay refuses to name the chemicals being used and has released no information on the potential health impacts. They have...
Plastic Recycling Bill Substitute - Good Step Forward
October 19, 2020
Today, Senator Smith announced a new substitute bill for S2515 (Smith). According to Senator Smith, the substitute bill will be much closer to the California model than the original bill. The new bill will establish a 25% recycled content...
Highlands Council Lake Grants Good Step - NJ Needs Real HABs Clean-Up Plan
October 16, 2020
The Highlands Council has approved up to $515,300 in funding for six projects that will address stormwater, wastewater and lake management. The projects are in Passaic, Morris, and Sussex Counties and include stormwater mapping, wastewater research...
DEP HABS Solution = More Noise Instead of Real Clean-Up Plan
October 13, 2020
A state grant-funded program to address harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Echo Lake is seeing positive results. The program, which was awarded $475,000, is described as a 36-month project to prevent HABs in reservoirs serving the Pequannock Water...