Donate Now
Connect
Explore Your Community
Discover the Issues
Publications
New Jersey Currents|online, Summer 2010
In this issue of New Jersey Currents|online:
Welcome to New Jersey Environmental Federation's Summer 2010 Newsletter, Clean Water Currents! We hope you have had an amazing kick-off to the summer! We have been very busy community organizing, lobbying, and conducting research, education and other programs on environmental issues that impact our air, land, and water resources ... and of course the Jersey Shore!
What is Tritium and What is it Doing in My Aquifer?
By Peggi Sturmfels, Program Organizer, New Jersey Currents|online, Summer 2010
Tritium (or radioactive hydrogen) contamination of ground water was discovered at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generation Station (OCNGS) in Lacey Township, New Jersey on Friday May, 14, 2010. According to the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) it was attributed to an airborne release of tritiated water from OCNGS' isolation condenser system following a reactor shutdown on July 17, 2007.
Clean Air...Good Jobs
By Amy Goldsmith, State Director, New Jersey Currents|online, Summer 2010
Feed Your Lawn - Without Poisoning Your Water
By Jenny Vickers, Communications Coordinator, New Jersey Currents|online, Summer 2010
Like vitamins, nutrients are thought to be good for you, but too many can also make you sick. In New Jersey, our aquatic ecosystems are showing severe signs of stress from excessiv
e nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus which can come from many sources including synthetic fertilizers*, discharge from wastewater treatment plants, overflowing septic systems, and runoff from croplands and builtup areas.
The Good and the Bad of the State House’s New Leaders
By David Pringle, Campaign Director, New Jersey Currents|online, Summer 2010
The Christie Ad
ministration and new legislative leadership of Senate President Steve Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver recently completed their first 100 days in power and are completing their budget balancing battle. We have seen the good, the bad and the ugly come to the fore, and there is certainly more to come.
Governor Chris Christie and the Environment
New Jersey Currents|online, Summer 2009 - Update
In this issue of New Jersey Currents|online:
2008-9 Legislature Worst In New Jersey History?
November Elections for Assembly and Governor Key
At its current pace, the 2008-2009 New Jersey Legislature will go down as the worst environmentally in at least in modern history. Several major bills that rollback key protections have sailed through the legislature while the few positive bills that moved were comparatively less significant and even they had to be weakened to become viable.
Making Connections: Water, Energy and Climate Change
New Jersey Currents|Online, Summer 2009 - Update
Protecting water quality and quantity is one of the most important issues of our time. Currently, 1 billion people in the world (18 percent of the population) lack access to safe drinking water. By 2025, it is estimated that about two thirds of the world's population-about 5.5 billion people-will live in areas facing moderate to severe water stress.
Giving Hope for Newark Youth
New Jersey Currents|Online, Summer 2009 - Update
The graduating class of Newark's Urban Environmental Institute, April 2009.
Kids growing up in Newark don't have it easy. Serious environmental pollution coupled with economic and safety stresses often give children no hope for a better future. Diesel exhaust levels alone cause a tripling of the cancer risk in comparison to suburban areas. Newark kids are also number 1 for asthma-related mortality rates with a doubling of rates within minority populations.
What's sad is that many of these kids don't think they can do anything about it. But there is hope.
Clean Energy Investment Provides Economic Boost, More Jobs in New Jersey
New studies demonstrate how New Jersey can create 48,000 jobs, especially for lower-income households
New Jersey Currents|Online, Summer 2009 - Update
In June 2009, the New Jersey Environmental Federation, in coordination with the Garden State Alliance for a New Economy (GANE) and Laborers 55, co-released two complementary reports today that were prepared by the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (PERI), Center for American Progress (CAP), Green For All, and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), which outline how investment in a clean-energy economy will produce significant economic and job creation benefits.
The studies show that a $4.6 billion amount of investment would create 48,000 jobs in New Jersey. According to the analysis, shifting to a clean-energy economy will help millions of low-income Americans by creating more accessible job opportunities-with the potential for advancement-and by lowering utility bills and transportation costs.
Other Publications
Carbon Capture and Geologic Storage
Risks to Public Health and Water Resources
Carbon Capture and Storage Overview
Protecting Michigan children's health and growing our economy through green chemistry
Michigan is only as strong as its next generation. That's why Michigan legislators must be forceful advocates for the health and safety of children, especially children in economically disadvantaged areas who are typically exposed to higher levels of pollutants.
Childhood Asthma Prevalence (ages 0–17)
Source: Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics
This can be accomplished through laws limiting chemicals and pollutants linked to afflictions like childhood asthma, obesity, autism, learning disabilities and cancers.
Many of our laws and protections, however, are outdated, ineffective and have not kept pace with a new generation of scientific and health research.
Improve the quality of our state's most valuable economic and natural resource
Source: University of Notre Dame's Center for Aquatic Conservation
Located in the center of the planet's greatest freshwater resource, Michigan has a unique role as steward and caretaker of the majestic Great Lakes. They contain almost 20 percent of the world's fresh surface water, and Michigan is the only state entirely within their basin. The rivers, streams, ponds and groundwater that are the Lakes' lifeblood are also the backbone of the Michigan economy, essential to the health of its ecosystems and vital to our very identity as Michiganders. Unfortunately, our water resources are at continuing risk.
"Pure Michigan" at risk due to budget cuts at DNRE
Source: State of Michigan Executive Budget, FY2011
Michigan sells its natural beauty to the rest of the country through its "Pure Michigan" tourism campaign. Michigan has a long history of environmental and conservation innovation and leadership. Unfortunately, in recent years, that dedication has weakened, and investment has faded.
Clean energy means Michigan jobs
Investing in Michigan-made clean energy will inject prosperity into our economy and stimulate
new job growth throughout the state. Global demand for clean energy products is skyrocketing. By positioning ourselves as leaders in advanced-battery technology, solar component manufacturing and wind turbine production, Michigan businesses will cultivate global markets.
In Michigan, we import 100% of our coal, 100% of our uranium, 97% of our petroleum and 80% of our natural gas. This amounts to more than $26 billion being permanently shipped out of the Michigan economy annually.1 Homegrown clean energy ventures will produce jobs here in Michigan and keep that money circulating locally.