In April 2018, the Department of Public Works (DPW) created an Expedited Reimbursement Program for residents experiencing sewage backups—a mandate under the consent decree. Yet according to environmental advocates with Clean Water Action, Blue Water Baltimore, and the Environmental Integrity Project who have reviewed DPW’s reports, the reimbursement program is seriously flawed.
Last spring, the city launched a $2 million pilot program that was supposed to help pay for home repairs stemming from sewage backups.
New commitment targets PFAS, organohalogen flame retardants, phthalates, bisphenols, and other dangerous chemicals for safe substitution
Today the Trump administration continued its assault on the Clean Water Act and signed a proposal to weaken effluent limitation guidelines (ELGs) for the power plant industry.
Changes to solar regulations, pending legislation, could open up opportunity
BOSTON -- Municipal officials from across the state, including Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Chelsea, Holyoke, New Bedford, Worcester and twenty other communities, are urging the Baker administration and legislature to address inequities in solar access through revamped energy regulations and pending state legislation.
"Protecting the environment, ensuring public health and creating a just society are all inextricably linked--you can't achieve one without the others. Frankly, the Baker Administration has been neglecting health and justice to an unacceptable degree. We urge the Governor to take his responsibilities, for protecting everyone's health from toxics and ensuring environmental justice in every community, more seriously in the next 3 years."
Jersey City- In partnership with ReThink Disposable, environmental non-profit Greener JC is launching a Straws by Request campaign next month called No Straw November. The month-long event is part of a larger Plastic Free Initiative, Plastic Free JC, and the national No Straw November pledge. Participating in this challenge offers the opportunity for community members to increase their awareness of single-use plastic waste while becoming more environmentally engaged.
Newark, NJ - Today, Clean Water Action joined NJ’s Attorney General Grewal and NJ Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner McCabe where they announced a new round of environmental justice (EJ) enforcement strikes throughout the state. Clean Water Action is pleased to see this administration taking steps to hold polluters accountable to their wrongdoing. Clean Water Action's State Director, Amy Goldsmith responds to today's announcement.
"The only people who support this outrageous repeal are the corporate polluters who stand to benefit from making it easier to contaminate streams or to fill in wetlands, while burdening communities downstream with their pollution," said Jennifer Peters, National Water Programs director for Clean Water Action. "Americans understand the importance of clean water and expect our government officials to do more, not less, to protect it. We're going to fight this scheme, along with the rest of the Trump administration's dirty water agenda."
President Trump’s continued rollback of federal safeguards means state and local governments need to fill the void. It’s vital that local and state leaders work to ensure strong protections for our health and environment. New Jersey must return as a national leader on clean energy, clean water, and environmental justice. We can only achieve this by electing assembly members who will prioritize their constituents over special interests.