Pallone’s Opening Remarks at EPA Administrator Pruitt Hearing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2018


Washington, D.C. – Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) delivered the following opening remarks today at a Subcommittee on Environment hearing on “The Fiscal Year 2019 Environmental Protection Agency Budget:”

Administrator Pruitt has brought secrecy, conflicts of interest and scandal to the EPA. In any other administration, Republican or Democrat, you would be long gone by now.

So far, 140 House Democrats have signed onto a resolution introduced by Ms. Castor expressing “no confidence” in you, Mr. Pruitt. Additionally, four Republican House Members have also called on you to step down.

And the voices are growing. Just look at the critiques from former Bush EPA Administrator and New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman, who called Administrator Pruitt’s tenure a, “slap in the face to fiscal responsibility and responsible governance” and said, “evidence is abundant of the dangerous political turn of an agency that is supposed to be guided by science.” Another former Republican EPA Administrator, William Reilly, called Administrator Pruitt a, “third rate ideologue.”

Past administrators of both parties believed in the EPA’s mission and understood that they had been given a sacred trust by the people of our country.

Unfortunately, this is not the case, Mr. Pruitt, clearly you do not believe in EPA’s mission, and appear to have forgotten that you are here to serve all the American people, not merely a select few, or just yourself. The fact is Administrator Pruitt has used this office as nothing more than an opportunity to enrich himself and his corporate friends, and President Trump seems to be perfectly fine with all of his actions. So much for draining the swamp.

When we met in December, you pledged to be more transparent. You promised to do a better job providing technical assistance, sending witnesses to hearings, and responding to Congressional requests. You have followed through on none of those promises.

What you have done is generate scandal after scandal. When confronted about them, you have repeatedly failed to take responsibility for your actions. Instead, you have blamed your staff, your security detail, your critics – pretty much anyone but yourself. You are accountable for your agency and all of these scandals. The buck stops at your desk.

There are so many outstanding questions that we need truthful answers to today, because so far, we’ve only gotten half-truths, misleading answers, or outright falsehoods. For instance, you rented a condo at well below market value, and then emphatically claimed on Fox News that your landlord’s lobbyist husband had no business before the EPA – a statement proven to be untrue.

It is that kind of conduct that prompted Ranking Members Tonko, DeGette, and Vice Ranking Member Castor and I to request that you be placed under oath for this hearing and that it be expanded to include the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. The Chairmen did not agree to that request but I would remind you what the Chairman said to the press when he declined our request: lying to Congress is a crime, regardless of whether or not you are sworn in.

Now, Committee Republicans have conveniently told the press they are investigating you for some your outrageous ethical abuses. Yet, I’ve seen no evidence from Committee Republicans that this is really happening.

Fortunately, Committee Democrats have been demanding answers and five independent federal investigations are now being done into your conduct at our request. Yesterday, I joined with Ranking Member Cummings of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee to request an additional investigation by the Office of Special Counsel into your troubling pattern of apparently retaliating against EPA employees who question your extravagant spending.

I am confident that these investigations will affirm what I have come to believe is true: you are unfit to hold public office and undeserving of the public trust.

Pallone’s Bipartisan Brownfields Bill Passes in Omnibus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 22, 2018

Legislation will help continue redevelopment of Contaminated Sites throughout

New Jersey

Washington, DC – Today, as part of the omnibus spending package, the House of Representatives passed legislation to reauthorize the Brownfields program authored by Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06). Pallone led efforts to negotiate and pass the reauthorization legislation out of the Energy and Commerce Committee earlier this year, and to include the legislation in the omnibus spending bill.

The Brownfields reauthorization legislation will extend federal Brownfields funding through 2023 and make important reforms to the program. The bill improves the flexibility of the program, authorizing multi-purpose grants, raising the limits for grants per site, and removing some funding caps in current law. It also allows EPA to reserve as much as $1.5 million in brownfields funding each year to assist small communities, tribes, and rural or disadvantaged areas. Grants could be used for training, research, and technical assistance. Additionally, it would require the EPA to consider the potential for renewable energy production when ranking applications for brownfield grants, to incentivize green energy projects.

It will also provide special recognition for waterfront Brownfields sites. In November at the Woodbridge waterfront, Pallone called on Congress to pass brownfields reauthorization that support projects like the waterfront park. When completed the park will include approximately 30 acres of nature area with restored wetlands/uplands, more than 7,000 feet of walking trails circling the restored wetlands, 800 feet of boardwalk overlooking natural wetland areas, a viewing platform at the Raritan River, bird blinds for observing wildlife, educational signs, gathering spaces with seating, and bus parking.

“The Brownfields program has been an incredibly important tool for protecting public health and spurring economic growth in New Jersey and throughout the country,” said Pallone. “The Brownfields program is proof that having a strong economy and protecting the environment is not an ‘either-or’ issue. We can have both.”

The Brownfields program was created in 2002 by bipartisan legislation authored in the House by Pallone and the late Rep. Paul Gillmor of Ohio to assist communities with the cleanup of former industrial properties where redevelopment is complicated by the presence of environmental contamination. When the program was first authorized, there were an estimated 450,000 brownfields properties in the U.S. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than 59,000 brownfields sites have already been revitalized.

Since 2002, New Jersey has received over $34 million in Brownfields grants. The vast majority of these funds, approximately $29 million, were awarded for assessment and cleanup efforts. In his closing remarks, Congressman Pallone emphasized several projects in New Jersey that have benefited from the Brownfields program.

Monitoring Station to be Installed in Raritan Bay with Federal Grant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2015



WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced a monitoring station will be installed in Raritan Bay thanks to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

“I am glad to announce this grant to allow for closer monitoring of the wetlands of Raritan Bay, which will help protect the surrounding coastal communities,” said Congressman Pallone. “Healthy wetlands play an integral role in protecting against extreme weather effects of climate change, including flooding and storm surges. As we learned from Superstorm Sandy, we must act to mitigate the effects of the next storm, and this grant is an important step.”

The project is made possible as part of a $393,700 EPA grant to DEP to improve the availability and accessibility of data on the health and condition of New Jersey’s wetlands. The grant to DEP from EPA is part of a $1 million EPA grant for various wetland protection projects in New Jersey.

Pallone Announces $117,000 for Rutgers University to Help New Jersey Businesses Reduce Pollution

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced that Rutgers University has been awarded $117,000 to help New Jersey businesses reduce the amount of toxic materials that they generate or use. The funding, provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will allow Rutgers to identify manufacturers that are candidates for pollution prevention assistance, particularly those that are vulnerable to releases of hazardous substances in the event of climate change-related storm surges.

“The sheer force of Superstorm Sandy and the destruction that lay in its wake was devastating, but a toxic spill in addition to the physical damage would have been disastrous” said Pallone. “We must make sure that, in the event of another overwhelming storm, harmful chemicals that could pollute our environment are not released from industrial plants. This funding will help us do just that by reducing the amount of hazardous materials that New Jersey businesses use and produce.”

With this grant, Rutgers will work with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the Rutgers Small Business Development Center to help businesses use less toxic substances during the manufacturing process.

“It is significant that, as one of the largest universities in the region, Rutgers is leading the way on pollution prevention, and I hope that other educational institutions and localities will follow suit. I’d like to thank them for their efforts on this front and the EPA for funding this important initiative in New Jersey.”

Pallone, Booker Team Up With EPA, BJ’s Wholesale Club to Tackle Environmental, Economic Impacts of Food Waste

For Immediate release:
9/22/14

EDISON, NJ – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone (NJ-06) and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) joined U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck to highlight Hunger Action month. They visited a BJ’s Wholesale Club in Edison, New Jersey to announce the store’s participation in the EPA Food Recovery Challenge Program that reduces food waste and hunger while also protecting the environment. They were also joined by BJ’s Wholesale Club’s Doug Schiefelbein, Community Food Bank of New Jersey’s (CFBNJ) Tristan Wallack, and Edison Mayor Thomas Lankey.

 (Cory Booker, Frank Pallone, Judith Enck, Tristan Wallack. Credit:EPA)

“Thirty-one percent of food that is available at supermarkets, restaurants, and in households goes uneaten and ends up in a landfill,” said Congressman Pallone. “Meanwhile, millions of Americans struggle every day to put food on the table and feed their families. The Food Recovery Challenge tackles both of these critical issues by reducing the amount of food that goes unsold and recovering more wholesome unsold food to donate to people who really need it. I commend EPA for organizing this campaign to reduce food waste and BJ’s for participating.”

Participants in EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge reduce, donate, and compost as much of their excess food as possible, which saves money, feeds hungry people and helps protect the environment. As part of this new agreement, BJ’s plans to develop new benchmarks to measure progress from its food donation program BJ’s Feeding Communities as well as utilize EPA’s tools to enhance its environmental programs and minimize its environmental footprint.

“A staggering amount of nutritious and edible food is wasted every day, winding up in landfills where it produces methane gas,” said Judith A. Enck, EPA Regional Administrator. “EPA commends BJ’s Wholesale Club for being part of the commitment to feed people and not landfills.”

Fourteen percent of New Jerseyans live in a state of food insecurity, and 50 million Americans live in households that struggle against hunger. Food accounts for the greatest percentage – more than 20 percent - of waste going to landfills in the United States. One way to reduce that volume of waste is by donating edible food that would otherwise be thrown away.

“Hunger is persistent problem in New Jersey and across the nation,” said Senator Booker. “Yet each year Americans waste more than 36 million tons of food - 96 percent of which is thrown into landfills and incinerators. I commend the EPA, BJ’s and all the other participants in the Food Recovery Challenge because the only way we truly tackle complex problems is through public/private partnership. Committing to this challenge isn’t just good for society - it’s good for the bottom line.”

In addition to being the first wholesale club to join the Food Recovery Challenge, BJ’s also recently awarded a grant of $21,000 to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey in honor of the company’s 30th anniversary and Hunger Action Month in September. The grant will help the Community Food Bank of New Jersey build capacity through the purchase of additional refrigerators, thermal blankets and other equipment for their partner organizations such as local soup kitchens and food pantries. The new equipment will help their anti-hunger partners store a larger amount of perishable items and distribute more nutritious options to local families struggling with food insecurity in New Jersey.

“At BJ’s Wholesale Club, what is not sold, is shared; we have a vested interest in addressing and helping to solve the very real problems of hunger prevention in our local communities,” said Doug Schiefelbein, general manager of the BJ’s Wholesale Club in Edison, New Jersey. “BJ’s Wholesale Club is proud to join the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Food Recovery Challenge. We look forward to working together with the EPA to help keep food out of landfills and minimize greenhouse gas emissions to better the neighborhoods we serve.”

EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge is based on the fact that wasted food has economic, environmental, and social impacts. Much of this waste is not waste at all, but actually safe, wholesome food that could potentially feed millions of Americans. Excess food, leftovers and scraps that are not fit for consumption and donation can be composted into a nutrient-rich soil supplement. There is also a tremendous waste of energy and natural resources that goes to the growth, processing, transporting and marketing of food, all of which goes to waste when food is thrown away. A full list of the 600 participants can be found at Food Recovery Challenge.

Pallone Urges Governor Christie Not to Abandon Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) sent a letter to Governor Chris Christie urging him to reconsider his decision to withdraw the State of New Jersey from Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Pallone stressed that remaining in RGGI will help New Jersey comply with new regulations proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA’s proposal, announced in June 2014, seeks to cut the amount of carbon pollution produced by power plants by 30% to below 2005 levels by 2030. RGGI is a cooperative effort among nine New England and Mid-Atlantic states to cap and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. New Jersey joined other states in implementing the program in 2005, but Governor Christie announced that he would withdraw the state from RGGI in 2011.

“We cannot wait to address climate change,” said Congressman Pallone. “And RGGI allows New Jersey to make meaningful changes. If we do not start taking the prospect of climate change seriously, devastating storms like Sandy will intensify and become the new normal. Continuing to participate in RGGI will allow New Jersey to meet the new EPA carbon standards, while also spurring investments in clean energy technologies and creating jobs in our state. I urge the Governor to reconsider his decision.”

In response to his withdrawal from RGGI, environmental groups sued Governor Christie, saying that he broke the law by not introducing a proposal to change or repeal the regulations regarding the state’s membership in the program. A state appeals court ruled in March of 2014 that the administration had not followed the proper procedures when withdrawing from RGGI because it had not allowed for public input. A public comment period is now open until September 5th.

The full text of the letter is below:

July 11, 2014

Governor Chris Christie
P.O. Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625



Dear Governor Christie,

I write today regarding our country’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions from power plants. In June, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule that aims to reduce carbon emissions from existing U.S. power plants by 30 percent by the year 2030. This rule, once finalized, will be a crucial aspect of America’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and address climate change.

I am deeply disappointed with your decision to pursue withdrawal from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which has been extremely effective in participating states. Investments of RGGI auction proceeds to date are projected to return more than $2 billion in lifetime energy bill savings to more than 3 million participating households and more than 12,000 businesses in the region. Once finalized, the EPA rule will require states to develop plans to meet emissions reduction goals set by the agency. Remaining in RGGI will be the most effective and efficient way for New Jersey to meet the EPA carbon standards.

The World Bank released a report in 2012 on the potential effects of increasing average temperatures by 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century. This type of increase is well within the range of possibility if we don't act. The impacts of this level of warming would be devastating. Sea levels would be over three feet higher, inundating coastal communities.

New Jerseyans know firsthand what the cost of climate change is. If we do not start taking the prospect of climate change seriously, devastating storms like Superstorm Sandy will become the new normal. Climate change leads to changes in the frequency, intensity, duration and timing of extreme weather and climate events, and can result in unprecedented extreme weather and climate events. This increases beach erosion, storm-surge damage and flooding for the many coastal communities in New Jersey.

I urge you to reconsider your decision to withdraw from RGGI. Instead of walking away from this regional program, New Jersey should work with the other Northeast states that are members of RGGI to reduce carbon emissions and spur investments in clean energy technologies. Thank you for your attention to this important issue.

Sincerely,

FRANK PALLONE, JR.
Member of Congress

Pallone Statement on Proposed EPA Regulations for Power Plant Emissions

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement today upon an announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of a proposal to reduce greenhouse gas emission from U.S. power plants by 30 percent from 2005 levels by 2030:

“EPA’s proposed regulation to curb the amount of greenhouse gasses produced by power plants marks our nation’s most significant move to date to address climate change. These regulations will offer meaningful changes while allowing states and industry the flexibility to find ways to meet the new standards.

“Lower power plant emissions will have many benefits, specifically, improving public health by making the air we breathe cleaner and helping to reduce breathing related illnesses like asthma, which is increasingly affecting more and more Americans, particularly children. New clean energy jobs will be an additional positive outgrowth of this change, as the rapidly expanding field of energy alternatives will boom to meet the demands of adjusting to lower emissions standards, giving our economy a much needed boost.

“As a Representative and lifelong resident of one the areas hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy, my constituents and I know all too well the serious impact climate change is having on our lives, economy, health and wellbeing. Without addressing climate change, sea levels will continue to rise, resulting in enormous costs from damage to coastal areas and devastating the tourism industry, which is critical to the economies of places like the New Jersey Shore. The costs of inaction in dealing with climate change are simply too high to ignore. EPA’s proposal today is an important step forward toward taking action on one of the most important issues of our time.”

President Obama's Weekly Address 5/31/14 : Reducing Carbon Pollution in Our Power Plants

WASHINGTON, DC — In this week’s address, President Obama discussed new actions by the Environmental Protection Agency to cut dangerous carbon pollution, a plan that builds on the efforts already taken by many states, cities and companies. These new commonsense guidelines to reduce carbon pollution from power plants were created with feedback from businesses, and state and local governments, and they would build a clean energy economy while reducing carbon pollution. The President discussed this new plan from the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where he visited children whose asthma is aggravated by air pollution. As a parent, the President said he is dedicated to make sure our planet is cleaner and safer for future generations.

Pallone Calls on EPA to Restore Critical Aerial Coastal Monitoring Program

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) called on the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), Gina McCarthy, to restore funding for EPA’s Region 2 helicopter monitoring program. Each year from Memorial Day to Labor Day, EPA’s “Coastal Crusader” monitors the waters along the Atlantic Coast for debris, such as trash, oil slicks and algal blooms known as floatables.

The helicopter monitoring program has operated successfully since 1977 and was modified in 1989 to include the involvement of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Coast Guard, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. To safeguard coastal waterways in New Jersey and New York, EPA Region 2 has deployed a helicopter to search for floating debris and coordinate cleanups. The helicopter is also used to collect water samples that are critical to determine the health of shellfish beds. Pallone learned on Monday that the program had fallen victim to budget cuts.

“I am disappointed to learn that this vital program that helps protect the environmental health of the Jersey Shore has been stopped,” said Pallone. “As we enter the summer tourism season, our economy is still struggling to recover from the devastating impacts of Superstorm Sandy and we cannot afford for our beaches to be shuttered due to debris washing up along the coast. EPA’s helicopter monitoring has operated at a nominal cost and has been incredibly successful in spotting and mitigating potential coastal disasters by spotting floatables before they reach the Shore. Cutting this program could have serious consequences for our tourism economy.”

Pallone placed a call to Administrator McCarthy today asking her to restore the $250,000 program, which helps support New Jersey’s $5.5 billion tourism industry.

“The work conducted by the Coastal Crusader helicopter is critical to protecting the Shore and this ‘penny wise and pound foolish’ budget cut could have long-lasting impacts,” said Pallone. “EPA must restore this program immediately to ensure that our beaches are safe for tourists and can continue to support the 550,000 tourism related jobs that depend on them being open for business.”