Platform Update

May 2009

P4P ENVIRONMENT COALITION CONFERENCE CALL:  Last month, Coalition members discussed several agenda action items.  Much time was dedicated to the License Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) legislation and the communication efforts with the Governor’s Office.  Platform members gave an overview on their meetings with Clarke Bruno, the Governor’s counsel on environmental issues and background information on the Executive Order that would be issued with the legislation.  On the energy front, Platform members discussed legislation being tracked that would promote green jobs and incentives for the business community.  A supplemental position statement would be developed that would encourage flexibility and advocate for a “technology neutral” policy.  The science advisory board issue was discussed at length and Platform members agreed to research other states with regard to the structure and process of their boards, with particular attention to the Pennsylvania experience.  The coalition will have a follow-up conference call on May 26.

DEP COMMISSIONER TO DISCUSS ISSUES WITH PLATFORM MEMBERS: P4P Environment Coalition members are encouraged to sign up for the State Chamber’s breakfast roundtable session with Acting DEP Commissioner Mauriello at Forsgate Country Club scheduled for next Wednesday, May 20.  To register for the event go to www.njchamber.com

SITE REMEDIATION: The Licensed Site Remediation Professional (LSRP) legislation, A-2962, was signed into law on May 7.  This bill proposes that New Jersey borrow aspects of a Massachusetts program (a major recommendation of the State Chamber's Benchmarking Study on Site Remediation) to allow certified professionals to proceed through the investigation and remediation of selected sites with a minimum of DEP oversight.

The State Chamber supports the legislation and believes it will begin the process of reducing the excessive backlog of 20,000 contaminated sites in New Jersey .  The State Chamber, working collaboratively with other stakeholders, was successfully in advocating changes that would provide better liability protections for LSRP’s and more flexibility in the site remediation process. 

The press release from the Office of the Governor can be viewed here. at: .  The Governor also issued an Executive Order to provide oversight, accountability and transparency to the new law.  The Executive Order can be viewed here.  A detailed power-point presentation can be viewed here.  An implementation time line can be viewed here.

Passing legislation that improves the site remediation process, utilizing the recommendations from the State Chamber’s 2007 Site Remediation Benchmarking study, is a primary goal of the P4P Environment Coalition.

GOVERNOR SIGNS ENERGY LEGISLATION: Governor Corzine recently signed legislation that would support both cogeneration projects, and the development of solar energy and wind energy installations.

A-2507/S-1932 authorizes the BPU to use Retail Margin Fund monies to provide grants for combined heat and power production, energy efficiency projects and programs promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency.  This money will primarily be used to develop cogeneration facilities, and will provide a $450 rebate for every kilowatt of capacity installed.

A-2550/S-1299 permits the location of certain wind and solar facilities on parcels of land comprising 20 or more contiguous acres within industrial zones of municipalities.

Passing legislation or promulgating regulations that reduce energy consumption, stimulate “green jobs”, and provide incentives to the business community, is a primary goal of the P4P Environment Coalition.

ITEMS OF INTEREST

SITE REMEDIATION BASICS COURSE: Rutgers University will offer several "Site Remediation Basics" courses in June which fulfills the requirements for LSRP applicants to complete a generally recognized course on DEP’s technical guidance for site remediation.  DEP representatives will explain the regulations and guidance documents you will need when conducting site investigations and remediation activities.  You will learn how to comply with the Industrial Site Recovery Act, the Underground Storage of Hazardous Substance Act and the Spill Compensation and Control Act, and associated Administrative Consent Orders and Voluntary Cleanups.  Case studies will provide “real-world” examples of how to prepare and submit workplans and report packages.

To be placed on a waiting list, call the Rutgers Continuing Professional Education Office, Registration Unit, at 732-932-9271.

SOLAR POWER ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Several New Jersey companies have announced new solar initiatives that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in New Jersey .

Merck: One of the largest ground-mounted solar tracking systems built in a corporate setting is now powering energy to the world headquarters of Merck.  With construction complete, nearly 7,000 moving solar panels are tracking the sun to generate 2.5 million kilowatt hours of energy per year.

Schering Plough: Celebrating the completion of a 1.7 megawatt solar energy system, Schering Plough unveiled one of the largest photovoltaic rooftop installations in New Jersey and North America .  With panels located atop seven buildings at the company's Summit , N.J. site, the solar energy system is the latest high-profile component in Schering-Plough's award-winning global energy management program.

Wal-Mart: The retail giant Wal-Mart says it will begin installing solar on its stores in five U.S. states: California , Colorado , Connecticut , Hawaii , and New Jersey . The project is part of an aggressive environmental campaign Wal-Mart unveiled in 2005.  All of Wal-Mart's solar projects will generate enough clean energy to power the equivalent of 2,600 homes and avoid 22,500 metric tons of carbon-dioxide emissions each year.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS ELIGIBLE FOR ARRA FUNDING: Governor Corzine recently announced more than 400 New Jersey clean water and drinking water projects eligible to receive $204 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds.  Of the $204 million total in ARRA funding, $161 million will be available for clean water projects and $43 million for drinking water projects. The EPA must review and approve each project.  The DEP has prioritized clean water projects to eliminate sewer overflows, halt releases of raw sewage, preventing discharge into waterways, and improving water quality in polluted areas. Drinking water projects have been categorized to include compliance with public health, drinking water infrastructure plans, areas experiencing a high level of population growth, and areas of greatest financial need.  To view the complete project list, go to the DEP's Web site under featured topics: www.state.nj.us/dep. 

Plastic Bag Manufacturers Set Recycle Goals:

Plastic bag manufacturers, working with the American Chemistry Council, have set a goal to increase the recycled content of plastic bags to 40 percent by 2015.  The Full Circle Recycling Initiative, developed by the Progressive Bag Affiliates of the American Chemistry Council, would require a $50 million investment from industry members to increase the collection of bags and update manufacturing processes.  The Initiative also aims to have 25 percent of that 40 percent content come from postconsumer recycled plastic. To achieve the two goals, plastic bag makers would need to use 470 million pounds of recycled plastic (300 million pounds of which is postconsumer) annually, the equivalent of 36 billion bags.

EPA SEEKS STRICT INTERNATIONAL SHIP EMISSIONS RULES: EPA is seeking to impose stricter emission regulations on marine vessels along United States coastlines.  This move makes the United States the first country to ask the International Maritime Organization, or IMO, to create an emissions control area around the nation's coastline.  To achieve these reductions, ships must use fuel with no more than 1,000 parts per million sulfur beginning in 2015, and new ships must used advanced emission control technologies beginning in 2016.   For more information on the proposal, go to http://www.epa.gov/otaq/oceanvessels.htm.

ENVIRONMENT-TIP-OF-THE-MONTH: Recycle your cell phone - Find where you can drop off your old cell phone and recycle it properly - go to http://www.epa.gov/plugin

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Michael Egenton
Vice President , Environment & Transportation
New Jersey Chamber of Commerce
216 West State Street
Trenton, NJ 08608
Phone: (609)989-7888 Ext. 119
Fax: (609)989-9696
Michael.Egenton@njchamber.com