Recently, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (“NJEDA”) announced the launch of the new Brownfields Impact Fund, a new program offering loans and sub-grants to eligible applicants across New Jersey to promote remediation of contaminated sites.
After determining that a facility is subject to the Environmental Justice Law, N.J.S.A. 13:1D-157, et seq., a facility must comply with the provisions of the Environmental Justice Law before the Department of Environmental Protection ("DEP") will complete the review process for an application for a new permit for a facility; an application for the expansion of a facility; or a renewal application for a major source permit.
In 2020, Governor Murphy signed New Jersey’s landmark Environmental Justice Law, N.J.S.A. 13:1D-157, et seq., which requires the Department of Environmental Protection ("DEP") to consider whether certain facilities seeking specific types of permits will contribute to existing environmental and public health stressors in overburdened communities.
On November 16, 2021, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) announced a redesigned Community Energy Plan Grant Program, which significantly simplifies the application process and places a greater emphasis on equity and environmental justice.
On November 10, 2021, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order 274, which sets a new near-term target for the reduction of New Jersey’s greenhouse gas emissions to 50% below 2006 levels by the year 2030. Previously, pursuant to the Global Warming Response Act, N.J.S.A. 26:2C-37, New Jersey sought a statewide reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 2006 levels by the year 2050.
On October 20, 2021, Governor Murphy announced a proposal to inject the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Green Acres Program with over $100 million.
Under the Brownfield and Contaminated Site Remediation Act, N.J.S.A 58:10B-1 et seq. (the “Brownfield Act”), the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (“DEP”) is required to promulgate remediation standards applicable to the cleanup of contaminated sites.
Late last year, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) launched the “Guard Your Backyard” campaign, aimed at giving municipalities more control over the fill material imported into communities in an effort to reduce contamination.
The unauthorized use of “dirty dirt” as fill in sites across New Jersey has long been an issue facing municipalities. In October 2019, DEP launched the "Guard Your Backyard" initiative specifically aimed at curbing the dumping of tainted fill in New Jersey communities.
In a prior blog post we examined recent changes to New Jersey Site Remediation Reform Act ("SRRA") stemming from the passage of Assembly Bill A-5293. This new law, colloquially known as "SRRA 2.0," makes a few important changes to New Jersey's site remediation laws that may impact clients involved in purchase-and-sale or other property transfer transactions.