Wednesday, January 18, 2012

WITH DEADLINE LOOMING, BUONO PUSHES RESOLUTION TO PREVENT GUTTING OF ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 18, 2012
Contact: Christina Zuk (732) 205-1372

Senator Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) has reintroduced her resolution (SCR59) which would prevent the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from gutting more than 100 environmental regulations with its proposed “Waiver of Departmental Rules.” Buono’s resolution would declare the waiver inconsistent with legislative intent and would mark a critical first step in preventing it from being adopted.

“This dangerous waiver essentially provides the DEP Commissioner, a political appointee, with carte blanche authority to exempt certain companies from adhering to New Jersey’s environmental safeguards,” said Buono. “It is an irresponsible policy shrouded in vagueness, and it is dangerous to the health and safety of New Jersey families.”

The deadline for the waiver’s adoption is March of this year. Buono has been vocal in her opposition to the waiver and has garnered the support of nearly 12,000 New Jerseyans who signed a petition supporting her resolution.

“This is an issue that matters to the people of New Jersey,” said Buono. “Our children, families, and workers deserve to live in an environment where their land, air, and water are protected, not subject to the whim of the Commissioner. We cannot simply sit idle while this detrimental policy is adopted. We must act, and we must act now.”

Buono sponsored an identical resolution in the previous legislative session and will continue to advocate for its passage in the new legislative session.

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