New Jersey Environmental Lobby Newsletter January-March 2009

Behind closed doors, Special interests win - Despite the efforts of environmentalists and action alert campaigns by members of NJEL and other groups, on March 16 the Site Remediation Reform Act easily passed in both houses of the Legislature. We were disappointed in the votes of some of our Legislative "allies." NJEL's objections to it were described in the October-December newsletter.

NJEL's objections to the Act centered on accountability and conflicts of interest, and the final bill loosened DEP's oversight even more than originally proposed. Contractors working for property owners will design, approve, and execute remediation plans without review of proposed plans or oversight of projects, even where there is substantial exposure to humans. These "licensed site professionals" will eventually be subject to examinations and certification, but until the credentialing framework is in place, the Act empowers DEP to issue temporary licenses.

Auditing of performance will be almost nonexistent. Questions about the effectiveness of Massachusetts' program, which is the model for New Jersey, were not answered.

Supporters of the bill claim that "auditing" will identify inadequate clean-ups. In reality very little auditing is required, and the auditing function will be captive to a DEP budget that is targeted for severe cuts in the coming fiscal year. Finally, property owners and the public will NOT be adequately protected, environmentally or financially, should a contractor not fulfill obligations.

There was some very good news, however, on renewable energy. Two bills intended to increase the amount of renewable energy generated in-state were passed. One defines wind and solar energy as "inherently beneficial," which will protect small-scale renewable installations from being "zoned out" of towns. The other requires developers of 100 or more units to offer a solar energy option.

In the Senate Environment Committee, a bill to increase the fines for ocean dumping was released from committee. NJEL supports this bill.

Two bills were discussed in Committee on March 16 but not released. In the last issue of this newsletter, EEF President Brenda Holzinger explained the need to protect public lands from the damage of unrestrained off-road vehicle use, and the bills that had been introduced in the Legislature.

S2055/A823 would require registration of a variety of off-road vehicles operated on public lands, require permits for operating them in designated areas, and give DEP enforcement powers.

The ORV Park Bill, S1059, would require NJDEP to establish one park site that off-road vehicles could use. There was discussion about expanding that to three sites. The Senate Committee did not vote to release the bills because of the absence of two committee members. A823 was already released from Committee but the Assembly is on hiatus while it deliberates on the State budget. We hope for action in May.

The New York/New Jersey Trail Conference (NYNJTC), is leading the advocacy for this legislation, with cooperation from other conservation groups. NJEL supports the position of the NYNJTC. Visit www.nynjtc.org to read the bills, follow their progress, and learn how you can help.

In previous Committee sessions, NJEL Legislative Director Mike Pisauro testified or signed on to comments on various bills, including criminal penalties for deliberately causing releases or exposures to toxic substances that cause harm. As yet, no legislative action has been taken on this bill.

Do NOT Flush Unused Medications - Tips from the Environmental Education Fund - by Linda Dickman

We frequently receive questions about specific ways to protect the environment. In each newsletter issue, a "frequently asked question" will be addressed by EEF. One "FAQ" is how to dispose of unused prescription and over-the-counter medications.
The answer is NOT to flush them down the toilet or to pour them down the drain. Wastewater facilities are not designed to remove these chemical combinations. Eventually, they will end up in our waterways and in our drinking water.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cautions consumers not to throw hormones and contraceptives down the toilet or drain. One contraceptive, NuvaRing, comes with a Do Not Flush warning because, even after using, the ring contains estrogen that can contaminate water.

Pharmaceuticals found in our water supplies include clofibrate (Atromid, Abitrate), beta-blockers, caffeine, diazepam (Valium) gemfibrozil (Lopid) nicotine, NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen and Naproxen), salbuterol (Covera-HS), and albuterol (including Proventil and Anceril).

The trash can IS the place to dispose of unwanted and expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications. Proper disposal protects water quality, and decreases the chances of accidental poisoning and drug theft.

Follow these steps offered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to dispose of your medications:

1. Keep medicines in original containers. Mark out all personal information on the containers.

2. Crush pills and dilute them with water. Then add coffee grinds, cat litter, dirt or sawdust. Mix liquid medicine with coffee grinds, cat litter, dirt or sawdust.

3. Insert the medicine bottle in an opaque container, like a yogurt container, and secure the lid. You can put the bottle in a dark colored plastic bag if you don't have an opaque container. Hide the container in the trash. Do NOT put the container in the recycling bin or leave it within easy reach or sight.

4. Use an old cloth or paper to absorb leftover liquids and place that material in the trash.

Other ideas for disposing of medications are:

1. Contact your local pharmacy, health department or hospital pharmacy. They may accept your medicine.

2. Check whether or not local household hazardous waste collection programs will accept your medications.

Contact the NJDEP Solid and Hazardous Waste Program or your county waste management program for more information.

Join us for the NJEL 2009 Awards Reception
April 21, 6:00PM - 8:30PM, Seton Hall University -

This is a reminder that on Tuesday evening, April 21, NJEL will host its Annual Awards Reception, at Seton Hall University in South Orange.

This year we are honoring three outstanding individuals. The Frank Oliver Environmental Award will be presented to Nick Corcodilos, former mayor of Clinton Township and to Jim Lanard, a former executive director of NJEL and currently associated with Bluewater Wind. The Environmental Legacy Award will be presented to Jane Morton Galetto, President of Friends of the Maurice River and Its Tributaries. Jane is also a member of the Endangered and Nongame Species Advisory Committee.

The Frank Oliver Award is presented to individuals who (1) have made significant contributions to the protection of New Jersey's environment and (2) have records of vision and leadership on environmental matters. The Award is named for the late Frank Oliver, the founder and first president of NJEL.

In 2005 the NJEL Board of Directors established the Environmental Legacy Award in order to recognize those whose personal and career contributions have created a legacy for future generations. The legacy may be concrete, as in preservation of an ecologically critical region like the Highlands, or it may be a legacy of empowerment, as in a model for successful citizen action. It should transcend a locality, and even our state. Recipients of the Legacy Award have been Tom Gilmore (New Jersey Audubon and the Highlands Coalition), Ed Lloyd (Environmental Justice, Rutgers Law Clinic, Columbia University) Julia Somers (Great Swamp Watershed Association, Highlands Coalition, New Jersey Environmental Lobby) and Joe Morris (Interfaith Community Organization, Environmental Justice).

Join us to honor three outstanding people and meet our Trustees and members. The Reception is an opportunity to meet environmental leaders and interesting individuals who share environmental values. Ticket reservation information appears above. Tickets may be ordered until April 17 but to be included in the program book, ads and sponsorships must be received by April 10. For tickets, mail the reservation form above with payment to: NJEL, 204 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608. Tickets may also be purchased by visiting the NJEL website and using PayPal. Visit www.njenvironment.org and click on "NJEL membership," then "donate" to be linked to PayPal. Email or call Anne Poole at 609-894-4113 for information about the sponsorship and advertising opportunities that are still available.

Nick Corcodilos was a citizen activist for seven years prior to serving for three years (2006-2008) as Mayor of Clinton Township. He ran for mayor to fight the designation of the environmentally-sensitive Route 22/I-78 corridor as a "high-growth, suburban" State Plan zone.

As a founder and co-chair of the Clinton Township Community Coalition (CTCC), he led the technical, legal, and political drive to stop Windy Acres, a housing project labeled "NJ's poster-child for sprawl" by the Sierra Club. The site is environmentally sensitive and inappropriate for large scale development. It includes habitat of threatened and endangered species and is crossed by a Category-1 stream, the South Branch Rockaway Creek, which is a source of drinking water. Because of the CTCC's efforts, Clinton Township was the first municipality in Hunterdon County to receive Category-1 stream designations. Today, highly-protected C-1 streams crisscross much of Clinton Township.

When Corcodilos took office, Clinton Township was faced with an order from the Council on Affordable Housing to develop a new COAH plan within 120 days, or face loss of legal protections from builders' lawsuits. Facing severe environmental and land-use constraints, the Township's team identified suitable sites for affordable housing and submitted a new, environmentally-sound plan that is now being executed. Today, Clinton Township is in full compliance with COAH rules.

Success was realized fully on December 31, 2008, when the Township acquired the Windy Acres property for an affordable housing development that will include preserved open space. This development plan will protect the area's natural resources while providing a quality environment for affordable housing.

Clinton Township found that affordable housing plans were only one part of the overall planning process and its shortcomings. Mr. Corcodilos then spearheaded the 7 Town Group, an organization of municipalities working together on the State Plan Cross Acceptance project. The Group focused on geographic and environmental characteristics that connected them, and as a result forced the Office of Smart Growth to eliminate the high-growth, suburban "Planning Area 2" designation from all of Hunterdon County. The Group's mission was to promote "Smart Planning" rather than to permit the politically-loaded idea of "smart growth" to be used as an excuse to supersede environmental concerns.

Realizing that its exposure to sprawl was largely due to failures of almost two decades of sewer policy, the township hired an expert to push through the town's first Wastewater Management Plan (WMP) Amendment in 18 years. NJDEP is using this WMP as a model for other towns. The plan was created with unprecedented use of local, county and state data to ensure its integrity as a long-term policy document. It includes data from the NJ Highlands Council. The Township Environmental Commission (EC) also was made part of an executive committee comprising the E.C., the Planning Board, the Board of Adjustment, and the Mayor and Council, thereby ensuring coherent environmental planning at all levels of local policy-making.

When COAH's new 2007 rules threatened New Jersey's environmental sustainability, the Mayor expanded the 7 Town Group to 20 towns and launched a lawsuit that has revealed a systemic corruption of the process. All towns participating in the lawsuit were already in compliance with COAH's rules. According to the suit, compliant towns are being penalized by unreasonable and environmentally unsound development obligations that are not supported by current growth data. The suit shows that COAH not only used outdated information, but also applied impermissible assumptions and extrapolations to define future housing needs. COAH also withheld data and studies that were requested by municipalities under the Open Public Records Act.

As Clinton Township's experience shows, towns can meet affordable housing obligations without opening the door to residential and commercial sprawl. Affordable housing can be compatible with preservation of open space and protection of critical resources. Today Mr. Corcodilos serves on Clinton Township's COAH Committee and is helping to obtain Green Acres funding to support the new Windy Acres Park project. He is still an activist and a popular lecturer on the land-use and environmental issues and strategies in which he has been immersed since 1999. Nick Corcodilos is a headhunter, author, and publisher of www.asktheheadhunter.com. He is married, has two children, and has lived in Clinton Township since 1995.

Mr. James (Jim) Lanard has a long record of accomplishment in energy and environmental policy analysis and advocacy. Jim recognized the urgency of preventing further environmental degradation before most people took it seriously. He applied his skills in government, nonprofit, and corporate settings. Most importantly, he compounded his own contributions to the environment by educating and influencing others, enlarging the web of environmental responsibility.

Jim was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1978 and was Executive Director of the Philadelphia Clean Air Council from 1978 until 1981. In 1982 Jim began his association with the New Jersey Environmental Lobby, when he was hired as Executive Director. In that position, Jim also served as NJEL's legislative lobbyist. While there was growing awareness of the negative effects of polluted air and water, the public and elected officials had to be convinced that environmental damage was related to policies in transportation, solid waste management, and land use. There was resistance to curbs on pollutant emissions and to rules to enhance workplace and community health and safety. Jim developed legislative initiatives for these issues and organized coalitions of environmental, labor, and community groups to advocate on behalf of environmental protection and pollution prevention.

In 1987 Jim took his communications and public relations expertise beyond U.S. borders. Volunteering for a year, he advised Israel's Environmental Protection Service and non-governmental organizations about developing public support for environmental and transportation initiatives. Jim authored the white paper that was the basis for elevating the EPS to cabinet level. In 1989 Jim joined the staff of a New Jersey environmental champion, U. S. Congressman Frank Pallone, serving as Chief of Staff and Legislative Director.

Jim eventually entered the private sector as a public relations and environmental consultant. His clients have included The Walt Disney Company, Garden State Ethanol, the NJ Fuel Cell Council, Waste Management, and Jersey Central Power & Light. He worked on projects as diverse as a multi-state regional transportation plan, the formulation of Disney's corporate-wide environmental policies, Superfund reauthorization, and computerized motor vehicle registration.

Jim is an expert in energy issues and he assisted a number of electric utilities in transitioning from regulated monopoly structures. Familiar with the potential of renewable energy since his days as NJEL's Executive Director, Jim is now actively involved in the effort to meet New Jersey's ambitious goal for renewable energy generation. As always, Jim is ahead of the curve.

Jim received a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami. In addition to being a member of the NJ Bar, Jim is a member of the New Jersey and Florida Bars. Early in his career, he held adjunct and assistant professorships at Rutgers and Drexel Universities. More recently, he has volunteered his time as a speaker on environmental journalism and activism at Cook College.

Jim has been a contributing member of nonprofit environmental organizations for decades. His memberships include the Sierra Club, the Environmental Defense Fund and, we are proud to say, the New Jersey Environmental Lobby. Several NJEL members and others who worked with Jim cite his energy and enthusiasm as the model for their own commitments to NJEL's mission. He handled a multitude of tasks and persisted in pursuing NJEL's agenda in spite of resistance by special interests and a public that was largely uninformed about environmental issues.

Jim is an ice cream aficionado and believes he has the world's largest collection of T-shirts with ice-cream store logos - over 100 (size: XL!). A long-time New Jersey resident, Jim answers the question of "which exit" with "7A!"

For three decades, Jim has recognized the path that must be taken toward our planet's sustainability. In the face of resistance and misinformation, he has persisted in pulling the public and private sectors along that path.

Jane Morton Galetto was instrumental in the 1986 incorporation of Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River and Its Tributaries, Inc. (CU), an organization that was founded in 1979. As president of CU, Ms. Galetto coordinates studies performed by experts in flora and fauna, organizes volunteers in habitat construction projects, arranges meetings about land acquisition with land trusts and property owners, conducts river tours, assists in the organization of festivals and gives conservation presentations to school and civic groups. She is a major contributor to CU's website. Ms. Galetto helped to secure the designation of the Maurice, Manumuskin, Menantico, and Muskee Rivers as part of the National Wild and Scenic River System.

In addition to her efforts on behalf of local and regional ecology, she chaired the New Jersey Endangered and Nongame Species Advisory Committee (ENSAC) for 18 years and was a Fish and Game Councilwoman for that same period. She still serves as an ENSAC member. While serving on the NJ Freshwater Wetlands Advisory Committee, Jane played an integral role in the passage of New Jersey's stringent 1987 Wetlands Law. She sits on the boards of the New Jersey Audubon Society, Bayshore Discovery Project, and The Nature Conservancy Bayshores Program. Citizens United is one of the founding members of the South Jersey Bayshore Coalition, to which Ms. Galetto is a representative. She has co-produced five NJN documentaries which highlight the wonders of Southern NJ. She and Louis Presti won an Emmy for Reflections of a Bayshore Painter, a documentary on artist Glenn Rudderow. Jane is a board member of the Galetto Family Foundation, a philanthropy that supports local non-profit entities with an emphasis on health, education and the environment.

Ms. Galetto has a degree in secondary education in social science from Elizabethtown College. She is married to Peter Galetto and they have two daughters: Ashley and Amanda. Peter and Jane are both committed to a variety of local institutions and use their energy to foster the success of these organizations. They share an interest in travel and a great many hobbies, including sailing, hunting, bird watching, kayaking, pottery, collecting local art and gardening. Jane was a bronze medalist in the World's International FITAC competition in sporting clay shooting.

In the mid 80's Jane and Peter, along with Eddie DiPalma, originated the Maurice River Osprey Colony Project. The use of DDT caused osprey numbers to plummet in NJ from an historic 500 pair to 50 pair. By 2007, restoration efforts around NJ resulted in the state's surpassing a milestone of 400 nesting pair. CU's volunteers are responsible for providing nests for more than a quarter of the state's osprey population. Since 2006 the Maurice River has produced in excess of 60 fledglings a year.

Ms. Galetto has received numerous awards for her conservation contributions, including two EPA Environmental Quality Awards, the EPA's highest honor. The Wilderness Society recognized her with a Woman of the Year award for its NJ slot. She was selected as a Woman of the Year by NJ's Conserve Wildlife, inducted into the Women's Hall of Fame for Cumberland County, chosen as Philanthropist of the Year by the Vineland Library and has been associated with many of CU's awards in education and environmental awareness.

The Maurice River and its tributaries form an unusually pristine Atlantic Coastal river corridor. As part of the Atlantic flyway, it is vitally important to our hemisphere for the migration of shorebirds, songbirds, waterfowl, raptors, rails, and fish, as they travel through New Jersey on routes from the Arctic to the Tropics and back. It is home to endangered species as well as striped bass and the State's largest stand of wild rice. The Maurice is home to a historic fishing, boating, and oystering heritage. The Maurice is a critical link between the Pinelands National Preserve and the Delaware Estuary--both nationally and internationally important-and is the western boundary of the Pinelands.

Ms. Galetto has created legacies at many levels. She has enabled successes at the local organizations she supports. She institutionalized a grass roots organization that went on to protect a regional resource. Her statewide work on behalf of wildlife helped to restore and protect critically endangered species. Finally, her efforts on behalf of wetlands protection in general and in the Maurice River System in particular, have directly benefitted our planet's biodiversity.

Announcement of NJEL Annual Meeting -
The annual meeting of NJEL members will take place prior to the 2009 Awards Reception, at 5:30 PM, in the Faculty Lounge, University Center, Seton Hall University. Members whose dues are current are entitled to attend. The annual meeting is the opportunity to introduce new Board members and officers to the membership and to announce the current legislative priorities. If you are not sure whether or not you are a member in current standing, email njel@earthlink.net or call Anne Poole 609-894-4113 and we will check your membership status.

River, Bay, Ocean -
NJEL signed on to a letter to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, commenting on a Draft Amendment to the Interstate River Herring Management Plan. River herring is a "family" of several fish species that are vital to the marine and estuarine food chain. The letter submitted by a group of organizations forming the Marine Fish Conservation Network comments on measures intended to increase the depleted stocks of river herring. These include requirements for reducing bycatch, providing more on-board bycatch monitoring, removing impediments to upriver migration, and preventing habitat degradation.

"Access to the Region's Core" - The Hudson River Commuter Rail Tunnel (ARC).

Over 20 years ago an idea was conceived for an additional passenger rail tunnel linking New Jersey and New York under the Hudson River. The $8 billion Access to the Region's Core (ARC) tunnel project has taken a giant step closer to reality. The Federal Transit Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, signed a Record of Decision (ROD) for the project in January. NJ Transit, in consultation with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) conducted a 5-year environmental review process that led to a Final Environmental Impact Statement. (FEIS) Now NJ Transit can begin final design. Construction is slated to start in 2009 and be completed in 2017.

In October, New Jersey Transit's Board approved up to $124 million for final design work by the joint venture partners Parsons Brinckerhoff, STV, and DMJM Harris. Also in October, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority approved a toll-adjustment plan that dedicates $1.25 billion to the ARC project. In all, funding commitments from the States of New Jersey and New York and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey total $5.7 billion. Federal participation is required to make the project a reality. In January, members of New Jersey's Congressional delegation made a bipartisan appeal to then-President elect Obama to provide the balance of the funding.

Anyone who lives and commutes in North Jersey knows how congested roads, bridges and tunnels have become. NJ Transit does not have any room to grow as more and more riders commute by train. The ARC tunnel will include construction of two new tracks in the Meadowlands and two single-track tunnels under the Hudson River. The project calls for the expansion of Penn Station under 34th Street in New York City. The Main, Bergen County, Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines will increase capacity and offer transfer-free service (a "one-seat ride") to Penn Station.

The tunnel will effectively double commuter rail capacity across the Hudson. By attracting more riders, the additional rail service is projected to remove 22,000 cars PER DAY from the region's roads, and result in a reduction in vehicle emissions. Besides the obvious benefits to air quality, the new tunnels will benefit both rail commuters and drivers in other ways. Less crowded trains will provide more comfortable rides and "one seat rides" will shorten travel time and inconvenience for train passengers. By reducing road congestion, the project will reduce vehicular travel time, save fuel, and reduce the costs for moving people and goods.

Go to www.arctunnel.com to find out more about the project and to read the Record of Decision and the FEIS.
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Meanwhile, in the South . . . The PATCO High Speed Line Extension
For years there has been discussion about the need for an extension of the 14 mile PATCO High Speed line that links Center City Philadelphia with the City of Camden and suburban towns to the southeast. PATCO is a popular, successful line, and almost since its inception, there has been the hope that the benefits of rail transit would be extended to other traffic-plagued commuter communities in South Jersey.

The best route was the subject of debate, however, much of it vigorous, as some small towns feared that rail service would change their character or cause noise and safety problems. There was also resistance to extending rail service to towns that were surrounded by rural areas, thereby encouraging development sprawl. In January, the state Office of Smart Growth (OSG), in the Department of Community Affairs, weighed in on the matter. OSG's recommendation is a route between Gloucester City and Glassboro. This route would serve established communities, including Woodbury, the county seat of Gloucester County, and Glassboro, home of Rowan University, and would ease highway congestion in that corridor.

In a 30-page report, OSG rejected the alternatives of a rail line along routes 42 and 55, Interstate 676 or the Atlantic City Expressway because they would promote growth rather than reduce congestion in and between existing commercial hubs.

The Office of Smart Growth's responsibility is to implement the State's Development and Redevelopment Plan for guiding development so as to achieve environmental sustainability. OSG's recommendation is advisory only. A spokesman for DCA said that it is based "on the relationship of the proposed routes to the goals and policies of the State Plan." Ultimately, PATCO's owner, the bi-state Delaware River Port Authority, will make the final selection about route and rail mode (the current PATCO heavy rail, or light rail). Both of those selections will have to take the sources and amount of funding into account. Governor Corzine has already pledged $500 million for the project but DRPA is also seeking Federal funds.

REMEMBER!

The New Jersey Environmental Lobby is your voice in Trenton. We are an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization focused on the preservation and protection of a healthy environment for all our citizens. We need your support! JOIN NJEL and help us change the laws!







	President: Anne Poole Legislative Director: Michael Pisauro


	Volume 38 No. 1

	January - March 2009

	Legislative Update - *by Michael L. Pisauro and Anne Poole* Site Remediation - Behind closed doors, Special interests win - Despite the efforts of environmentalists and action alert campaigns by members of NJEL and other groups, on March 16 the Site Remediation Reform Act easily passed in both houses of the Legislature. Read More ... Renewable Energy - There was some very good news, however, on renewable energy. Two bills intended to increase the amount of renewable energy generated in-state were passed. Read More ... All-terrain/off-road Vehicle (ORV) Enforcement - Two bills were discussed in Committee on March 16 but not released. In the last issue of this newsletter, EEF President Brenda Holzinger explained the need to protect public lands. Read More ... Do NOT Flush Unused Medications *- Tips from the Environmental Education Fund - by Linda Dickman* We frequently receive questions about specific ways to protect the environment. In each newsletter issue, a "frequently asked question" will be addressed by EEF. Read More ... Join us for the NJEL 2009 Awards Reception April 21, 6:00PM - 8:30PM, Seton Hall University - This is a reminder that on Tuesday evening, April 21, NJEL will host its Annual Awards Reception, at Seton Hall University in South Orange. This year we are honoring three outstanding individuals. Read More ... Frank Oliver Environmental Award - Nick Corcodilos - Nick Corcodilos was a citizen activist for seven years prior to serving for three years (2006-2008) as Mayor of Clinton Township. He ran for mayor to fight the designation of the environmentally-sensitive Route 22/I-78 corridor as a "high-growth, suburban" State Plan zone. Read More ... Frank Oliver Environmental Award - Jim Lanard - Mr. James (Jim) Lanard has a long record of accomplishment in energy and environmental policy analysis and advocacy. Jim recognized the urgency of preventing further environmental degradation before most people took it seriously. He applied his skills in government, nonprofit, and corporate settings. Read More ... The Environmental Legacy Award - Jane Morton Galetto - Jane Morton Galetto was instrumental in the 1986 incorporation of Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River and Its Tributaries, Inc. (CU), an organization that was founded in 1979. As president of CU, Ms. Galetto coordinates studies performed by experts in flora and fauna, organizes volunteers in habitat construction projects, arranges meetings about land acquisition with land trusts and property owners, conducts river tours, assists in the organization of festivals and gives conservation presentations to school and civic groups. Read More ... Announcement of NJEL Annual Meeting - The annual meeting of NJEL members will take place prior to the 2009 Awards Reception, at 5:30 PM, in the Faculty Lounge, University Center, Seton Hall University. Read More ... River, Bay, Ocean - NJEL signed on to a letter to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, commenting on a Draft Amendment to the Interstate River Herring Management Plan. Read More ... Transportation Issues - *by Linda Dickman* "Access to the Region's Core" - The Hudson River Commuter Rail Tunnel (ARC). Over 20 years ago an idea was conceived for an additional passenger rail tunnel linking New Jersey and New York under the Hudson River. The $8 billion Access to the Region's Core (ARC) tunnel project has taken a giant step closer to reality. Read More ... Site Remediation Bill - by *Michael L. Pisauro and Anne Poole* Behind closed doors, Special interests win - Despite the efforts of environmentalists and action alert campaigns by members of NJEL and other groups, on March 16 the Site Remediation Reform Act easily passed in both houses of the Legislature. We were disappointed in the votes of some of our Legislative "allies." NJEL's objections to it were described in the October-December newsletter. NJEL's objections to the Act centered on accountability and conflicts of interest, and the final bill loosened DEP's oversight even more than originally proposed. Contractors working for property owners will design, approve, and execute remediation plans without review of proposed plans or oversight of projects, even where there is substantial exposure to humans. These "licensed site professionals" will eventually be subject to examinations and certification, but until the credentialing framework is in place, the Act empowers DEP to issue temporary licenses. Auditing of performance will be almost nonexistent. Questions about the effectiveness of Massachusetts' program, which is the model for New Jersey, were not answered. Supporters of the bill claim that "auditing" will identify inadequate clean-ups. In reality very little auditing is required, and the auditing function will be captive to a DEP budget that is targeted for severe cuts in the coming fiscal year. Finally, property owners and the public will NOT be adequately protected, environmentally or financially, should a contractor not fulfill obligations. Renewable Energy - There was some very good news, however, on renewable energy. Two bills intended to increase the amount of renewable energy generated in-state were passed. One defines wind and solar energy as "inherently beneficial," which will protect small-scale renewable installations from being "zoned out" of towns. The other requires developers of 100 or more units to offer a solar energy option. In the Senate Environment Committee, a bill to increase the fines for ocean dumping was released from committee. NJEL supports this bill. All-terrain/off-road Vehicle (ORV) Enforcement - Two bills were discussed in Committee on March 16 but not released. In the last issue of this newsletter, EEF President Brenda Holzinger explained the need to protect public lands from the damage of unrestrained off-road vehicle use, and the bills that had been introduced in the Legislature. S2055/A823 would require registration of a variety of off-road vehicles operated on public lands, require permits for operating them in designated areas, and give DEP enforcement powers. The ORV Park Bill, S1059, would require NJDEP to establish one park site that off-road vehicles could use. There was discussion about expanding that to three sites. The Senate Committee did not vote to release the bills because of the absence of two committee members. A823 was already released from Committee but the Assembly is on hiatus while it deliberates on the State budget. We hope for action in May. The New York/New Jersey Trail Conference (NYNJTC), is leading the advocacy for this legislation, with cooperation from other conservation groups. NJEL supports the position of the NYNJTC. Visit www.nynjtc.org to read the bills, follow their progress, and learn how you can help. In previous Committee sessions, NJEL Legislative Director Mike Pisauro testified or signed on to comments on various bills, including criminal penalties for deliberately causing releases or exposures to toxic substances that cause harm. As yet, no legislative action has been taken on this bill. Do NOT Flush Unused Medications - *Tips from the Environmental Education Fund - by Linda Dickman* We frequently receive questions about specific ways to protect the environment. In each newsletter issue, a "frequently asked question" will be addressed by EEF. One "FAQ" is how to dispose of unused prescription and over-the-counter medications. The answer is NOT to flush them down the toilet or to pour them down the drain. Wastewater facilities are not designed to remove these chemical combinations. Eventually, they will end up in our waterways and in our drinking water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cautions consumers not to throw hormones and contraceptives down the toilet or drain. One contraceptive, NuvaRing, comes with a Do Not Flush warning because, even after using, the ring contains estrogen that can contaminate water. Pharmaceuticals found in our water supplies include clofibrate (Atromid, Abitrate), beta-blockers, caffeine, diazepam (Valium) gemfibrozil (Lopid) nicotine, NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen and Naproxen), salbuterol (Covera-HS), and albuterol (including Proventil and Anceril). The trash can IS the place to dispose of unwanted and expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications. Proper disposal protects water quality, and decreases the chances of accidental poisoning and drug theft. Follow these steps offered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to dispose of your medications: 1. Keep medicines in original containers. Mark out all personal information on the containers. 2. Crush pills and dilute them with water. Then add coffee grinds, cat litter, dirt or sawdust. Mix liquid medicine with coffee grinds, cat litter, dirt or sawdust. 3. Insert the medicine bottle in an opaque container, like a yogurt container, and secure the lid. You can put the bottle in a dark colored plastic bag if you don't have an opaque container. Hide the container in the trash. Do NOT put the container in the recycling bin or leave it within easy reach or sight. 4. Use an old cloth or paper to absorb leftover liquids and place that material in the trash. Other ideas for disposing of medications are: 1. Contact your local pharmacy, health department or hospital pharmacy. They may accept your medicine. 2. Check whether or not local household hazardous waste collection programs will accept your medications. Contact the NJDEP Solid and Hazardous Waste Program or your county waste management program for more information. Join us for the NJEL 2009 Awards Reception April 21, 6:00PM - 8:30PM, Seton Hall University - This is a reminder that on Tuesday evening, April 21, NJEL will host its Annual Awards Reception, at Seton Hall University in South Orange. This year we are honoring three outstanding individuals. The Frank Oliver Environmental Award will be presented to Nick Corcodilos, former mayor of Clinton Township and to Jim Lanard, a former executive director of NJEL and currently associated with Bluewater Wind. The Environmental Legacy Award will be presented to Jane Morton Galetto, President of Friends of the Maurice River and Its Tributaries. Jane is also a member of the Endangered and Nongame Species Advisory Committee. The Frank Oliver Award is presented to individuals who (1) have made significant contributions to the protection of New Jersey's environment and (2) have records of vision and leadership on environmental matters. The Award is named for the late Frank Oliver, the founder and first president of NJEL. In 2005 the NJEL Board of Directors established the Environmental Legacy Award in order to recognize those whose personal and career contributions have created a legacy for future generations. The legacy may be concrete, as in preservation of an ecologically critical region like the Highlands, or it may be a legacy of empowerment, as in a model for successful citizen action. It should transcend a locality, and even our state. Recipients of the Legacy Award have been Tom Gilmore (New Jersey Audubon and the Highlands Coalition), Ed Lloyd (Environmental Justice, Rutgers Law Clinic, Columbia University) Julia Somers (Great Swamp Watershed Association, Highlands Coalition, New Jersey Environmental Lobby) and Joe Morris (Interfaith Community Organization, Environmental Justice). Join us to honor three outstanding people and meet our Trustees and members. The Reception is an opportunity to meet environmental leaders and interesting individuals who share environmental values. Ticket reservation information appears above. Tickets may be ordered until April 17 but to be included in the program book, ads and sponsorships must be received by April 10. For tickets, mail the reservation form above with payment to: NJEL, 204 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608. Tickets may also be purchased by visiting the NJEL website and using PayPal. Visit www.njenvironment.org and click on "NJEL membership," then "donate" to be linked to PayPal. Email or call Anne Poole at 609-894-4113 for information about the sponsorship and advertising opportunities that are still available. Frank Oliver Environmental Award - Nick Corcodilos - Nick Corcodilos was a citizen activist for seven years prior to serving for three years (2006-2008) as Mayor of Clinton Township. He ran for mayor to fight the designation of the environmentally-sensitive Route 22/I-78 corridor as a "high-growth, suburban" State Plan zone. As a founder and co-chair of the Clinton Township Community Coalition (CTCC), he led the technical, legal, and political drive to stop Windy Acres, a housing project labeled "NJ's poster-child for sprawl" by the Sierra Club. The site is environmentally sensitive and inappropriate for large scale development. It includes habitat of threatened and endangered species and is crossed by a Category-1 stream, the South Branch Rockaway Creek, which is a source of drinking water. Because of the CTCC's efforts, Clinton Township was the first municipality in Hunterdon County to receive Category-1 stream designations. Today, highly-protected C-1 streams crisscross much of Clinton Township. When Corcodilos took office, Clinton Township was faced with an order from the Council on Affordable Housing to develop a new COAH plan within 120 days, or face loss of legal protections from builders' lawsuits. Facing severe environmental and land-use constraints, the Township's team identified suitable sites for affordable housing and submitted a new, environmentally-sound plan that is now being executed. Today, Clinton Township is in full compliance with COAH rules. Success was realized fully on December 31, 2008, when the Township acquired the Windy Acres property for an affordable housing development that will include preserved open space. This development plan will protect the area's natural resources while providing a quality environment for affordable housing. Clinton Township found that affordable housing plans were only one part of the overall planning process and its shortcomings. Mr. Corcodilos then spearheaded the 7 Town Group, an organization of municipalities working together on the State Plan Cross Acceptance project. The Group focused on geographic and environmental characteristics that connected them, and as a result forced the Office of Smart Growth to eliminate the high-growth, suburban "Planning Area 2" designation from all of Hunterdon County. The Group's mission was to promote "Smart Planning" rather than to permit the politically-loaded idea of "smart growth" to be used as an excuse to supersede environmental concerns. Realizing that its exposure to sprawl was largely due to failures of almost two decades of sewer policy, the township hired an expert to push through the town's first Wastewater Management Plan (WMP) Amendment in 18 years. NJDEP is using this WMP as a model for other towns. The plan was created with unprecedented use of local, county and state data to ensure its integrity as a long-term policy document. It includes data from the NJ Highlands Council. The Township Environmental Commission (EC) also was made part of an executive committee comprising the E.C., the Planning Board, the Board of Adjustment, and the Mayor and Council, thereby ensuring coherent environmental planning at all levels of local policy-making. When COAH's new 2007 rules threatened New Jersey's environmental sustainability, the Mayor expanded the 7 Town Group to 20 towns and launched a lawsuit that has revealed a systemic corruption of the process. All towns participating in the lawsuit were already in compliance with COAH's rules. According to the suit, compliant towns are being penalized by unreasonable and environmentally unsound development obligations that are not supported by current growth data. The suit shows that COAH not only used outdated information, but also applied impermissible assumptions and extrapolations to define future housing needs. COAH also withheld data and studies that were requested by municipalities under the Open Public Records Act. As Clinton Township's experience shows, towns can meet affordable housing obligations without opening the door to residential and commercial sprawl. Affordable housing can be compatible with preservation of open space and protection of critical resources. Today Mr. Corcodilos serves on Clinton Township's COAH Committee and is helping to obtain Green Acres funding to support the new Windy Acres Park project. He is still an activist and a popular lecturer on the land-use and environmental issues and strategies in which he has been immersed since 1999. Nick Corcodilos is a headhunter, author, and publisher of www.asktheheadhunter.com. He is married, has two children, and has lived in Clinton Township since 1995. Frank Oliver Environmental Award - Jim Lanard - Mr. James (Jim) Lanard has a long record of accomplishment in energy and environmental policy analysis and advocacy. Jim recognized the urgency of preventing further environmental degradation before most people took it seriously. He applied his skills in government, nonprofit, and corporate settings. Most importantly, he compounded his own contributions to the environment by educating and influencing others, enlarging the web of environmental responsibility. Jim was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1978 and was Executive Director of the Philadelphia Clean Air Council from 1978 until 1981. In 1982 Jim began his association with the New Jersey Environmental Lobby, when he was hired as Executive Director. In that position, Jim also served as NJEL's legislative lobbyist. While there was growing awareness of the negative effects of polluted air and water, the public and elected officials had to be convinced that environmental damage was related to policies in transportation, solid waste management, and land use. There was resistance to curbs on pollutant emissions and to rules to enhance workplace and community health and safety. Jim developed legislative initiatives for these issues and organized coalitions of environmental, labor, and community groups to advocate on behalf of environmental protection and pollution prevention. In 1987 Jim took his communications and public relations expertise beyond U.S. borders. Volunteering for a year, he advised Israel's Environmental Protection Service and non-governmental organizations about developing public support for environmental and transportation initiatives. Jim authored the white paper that was the basis for elevating the EPS to cabinet level. In 1989 Jim joined the staff of a New Jersey environmental champion, U. S. Congressman Frank Pallone, serving as Chief of Staff and Legislative Director. Jim eventually entered the private sector as a public relations and environmental consultant. His clients have included The Walt Disney Company, Garden State Ethanol, the NJ Fuel Cell Council, Waste Management, and Jersey Central Power & Light. He worked on projects as diverse as a multi-state regional transportation plan, the formulation of Disney's corporate-wide environmental policies, Superfund reauthorization, and computerized motor vehicle registration. Jim is an expert in energy issues and he assisted a number of electric utilities in transitioning from regulated monopoly structures. Familiar with the potential of renewable energy since his days as NJEL's Executive Director, Jim is now actively involved in the effort to meet New Jersey's ambitious goal for renewable energy generation. As always, Jim is ahead of the curve. Jim received a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami. In addition to being a member of the NJ Bar, Jim is a member of the New Jersey and Florida Bars. Early in his career, he held adjunct and assistant professorships at Rutgers and Drexel Universities. More recently, he has volunteered his time as a speaker on environmental journalism and activism at Cook College. Jim has been a contributing member of nonprofit environmental organizations for decades. His memberships include the Sierra Club, the Environmental Defense Fund and, we are proud to say, the New Jersey Environmental Lobby. Several NJEL members and others who worked with Jim cite his energy and enthusiasm as the model for their own commitments to NJEL's mission. He handled a multitude of tasks and persisted in pursuing NJEL's agenda in spite of resistance by special interests and a public that was largely uninformed about environmental issues. Jim is an ice cream aficionado and believes he has the world's largest collection of T-shirts with ice-cream store logos - over 100 (size: XL!). A long-time New Jersey resident, Jim answers the question of "which exit" with "7A!" For three decades, Jim has recognized the path that must be taken toward our planet's sustainability. In the face of resistance and misinformation, he has persisted in pulling the public and private sectors along that path. The Environmental Legacy Award - Jane Morton Galetto - Jane Morton Galetto was instrumental in the 1986 incorporation of Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River and Its Tributaries, Inc. (CU), an organization that was founded in 1979. As president of CU, Ms. Galetto coordinates studies performed by experts in flora and fauna, organizes volunteers in habitat construction projects, arranges meetings about land acquisition with land trusts and property owners, conducts river tours, assists in the organization of festivals and gives conservation presentations to school and civic groups. She is a major contributor to CU's website. Ms. Galetto helped to secure the designation of the Maurice, Manumuskin, Menantico, and Muskee Rivers as part of the National Wild and Scenic River System. In addition to her efforts on behalf of local and regional ecology, she chaired the New Jersey Endangered and Nongame Species Advisory Committee (ENSAC) for 18 years and was a Fish and Game Councilwoman for that same period. She still serves as an ENSAC member. While serving on the NJ Freshwater Wetlands Advisory Committee, Jane played an integral role in the passage of New Jersey's stringent 1987 Wetlands Law. She sits on the boards of the New Jersey Audubon Society, Bayshore Discovery Project, and The Nature Conservancy Bayshores Program. Citizens United is one of the founding members of the South Jersey Bayshore Coalition, to which Ms. Galetto is a representative. She has co-produced five NJN documentaries which highlight the wonders of Southern NJ. She and Louis Presti won an Emmy for Reflections of a Bayshore Painter, a documentary on artist Glenn Rudderow. Jane is a board member of the Galetto Family Foundation, a philanthropy that supports local non-profit entities with an emphasis on health, education and the environment. Ms. Galetto has a degree in secondary education in social science from Elizabethtown College. She is married to Peter Galetto and they have two daughters: Ashley and Amanda. Peter and Jane are both committed to a variety of local institutions and use their energy to foster the success of these organizations. They share an interest in travel and a great many hobbies, including sailing, hunting, bird watching, kayaking, pottery, collecting local art and gardening. Jane was a bronze medalist in the World's International FITAC competition in sporting clay shooting. In the mid 80's Jane and Peter, along with Eddie DiPalma, originated the Maurice River Osprey Colony Project. The use of DDT caused osprey numbers to plummet in NJ from an historic 500 pair to 50 pair. By 2007, restoration efforts around NJ resulted in the state's surpassing a milestone of 400 nesting pair. CU's volunteers are responsible for providing nests for more than a quarter of the state's osprey population. Since 2006 the Maurice River has produced in excess of 60 fledglings a year. Ms. Galetto has received numerous awards for her conservation contributions, including two EPA Environmental Quality Awards, the EPA's highest honor. The Wilderness Society recognized her with a Woman of the Year award for its NJ slot. She was selected as a Woman of the Year by NJ's Conserve Wildlife, inducted into the Women's Hall of Fame for Cumberland County, chosen as Philanthropist of the Year by the Vineland Library and has been associated with many of CU's awards in education and environmental awareness. The Maurice River and its tributaries form an unusually pristine Atlantic Coastal river corridor. As part of the Atlantic flyway, it is vitally important to our hemisphere for the migration of shorebirds, songbirds, waterfowl, raptors, rails, and fish, as they travel through New Jersey on routes from the Arctic to the Tropics and back. It is home to endangered species as well as striped bass and the State's largest stand of wild rice. The Maurice is home to a historic fishing, boating, and oystering heritage. The Maurice is a critical link between the Pinelands National Preserve and the Delaware Estuary--both nationally and internationally important-and is the western boundary of the Pinelands. Ms. Galetto has created legacies at many levels. She has enabled successes at the local organizations she supports. She institutionalized a grass roots organization that went on to protect a regional resource. Her statewide work on behalf of wildlife helped to restore and protect critically endangered species. Finally, her efforts on behalf of wetlands protection in general and in the Maurice River System in particular, have directly benefitted our planet's biodiversity. Announcement of NJEL Annual Meeting - The annual meeting of NJEL members will take place prior to the 2009 Awards Reception, at 5:30 PM, in the Faculty Lounge, University Center, Seton Hall University. Members whose dues are current are entitled to attend. The annual meeting is the opportunity to introduce new Board members and officers to the membership and to announce the current legislative priorities. If you are not sure whether or not you are a member in current standing, email njel@earthlink.net or call Anne Poole 609-894-4113 and we will check your membership status. River, Bay, Ocean - NJEL signed on to a letter to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, commenting on a Draft Amendment to the Interstate River Herring Management Plan. River herring is a "family" of several fish species that are vital to the marine and estuarine food chain. The letter submitted by a group of organizations forming the Marine Fish Conservation Network comments on measures intended to increase the depleted stocks of river herring. These include requirements for reducing bycatch, providing more on-board bycatch monitoring, removing impediments to upriver migration, and preventing habitat degradation. Transportation Issues *- by Linda Dickman* "Access to the Region's Core" - The Hudson River Commuter Rail Tunnel (ARC). Over 20 years ago an idea was conceived for an additional passenger rail tunnel linking New Jersey and New York under the Hudson River. The $8 billion Access to the Region's Core (ARC) tunnel project has taken a giant step closer to reality. The Federal Transit Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, signed a Record of Decision (ROD) for the project in January. NJ Transit, in consultation with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) conducted a 5-year environmental review process that led to a Final Environmental Impact Statement. (FEIS) Now NJ Transit can begin final design. Construction is slated to start in 2009 and be completed in 2017. In October, New Jersey Transit's Board approved up to $124 million for final design work by the joint venture partners Parsons Brinckerhoff, STV, and DMJM Harris. Also in October, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority approved a toll-adjustment plan that dedicates $1.25 billion to the ARC project. In all, funding commitments from the States of New Jersey and New York and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey total $5.7 billion. Federal participation is required to make the project a reality. In January, members of New Jersey's Congressional delegation made a bipartisan appeal to then-President elect Obama to provide the balance of the funding. Anyone who lives and commutes in North Jersey knows how congested roads, bridges and tunnels have become. NJ Transit does not have any room to grow as more and more riders commute by train. The ARC tunnel will include construction of two new tracks in the Meadowlands and two single-track tunnels under the Hudson River. The project calls for the expansion of Penn Station under 34th Street in New York City. The Main, Bergen County, Pascack Valley and Port Jervis lines will increase capacity and offer transfer-free service (a "one-seat ride") to Penn Station. The tunnel will effectively double commuter rail capacity across the Hudson. By attracting more riders, the additional rail service is projected to remove 22,000 cars PER DAY from the region's roads, and result in a reduction in vehicle emissions. Besides the obvious benefits to air quality, the new tunnels will benefit both rail commuters and drivers in other ways. Less crowded trains will provide more comfortable rides and "one seat rides" will shorten travel time and inconvenience for train passengers. By reducing road congestion, the project will reduce vehicular travel time, save fuel, and reduce the costs for moving people and goods. Go to www.arctunnel.com to find out more about the project and to read the Record of Decision and the FEIS. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Meanwhile, in the South . . . The PATCO High Speed Line Extension For years there has been discussion about the need for an extension of the 14 mile PATCO High Speed line that links Center City Philadelphia with the City of Camden and suburban towns to the southeast. PATCO is a popular, successful line, and almost since its inception, there has been the hope that the benefits of rail transit would be extended to other traffic-plagued commuter communities in South Jersey. The best route was the subject of debate, however, much of it vigorous, as some small towns feared that rail service would change their character or cause noise and safety problems. There was also resistance to extending rail service to towns that were surrounded by rural areas, thereby encouraging development sprawl. In January, the state Office of Smart Growth (OSG), in the Department of Community Affairs, weighed in on the matter. OSG's recommendation is a route between Gloucester City and Glassboro. This route would serve established communities, including Woodbury, the county seat of Gloucester County, and Glassboro, home of Rowan University, and would ease highway congestion in that corridor. In a 30-page report, OSG rejected the alternatives of a rail line along routes 42 and 55, Interstate 676 or the Atlantic City Expressway because they would promote growth rather than reduce congestion in and between existing commercial hubs. The Office of Smart Growth's responsibility is to implement the State's Development and Redevelopment Plan for guiding development so as to achieve environmental sustainability. OSG's recommendation is advisory only. A spokesman for DCA said that it is based "on the relationship of the proposed routes to the goals and policies of the State Plan." Ultimately, PATCO's owner, the bi-state Delaware River Port Authority, will make the final selection about route and rail mode (the current PATCO heavy rail, or light rail). Both of those selections will have to take the sources and amount of funding into account. Governor Corzine has already pledged $500 million for the project but DRPA is also seeking Federal funds. *REMEMBER!* The New Jersey Environmental Lobby is your voice in Trenton. We are an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization focused on the preservation and protection of a healthy environment for all our citizens. We need your support! JOIN NJEL and help us change the laws! BACK TO TOP