The draft proposal of the Environmental Justice (EJ) Regulations, which are required to implement the EJ Law, is published and available for public comment. All comments must be received by September 4, 2022, with the applicable N.J.A.C. citation, commenter’s name and affiliation following the comment.
Public hearings concerning this notice of proposal will be held on the following dates and times:
- Monday, July 11, 2022, from 3:00 P.M. through 5:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. through 7:00 P.M. at the Department of Environmental Protection’s (Department) Public Hearing Room, 401 E. State Street, Trenton.
- Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at 6:30 P.M. at the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Multi Purpose Room; 1865 Harrison Ave., Camden, NJ 08105.
- Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at 6:00 P.M. at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Campus Center Atrium, First Floor 150 Bleeker Street, Newark, NJ 07102. Parking is Available at the NJIT Summit Street Garage, 154 Summit Street: https://www.njit.edu/about/maps-directions.
- Thursday, July 28, 2022, at 6:00 P.M. through the Department’s virtual meeting platform (as noted below).
The July 28 public hearing will be conducted virtually through the Department’s video conferencing software. A link to the virtual public hearing with telephone call-in option will be provided on the Department’s website at https://www.nj.gov/dep/rules/notices.html.
Additionally, a beta version of the Environmental Justice Mapping, Assessment and Protection (EJMAP) tool is now live. This tool provides the public with a visualization of where overburdened communities (OBC) are located throughout the State, where existing facilities regulated under the Law are located, and what existing environmental and public health stressors impact these OBCs. For more information on how to use EJMAP, please review this tutorial.
The EJMAP tool and associated technical guidance document are not part of the formal EJ rule proposal, and, as such, comments on these items will not be part of the public record. Accordingly, any comments on the information underlying the mapping reflected in the tool, the process provided in the proposed rule for updating boundaries, or on any other aspect of the proposed EJ rule must be made through the process provided in that proposal within the timeframe provided for public comment. Feedback on the tool and technical guidance, particularly related to the structure and functionality of the tool itself, can be shared to EJMAPFeedback@dep.nj.gov for consideration.
To learn more about EJ in New Jersey, visit nj.gov/dep/ej. Any questions pertaining to EJ can be sent to environmentaljustice@dep.nj.gov. Thank you.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is dedicated to protecting New Jersey’s environment and public health. The agency prioritizes addressing climate change, protecting New Jersey’s water, revitalizing its communities and managing and promoting its natural and historic resources.
For the most recent information, follow the DEP on Twitter @NewJerseyDEP, Facebook @newjerseydep, Instagram @nj.dep, and LinkedIn @newjerseydep, or visit www.nj.gov/dep.
