Welcome to Clean Water on the Move, your monthly update from Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund in New Jersey. Thanks for your ongoing support for our work towards a healthy environment for all!
Anniversary of the NJ ISR Bill
One year ago, NJ’s Indirect Source Review (ISR) Bill (A4679/S3545) was introduced in the NJ Legislature by primary sponsors Senator McKeon and Assemblywoman Katz. It was also around this time that the NJ Warehouse Proximity Report was published by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). It emphasizes the need for regulations to be placed on one of the most essential and polluting industries in the Garden State- freight and goods movement.
Since its introduction, truck traffic and pollution has only increased, warehouse development expanded, air quality has worsened, and federal clean air protections and what states are permitted to regulate have been threatened by the current Administration.
The time to act is now! Passing the NJ ISR Bill A4679/S3545 would benefit everyone:
- Improve air quality and health especially for NJ’s overburdened communities
- Reduce chronic exposure to air pollutants for freight and goods movement workers
- Produce cost-savings (i.e. lower fuel costs) for trucking companies who commit to transitioning to zero-emission vehicles.
Take Action now by sending a message to your state legislature. You can send a message here.
ReThink Disposable during Plastic Free July
New Jersey’s ReThink Disposable partnerships have not only reduced costs for local organizations, but our case studies are being used to change policy. The “Skip the Stuff” campaign is moving well at the local and state levels. New Jersey now has 24 municipal ordinances and 10 legislative sponsors on what will be the strongest single-use cutlery and condiment ban in the country. As a result, Zero Waste Specialist Marta Young was asked to be the expert witness in Delaware for SB111, which moved out of committee.
Marta is working with the Essex County Environmental Center, leading lessons for campers and educating their staff on the many benefits to sustainability and reuse practices. We are converting their store from plastic toys to more sustainable, longer lasting and less toxic items.
Our nation-wide ReThink Disposable program is eager to produce case studies from our partnerships with Mammoth Cave, Petrified Forest and Jamaica Bay National Parks which will be reducing their disposable foodwares by nearly 100% as well as composting.
To learn more about our ReThink Disposable program on a national level, view our recent webinar.
Statehouse Happenings
In the final month before the NJ legislature took its budget break, Clean Water Action’s Environmental Advocate Molly Cleary was there in the thick of it to help play a part in moving bills that would be key revenue raisers for the future while also ensuring that some bills concerning PFAS (aka “Forever Chemicals”) advanced to the Senate after favorable Assembly floor votes.
One of the revenue raisers, Climate Superfund Act, (S3545/A4696) would ensure that the big oil and gas companies pay into a fund that New Jersey would tap into when climate related disasters occur. The State of New Jersey and its people should not have to carry the cost burden of rebuilding and creating climate resilient projects. While this bill did not pass during the budget voting session, we now have over 47 co-sponsors and over 40 town resolutions and in support is poised to pass this fall.
On the other hand, A5195 and A5260 did pass on the floor of the NJ Assembly. A5195 will take PFAS out of firefighter turnout gear, ensuring that those who put their lives on the line every day do not have one more health risk to worry about. A5260 takes PFAS out of clothing apparel. Both bring us one step closer to turning off the tap on these dangerous forever chemicals that wreak havoc on both our bodies and our environment. Stay tuned for updates and more bills like them are on the Senate Floor and on the Governor’s desk.
For more legislative updates and information, email Molly Cleary.
