The following materials have been prepared to provide some facts on these important issues.
Re-Thinking Single Use Plastics
A powerful ban on single use plastics is being phased in in New Jersey. Learn more about the real costs of single-use plastics and why it's so important that we support alternatives to plastic carry-out bags, straws and polystyrene foam food containers. (Fact Sheet)
A summary of contamination sites along the Raritan River.
A Strategy For Opposing Fracking Damage
- Oppose pipelines and pumping stations particularly through sensitive areas
- Take action to overturn the veto on the NJ Fracking Waste Ban and NJ Fracking Ban
- Fracking Facts!
- Fracking's technical term is hydraulic fracturing, which injects millions of gallons of water mixed with toxic chemicals, into the ground horizontally breaking up the bed rock to obtain natural gas. Risks. There are many risks associated with fracking particularly dealing with water contamination of wells in surrounding areas of where drilling is being done.
- Opposition to A2586 Exempting Private Universities and Private Colleges from Land use Law
- Under the guise of creating "parity" between public and private universities in oversight of their development and expansion projects, this bill instead gives private universities and colleges a free pass to develop what and where they want, without regulation or review by the local community in which they are situated.
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Other resources for those going before municipal boards when requesting resolutions:
Jeff Tittel Opinion piece "Bill Exempting Private Colleges from Local Zoning Would Pave Over NJ" in The Princeton Patch on Oct 15, 2012.
Oct 17, 2012 Chapter Press Release "NJ Sierra Club Opposes Exempting Private Colleges from Land Use Laws."
- Volkswagen Settlement
- For nearly 500,000 model 2009–2016 motor vehicles, Volkswagen knowingly incorporated cheating computer systems that run emissions controls during testing but do not run during normal vehicle operation. In September 2015, the U.S. EPA filed a complaint against Volkswagen with other parties soon following suit. In order to settle the allegations of cheating emissions, Volkswagen agreed to spend up to $14.7 billion for remediation of NOx emissions. In order for New Jersey to be given this funding, our State Governor, must submit a certification that identifies a Lead Agency (“Beneficiary”), no later than 60 days after the Environmental Mitigation Trust Effective Date (“TED”). This is expected to take place in January 2017. Within 90 days afterwards, the Lead Agency will be responsible for seeking public comment and filing a plan to claim $65M for the State of New Jersey.
- These factsheets provide more information:
- VW Settlement Overview
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Electric Ports Fact Sheet
- Electric Trucks Fact Sheet
- Electric versus Diesel
- EV Charging
- Ways to Multiply the VW Settlement
- Zero Emission Bus Fact Sheet
- Clean & Green Energy
- New Jersey is currently second in the nation in solar installations with over 26,000 clean energy jobs. These great accomplishments could be in danger because of Governor Christie's new Energy Master Plan.
- Know Your H20
- Did you know that MOST of New Jersey's water bodies are TOO POLLUTED for people or aquatic life
Turns out that 77% of New Jersey's waterways do not meet all uses - drinking, swimming, and fishing - under the Clean Water Act!
- Stop the Tennessee Gas Pipeline (TGP)!
- The Tennessee Gas Pipeline (TGP) will result in the destruction of environmentally-sensitive lands, including water supply watersheds, wetlands, and even the Monksville reservoir. Several public lands across the Highlands region will be impacted as well: Long Pond Ironworks State Park, the Monksville Reservoir, Ringwood State Park and the Ramapo River Reservation.
- PFAS: What You Need to Know About Your Water
Communities around the United States are facing grave threats to their
drinking water and health due to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
(PFAS). Sierra Club is dedicated to supporting communities affected
by PFAS contamination and end the ongoing uses of PFAS chemicals in
fire fighting foam, fabrics, food packaging and other products. We must
hold chemical companies and the military responsible for cleaning up the
pollution they have created.Heat Pump Fact Sheet
Affordable technology now exists to help homeowners do their part to cut climate pollution. Heating and cooling systems, also known as heat pumps, provide energy efficient solutions to home heating needs that save you money on your energy bills.Offshore Wind Turbines Make Sense for Environment
Fossil-fuel industries’ wild claims about offshore wind development have been refuted by extensive environmental and technical analyses