Environmental Justice Bill Released in New Jersey

New Jersey’s Senate Environment and Energy Committee just released a measure concerning environmental permits in burdened communities.

Senate Bill 232 would require a person seeking a permit for a new facility, or for the expansion of an existing facility, located in a burdened community to meet certain additional requirements before they can obtain the permit.

Under the bill, a “burdened community” is defined as any census tract, as delineated in the most recent federal decennial census, that is ranked in the bottom 33 percent of census tracts in the state for median household income. The bill defines “facility” as any: (1) electric generating facility with a capacity of more than 10 megawatts; (2) resource recovery facility or incinerator; (3) sludge combustor or incinerator; (4) sewage treatment plant with a capacity of more than 50 million gallons per day; (5) transfer station, recycling center or other solid waste facility with a combined monthly volume in excess of 25 tons; (6) landfill, including, but not limited to, a landfill that accepts ash, construction or demolition debris or solid waste; (7) medical waste incinerator; or (8) major source of air pollution, as defined by the federal Clean Air Act.

NJ Biz has more information:

The Senate Environment and Energy Committee released Senate Bill 232 on Feb. 21, which concerns environmental permits in burdened communities.

The measure was released from committee by a vote of 3-0, and would require that a person who is seeking a permit for a new facility, or for the expansion of an existing facility, that is located in a burdened community meet certain additional requirements. The bill defines “burdened communities” as any area that is ranked in the bottom 33 percent of census tracts in New Jersey for median household income. The bill is now headed to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

Read the full article here.