McCabe Hearing for DEP Commissioner up on Monday

On Monday, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner McCabe will testify in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. New Jersey Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel released the following statement:

“It’s important that Acting Commission McCabe is finally getting her hearing in front of the Judiciary Committee.  We supported her nomination because of her strong background in enforcement and look forward to working with her. After eight years under Bob Martin we’re excited to see change within the DEP. We have some questions that we hope will be answered during the hearing on Monday including how she will restore morale in the department, deal with budget cuts, and move the DEP forward in a new direction.

“We would like to know DEP’s plans for pipelines, power plants such as in the Meadowlands and BL England in New Jersey. We hope to hear what the DEP is going to do with NRD money from gas stations and from the Volkswagen settlement. We’d like to see the DEP take steps to combat climate change and sea level rise as well. We’re also wondering if they will uphold commitments to stopping the bear hunt and restore funding to getting lead out of schools. New Jersey needs to fix our parks and protect our communities from things such as against Bakken oil trains and other fossil fuel pollution.

“During the hearing, we also would like to learn more information on the department’s plans to replace the many rules and regulations that were rolled back under Christie such as the Flood Hazard, Wetlands and Highlands Septic Density Rules. We have further questions for Commissioner McCabe on how the DEP will deal with lead and other contaminants in our drinking water, as well as addressing pollution in Environmental Justice communities. We’re looking forward to Monday’s hearing to learn more from Commissioner McCabe on the future of the NJDEP.

“There are important issues facing New Jersey and the DEP, especially when it comes to the environment. We need a new Commissioner to move us forward and We’re looking forward to hear how she answers these questions. We’re also looking forward to seeing what policies and programs she puts in place to deal with climate change and move New Jersey forward environmentally. New Jersey is in the middle of an environmental crisis; we see the impacts of sea level rise, drinking water threats and contaminated sites. What the next Commissioner does will be critical for the future of our state. We need to know how the Commissioner will meet these challenges and move us forward.”