Proposed State Action Threatens the Environment



New Jersey's Department of Environmental
Protection is charged with protecting our
state's natural resources. 
Let's make sure it does its job!

 Our State Department of Environmental Protection wants to be allowed to waive environmental regulations that it believes stand in the way of economic development.  If that strikes you as an odd idea, you are in good company.  As we noted in April when we first wrote about the proposed "Waiver of Department Rules," the DEP is charged with protecting our environment, and that's exactly what we think it ought to be doing.

Although the DEP has stated that its proposed rule was developed "through extensive consultation and meetings with environmental advocates, local government officials and the business community," it seems that the concerns of environmental advocates were set aside when the regulators put their pens to paper.  Not a single environmental organization in our state has voiced support for this proposed rule.  URWA has joined in with the many groups that have, in fact, called on DEP Commissioner Bob Martin and Governor Chris Christie to withdraw it from consideration by the Legislature.

Governor Christie's Executive Order No. 2 seeks to establish "Common Sense Principles" to govern New Jersey, and the DEP sites this as the impetus for the proposed waiver rule.  While we applaud the use of common sense in all matters of State governance, we think that it makes no sense to allow the DEP the discretion to waive its own rules regarding environmental regulations that protect our air, land and water. 

To read the proposed waiver rule, please visit http://www.nj.gov/dep/rules/proposals/030711b.pdf.  The public comment period for the proposal has closed, but your voice can still be heard.  Please join with us to ask the Governor and the DEP Commissioner to withdraw this proposal, and ask your Legislators to refrain from supporting it if the proposal comes before them.  The natural resources of the Garden State should be protected for the long-term benefit of all, not sacrificed for the short term benefit of some.