Pallone Commends Historic EPA Clean Power Plan

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, commended the final version of the Clean Power Plan released today by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Plan establishes emission guidelines for states to follow in developing plans to control carbon pollution from existing power plants. These plants are the largest source of carbon pollution in the United States, and currently they can emit unlimited quantities of carbon pollution. The Clean Power Plan will help cut carbon pollution from the power sector by 32% in 2030.

“The Clean Power Plan is the single most significant step the U.S. has taken to reduce carbon pollution and take action on climate change,” said Congressman Pallone. “This historic Plan will cut energy costs for consumers, protect the health of our children and grandchildren, create jobs in the clean energy economy, and help mitigate the disastrous effects of climate change. Lives will be saved, and New Jersey and the entire country will benefit from this long-overdue rule.”

New Jersey citizens submitted 108,780 comments to EPA in support of the Clean Power Plan, under which New Jersey’s power plants will reduce carbon emissions by 10 million metric tons by 2025. In 2013, New Jersey’s electric power sector emitted 16 million metric tons of carbon, equivalent to the yearly pollution of over 3 million cars. Furthermore, New Jersey’s five dirtiest power plants combined make up 58% of New Jersey’s power sector emissions.

The Clean Power Plan is the first federal requirement to limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. If complied with, through a program like the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), it can have significant and positive economic and environmental impacts. From Maine to Maryland, nine states currently participate in RGGI in an effort to reduce carbon emissions. Unfortunately, Governor Chris Christie has withdrawn New Jersey from participation in the program.

“In New Jersey, we have seen first-hand the detrimental impacts Governor Christie’s decision to leave a program that would help reduce carbon pollution, support economic development, and help the state comply with the Clean Power Plan,” continued Pallone. “I am glad that the final Clean Power Plan will directly address the negative impacts of power plants to public health and pollution in our state.”

Pallone: Environmental Groups Should Not be Silenced by Christie Administration on Inadequate ExxonMobil Settlement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 8, 2015


WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr., Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, made the following statement on court briefs filed by the Christie Administration and Exxon Mobil to block environmental groups from testifying against a $225 million settlement between the state and the oil company.

“I am deeply disappointed with the Christie Administration’s more-of-the-same maneuvering to let big oil off the hook at the expense of New Jersey. At the very least, our state’s environmental groups should be permitted to present facts and speak out against the misguided and severely insufficient settlement with ExxonMobil. Attempting to silence environmental groups after settling for a fraction of the multi-billion dollar environmental damage lawsuit adds insult to injury for our state. I applaud the environmental groups for taking a stand as a united front in order to make clear that corporations cannot wreak havoc on our communities without consequence.”

In June, Pallone sent a letter to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection urging the rejection the proposed settlement. The letter is available HERE.

FEMA To Hold Flood Insurance Rate Maps Open House February 20, 4-8pm

From Middletown Alerts:

A Flood Risk Open House will be hosted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Feb. 20, 2015, from 4pm to 8pm at Henry Hudson Regional High School located at 1 Grand Tour.

Representatives FEMA Region II, the state Department of Environmental Protection and Monmouth County Emergency Management will be available to discuss updates to the flood hazard maps, known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). They will also answer questions about flood risk and insurance questions. No appointments are necessary.

Residents are encouraged to bring their elevation certificates and/or flood insurance policies to the event to find out how they may be affected by the new flood maps. Information on disaster-related recovery efforts and outstanding insurance claims will not be discussed at the event. Read more

New Jersey’s Request to Temporarily Halt Rutgers-Led Seismic Survey is Denied

July 8, 2014

www.CleanOceanAction.org
www.StopRutgersOceanBlasting.org



On Tuesday, the U.S. District Court in Trenton denied the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s application to temporarily stop a seismic survey off the Jersey Shore. The seismic activities, which will send loud blasts of noise into the marine environmental every five seconds for 24 hours a day for 30 consecutive days, can proceed for the time being. These blasts have been demonstrated to cause serious harm to a variety of marine life, include whales, dolphins, turtles and fish.


Upon learning of the Court’s decision, Clean Ocean Action Executive Director Cindy Zipf stated, “This is an unfortunate development. Rutgers is now free to blast away, putting marine life and fishermen’s livelihoods at risk. We will most definitely be on the lookout in the coming weeks for strange behavior and/or the death of marine life off our coast. And we hope the legal fight is not over.”

DEP could seek to overturn this decision by filing an emergent appeal with the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. DEP may also have a second shot at a temporary injunction before the District Court, but COA has not yet received word of whether DEP’s request was granted for a hearing on relief that would stop the blasting during the litigation.

While the Court’s decision has not yet been posted online, COA has learned that the Court based its decision on the public process pertaining to an Environmental Impact Statement prepared years ago for marine seismic research around the globe. “DEP was asking to review an authorization issued one week ago, not an environmental study finalized three years ago,” stated Andrew Provence, counsel for Clean Ocean Action, “That programmatic EIS preceded any concrete plans by Rutgers to blast our waters every five-seconds for a month.”

For now, the Rutgers-led study can proceed to do just that, without reprieve to the marine life and the commercial and recreational interest in and around the 230-square mile survey area.

Pallone Announces More than $59 Million to Clear Debris from NJ Waterways

Washington, DC – On Tuesday, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced $59,741,909 in new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding to reimburse the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for the use of contractors to remove an estimated 850,000 cubic yards of sand and other sediment from waterways in the central region of the state. The additional sand and sediment as a result of Superstorm Sandy were potential threats to navigation in the waterways.

“Getting New Jersey back to pre-Sandy conditions remains my number one priority,” said Pallone. “The state faced so many unanticipated costs after Sandy, and it is necessary that FEMA help cover the costs after such a statewide emergency. New Jersey’s navigable waterways are used for commerce, travel, and leisure, and I’m pleased that this very sizable grant will help in removing threatening or impassable blocks.”

This FEMA grant covers 90% of the entire project, which includes the removal of sand and sediment that may block the waterways and verification that the waterways are not longer threatened with debris. All debris will be recycled or disposed of in accordance with local, state, and federal guidelines.

Rep. Pallone Applauds Progress in Raritan Bay Slag Superfund Site Cleanup

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, September 28, 2012



LONG BRANCH, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today issued the following statement praising the U.S. Environment Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed plan to clean up lead contamination at the Raritan Bay Slag Superfund Site in Old Bridge and Sayreville. The EPA will hold a public meeting on October 17, 2012 in Old Bridge to explain the proposed plan and receive public comment:

“I am pleased that the EPA is moving forward with a plan to clean up lead contamination at the Raritan Bay Slag superfund Site in Old Bridge and Sayreville. I urged the EPA to have this site placed on the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) to protect the public, as well as the environment, and enable the local residents to go back to utilizing the beachfront areas safely. I am thankful they heeded my call, as even at low levels, lead is a toxic metal that can be especially dangerous to children’s developmental health.

“I strongly believe the public should not be responsible for cleaning-up these contaminated sites, which is why I introduced the Superfund Polluters Pay Act, which would reauthorize the original Superfund fees and make polluters, not taxpayers, pay the costs of cleaning up Superfund sites. I encourage the public to attend the Raritan Bay Slag Superfund site meeting to share their views on the EPA’s proposed plan, and I look forward to a timely cleanup of this site so we may protect the well-being of New Jersey families.”

Raritan Bay Slag Superfund Site Meeting:
October 17, 2012, 7:00 PM
George Bush Senior Center
1 Old Bridge Plaza
Old Bridge, NJ 08857

EPA’s release on the Raritan Bay Slag Superfund Site cleanup: http://1.usa.gov/QvxVNo

Congressman Pallone Tours Four Superfund Sites with EPA Regional Administrator

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Announces completion of a contaminated soil cleanup at Imperial Oil in Morganville

NEW JERSEY – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) joined U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator Judith Enck today to tour four Superfund Sites in the sixth congressional district and highlight the success of the program. While at Imperial Oil in Morganville, Pallone and Enck announced the completion of a $50 million contaminated soil cleanup at the site. They also visited the Horseshoe Road and Atlantic Resources sites in Sayreville, and the Chemical Insecticide site in Edison.

Superfund was established in 1980 to address the country’s most hazardous waste sites and protect public health and the environment. New Jersey has the most Superfund toxic sites in the nation and Middlesex County has the most in the state. To ensure adequate funding to cleanup the sites, Pallone introduced the Superfund Polluter Pays Act. The bill would shift the burden of paying for Superfund cleanups from taxpayers to the oil and gas companies that frequently create these sites. 

“The completion of cleanup at the Imperial Oil Superfund site reinforces the success of this program,” said Pallone. “The cleanups are essential to protecting the environment and the health of residents that live and work nearby, and also create good local jobs. In 2011 Superfund cleanups created about 2,300 jobs in New Jersey.”

The completion of the soil cleanup at Imperial Oil enables the redevelopment of the property for new uses. Today the formerly contaminated site features trees, grass, restored wetlands, a pond and a bike path. The soil cleanup at the site was accelerated by $33 million in new funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

Pallone and Enck were joined on the tour by Marlboro Township Mayor Jonathan Hornick, Edison Mayor Antonia Ricigliano, Freeholder Lillian Burry, Freeholder James Polos, Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan and other local officials.

Food and Water Watch Hosts Free Informational Seminar on "Fracking" Tomorrow in Red Bank

RED BANK, NJ - Shale gas drilling (fracking) has quickly become one of our nation’s most controversial issues. For the past few years, energy companies have been inflating the number of jobs the natural gas industry will provide, as well as the amount of energy that is available and how long it is projected to last. Meanwhile, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has linked fracking and drilling for natural gas to several cases of water contamination across the country, most recently in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wyoming, while the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) admits that fracking could have “significant adverse effects on water resources in the state.”

The New Jersey Legislature passed a ban against fracking, but there are currently no bills in place regarding wastewater disposal or natural gas pipeline construction. In fact, several counties throughout New Jersey are currently deliberating over proposed plans for pipelines and wastewater treatment plants for fracking fluid, and there is no legislation protecting the Garden State from becoming a shale oil transport zone and dumping ground.  Fracking waste is already being received by Lorco Petroleum based in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

New Jersey residents need to get educated on this issue and now is the time to do it!

Join us at the Two River Theater Company for an enlightening and FREE discussion on the growing local, national, and global movements to ban fracking and the harmful impacts that shale gas drilling and processing has on our communities.

This exciting event will feature community leaders and experts who will discuss the local, national, and global response to fracking and what each of us can do to help move us toward a sustainable energy future.

Panelists Include:

Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director, Food & Water Watch Cindy Zipf, Executive Director, Clean Ocean Action Frank Rumore, Coordinator, Fight the Pipe Nikolay Mihaylov, PhD Student, Vanderbilt University, Community Research and Action Program; Liaison to Climate Action Coalition Bulgaria Larysa Dyrszka, M.D., Physicians, Scientists & Engineers for Healthy Energy

Moderated by Bob Jordan, NJ Statehouse Bureau Reporter of New Jersey Press Media. Mr. Jordan has covered state, county and municipal governments for the past 10 years.

This event will feature live music by renowned folk artist, Spook Handy, and local food from et al fine foods!

A special thanks to our hosts whose generous support has made this event possible: Patricia C. Kenshaft PHD, Liz Nelson, Frank Weeden, and Tina Weishaus

RSVP is required: RDawn@fwwlocal.org or register on our site:http://bit.ly/FrackingSolutionsAtTRTC

Tuesday, Mar 27, 2012

6:30 PM - 9:00 PM

Pallone Questions White House on Sandy Hook Fees, Elimination of Beach Grants and Superfund Cleanup Dollars

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) questioned some of President Obama’s budget priorities at two House hearings today.  At the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, Congressman Pallone expressed his concern over cuts to programs responsible for monitoring coastal water health and Superfund site cleanup.  Later in the day, the Congressman decried proposed increases to user fees at Sandy Hook, NJ at a hearing of the House Committee on Natural Resources’ Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.

Congressman Pallone expressed his concern that the President’s budget proposed the elimination of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act (BEACH) Grants, which is a program that was authored by Pallone to monitor coastal water quality nationwide. Pallone reintroduced a bill to reauthorize the BEACH Grant program called the Clean Coastal Environment and Public Health Act of 2011. Without federal funding, cash-strapped states may choose to stop monitoring their beaches and notifying the public when waters are unsafe for swimming.

“EPA’s BEACH Grants have greatly expanded the number of beaches tested nationwide and are critical to keeping swimmers out of contaminated waters,” said Pallone. “I am concerned that New Jersey tourism will be at a disadvantage if we continue to test our coastal waters but other states do not monitor and inform the public when beaches are too contaminated for swimming,”

Pallone was also critical of cuts made to EPA programs to clean up Superfund sites.  New Jersey has the most superfund toxic sites in the nation and Middlesex County, which falls in the sixth district, has the most in the state. On February 16, 2012, Pallone sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson asking why 27 of New Jersey’s known toxic areas were left off the EPA’s list of Superfund sites.  Pallone introduced the Superfund Polluter Pays Act that would fund toxic waste clean-up by reinstating taxes on oil and chemical companies that frequently create these sites. In the EPA Budget Hearing Administrator Jackson shared her support for this bill, agreeing that it would enable the EPA to cleanup these sites faster and create jobs.

“While I realize that these are tough economic times, the stakes are too high to cut back on our commitment to cleaning up toxic waste sites that can impact our health and environment,” said Congressman Pallone.  “I urge my colleagues in Congress to support my bill, the Superfund Polluter Pays Act, so we can shift the burden of paying for toxic cleanup away from taxpayers and onto the polluters responsible for the messes they left behind in the first place.”

Congressman Pallone also voiced his opposition to a proposed fee hike to visitors to Sandy Hook in New Jersey.  The National Park Service has proposed a nearly 100% increase in fees for vehicles going through the beach. 

“With gas prices on the rise, visitors to Sandy Hook do not deserve to get hit with the kind of hike currently being proposed,” said Congressman Pallone.  “This jump in fees at Sandy Hook will put the cost of visiting the beach out of reach for many families when they are already struggling in these difficult economic times.  That simply cannot happen.”

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.