Enviro Bills in Released Out of Committee Monday

The following legislation passed out of committee today:

Senate Environment and Energy

S3207 (Smith) Establishes new timeframes for implementation of certain requirements in “Global Warming Response Act”; requires DEP to adopt strategy to reduce short-lived climate pollutants.

“We are entering into a climate emergency and it is getting even worse. It is even more important to reduce greenhouse gases as quickly as we can. The new U.S climate report written by 13 federal agencies and hundreds of scientists show that climate change is getting worse and happening faster. The DEP has the authority to regulate greenhouses but chose not to. That is why it is critical for this legislation to move forward compelling the DEP to actually set standards for reduction for C02 emissions and greenhouse gases.

“This legislation is a good start however we need to go further.  We need to give DEP some teeth to regulate C02 and GHG emissions. We believe the bill should require the DEP to regulate natural gas powerplants and set standards to C02 and other emissions. As we move forward on our 100% clean energy goals by 2020, we should be ratcheting down on fossil fuels until we get to 0 emissions. DEP also should be modeling and making regulations on fugitive emissions for GHGs. The department should require a tonnage fee on air permits too.

“All air permits and Title V permits should have strict emissions and set standards for C02 and other greenhouse gases. All permit applications should have information about C02 emissions and should require to get permits that would limit C02 emissions. The legislation also needs to look at reducing emissions holistically looking at fugitive and cradle to grave emissions.  All major facilities should also have state of the art control analysis and permitting for C02 emissions just like there are for other sources. We should also be regulating C02 for infrastructure, not just powerplants. In New Jersey there are 5 natural gas power plants and 7 new natural gas projects underway that could emit millions of metric tons of greenhouse gases into our air.

“We should make sure c02 is regulated under Title V air permit and there be enforceable reductions in those emissions. There should also be a timetable to phase out fossil fuel power generation. Under RGGI, NJ is supposed to be reducing C02 emissions. RGGI calls for a Cap on 13 tons of C02- New Jersey is currently at 18 and these new natural gas powerplants will put us at 23 tons,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.

SCR-150(Bateman/Greenstein) Urges Governor to block proposed rule permitting storage, treatment, disposal, and discharge of wastewater generated from hydraulic fracturing in Delaware River Basin.

“We need a complete ban of fracking activities by the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), including not allowing dumping fracking waste or taking water for fracking activities elsewhere. Having a partial ban that actually allows the dumping of fracking waste still puts the drinking water and environment of the Basin at risk.

“Dumping fracking wastewater is dangerous because it contains over 600 different toxic chemicals, many of them carcinogenic. This could lead to pollution and contaminated drinking water. We need a fracking ban in the entire basin because even if New Jersey has a ban, fracking waste could still be dumped into the Basin.

“It is important for the state to go on record asking for a full ban on fracking and dumping of fracking waste. Governor Murphy came out a year ago for a full ban while he was running for Governor. When he first came into office, he sent a letter to the DRBC calling for a full ban but since that time his staff has vacillated. This resolution should send a message to Governor Murphy to stand strong against fracking and dumping of fracking waste in the Basin,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. 

Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities

A4714 (DeAngelo) Allows utility lines necessary for certain solar energy generation facilities to cross municipally-owned preserved open space under certain circumstances.

“This legislation will help promote solar energy while at the same time protect our parks. It is important for New Jersey to utilize solar energy and this bill will allow New Jersey to expand our solar network responsibly,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.