NJEJA, along with signed partners, respectfully submit these comments under the New Jersey EJ Law to the Kuehne Company in Kearny, New Jersey regarding their Title V Operating Permit.
Our thanks to Camden for Clean Air, Clean Water Action, Earthjustice, the EJ Committee of the Metuchen-Edison-Piscataway Branch of the NAACP, the EJ Committee of the NJ State Conference of the NAACP, Environment New Jersey, Ironbound Community Corporation, Newark Science and Sustainability, New School Tishman Environment and Design Center, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, NY/NJ Baykeeper, Operation Grow, South Ward Environmental Alliance, Surfrider, and Waterspirit for signing on to these comments.
For questions and additional support on NJ EJ Law engagement, please reach out to us at info@njeja.org
We want to thank the prime sponsors in both the NJ Senate and Assembly for their leadership – Prime Senate sponsors Bob Smith and Raj Mukerji as well as Assemblywoman Collazos-Gill. Their leadership has secured a reduction in single-use plastics while providing financial savings to New Jerseyans. This environmental victory is the result of hard work by volunteers, municipal governments, and students working at the local level to advance this policy.
“In a time of over-production and a proliferation of plastic waste, clogging not only our kitchen drawers, but landfills and incinerators in environmental justice communities, Skip the Stuff is a clear, financially feasible, and community-oriented solution. I’m grateful for the many environmental advocates, public health experts, the New Jersey legislature, and Governor Murphy for passing this legislation and supporting a cultural shin towards decreasing single-use plastic consumption. ” said Brooke Helmick with New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance.
“Skip the Stuff is practical legislation that reduces waste and toxics while saving money,” said Marta Young, Zero Waste Specialist, Clean Water AcBon. “By passing Skip the Stuff, New Jersey is a national leader in reducing single-use plastic while respecting customer choice and supporting local businesses. Every fork and ketchup packet adds up. We thank New Jersey’s legislative champions and local advocates for understanding that small things cause big problems and for providing a great model for other states to follow.”
“This legislation is common sense and an excellent education tool. When we know better, we do better. That is exactly what Skip the Stuff does. It informs both the food providers and the consumers on how our every day decisions can have an impact not only on our environment, but also on our finances. With such successes in already Skip the Stuff compliant towns, I am excited to see how we can thrive together as this is made into a state change,” said Molly Cleary, Environmental Advocate for Clean Water AcBon.
Last month, EPA Adminstrator Lee Zeldin and the Trump Administration have proposed a formal repeal of the EPA’s Endangerment Finding. As it currently works, the Endangerment Finding created a formal obligation for the EPA to limit greenhouse gas pollution under the Clean Air Act. This obligation a critical cool in protecting communities and combatting climate change.
In response, the Equitable and Just National Climate Platform, Climate Justice Alliance, Environmental Justice Leadership Forum, Moving Forward Network, and the Environmental Justice Health Alliance have collaborated to create comments opposing the repeal of the endangerment finding and a suite of other administrative actions rolling back community protections.
For questions, please reach out to us at info@njeja.org
As voting residents across the state of New Jersey gear up for the 2025 Gubernatorial election, NJEJA is proud to publish our Statewide Policy Platform which details areas of concerns and consideration for both candidates. We believe that the issue of racial and environmental justice should transcend political and party lines, as the right to clean air, water, and land is not only immutable but fundamental to the wellbeing of every person.
We are grateful to the 15 organizations and counting, who have endorsed this platform and stand as partners and allies to the environmental justice movement in the Garden State. We welcome further conversation from candidates, elected/appointed officials, and any person who wishes to learn more about the history of environmental justice and how our work looks to build us towards a Just Transition.
For questions, please reach out to us at info@njeja.org.
Shortly after the release of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection first of it’s kind decision under the landmark 2020 Environmental Justice Law and subsequent rules, the DEP has released it’s second decision. The decision concerns the application of the Corning Pharmaceutical Glass, LLC facility in Vineland, NJ.
As before, while we are glad to see another decision released and the rules continue to be enforced, NJEJA and our partners have concerns regarding the components of the decision and – from our perspective – DEP’s decision to not be as protective as possible of EJ communities.
To voice these concerns and to spotlight areas of possible improvement, NJEJA and our partners wrote a letter to address our thoughts and identify points in which we thought that the EJ Law could have been more robustly enforced. This letter has been sent to NJ DEP. Read the full letter below.
For questions, please reach out to us at info@njeja.org.
Our full letter to NJ DEP regarding the Corning Pharmaceutical Glass, LLC decision:
As part of NJEJA’s aim to provide EJ guidance and technical expertise as well as educational materials to governmental agencies, bodies, and decision makers, we submitted comments regarding the New Jersey Board of Public Utility’s Resource Adequacy Technical conference. These comments were aimed at supporting the BPU in understanding the EJ perspective on different types of energy and call on the BPU to prioritize clean energy projects including more solar (both large scale and community-level), on- and offshore wind, battery storage, virtual power plants, and small-scale hydro-electric.
For questions, please reach out to us at info@njeja.org
Nearly 5 years after the passage of the landmark, first of it’s kind Environmental Justice Law, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection has issued it’s first decision on the Safety-Kleen facility permit application. While we are glad to see these decisions come through, NJEJA and our partners have serious concerns with the components of the decision.
To make our concerns known and to raise our points of conversation with the DEP, NJEJA and our partners penned a letter addressing our thoughts as well as areas of the decision which we did not feel fully enforced the EJ law. This letter has been sent to staff at the NJ DEP. Read the full letter below.
For questions, please reach out to us at info@njeja.org.
Our full letter to NJ DEP regarding the Safety-Kleen decision:
As part of ongoing engagement regarding the New Jersey Board of Public Utility’s Triennium process, the BPU solicited comments on updates to the program. NJEJA offered our support and guidance based on our work, experience, and relationships with community partners to articulate support for community-centered building decarbonization work and horizontal integration of all stakeholder groups including residents, tenants, and community-based organizations.
For questions, please reach out to us at info@njeja.org
Yesterday, the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners voted YES to building a FOURTH fossil-fuel power plant in Newark’s Ironbound, a devastating blow to a community that has spent years demanding clean air. This decision is a slap in the face to the residents, technical experts, and advocates who have laid out viable, cleaner solutions. Instead, PVSC chose to ignore science, health, and community voices in favor of its profits. Newark doesn’t need another polluting facility; the city needs REAL investment in its future, not more toxic infrastructure.
NJEJA stands with the Ironbound and those across the state who have spoken out against this dangerous decision.
To PVSC: We will not stop fighting. Everyone deserves clean air, regardless of their zip code.
Read our full statement below:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 13, 2025
Press Contact: Melissa Miles, Executive Director | melissa@njeja.org
Newark, New Jersey – The New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, a statewide organization dedicated to reducing and eliminating environmental injustices in communities of color and low-income communities, is deeply disappointed in PVSC’s decision to approve project plans to construct a fourth power plant in the City of Newark. We call upon the Commissioners to reconsider their decision and halt construction plans.
Communities have been clear in their opposition to this plan, and PVSC’s decision to support the plan directly flies in the face of community agency and autonomy. For years, a multitude of community members in the Ironbound, advocates, and residents from across the state have highlighted the ways that a fourth power plant would bring about dangerous increases in local air pollution and contribute to the effects of climate change. The approval of this project, which would burn natural gas and potentially utilize hydrogen fuel, directly contradicts the state’s clean energy goals. Any plan for additional plants that do not rely solely on truly clean energy risks increasing local air pollution levels, including both greenhouse gases and co-pollutant emissions.
PVSC’s decision represents a threat to both environmental justice and public health, as well as a direct disregard and disrespect to community members opposing this plan. We stand in solidarity with residents, community members, advocates, and community-based organizations who have vehemently opposed this project. We will not give up. We demand clean air for all persons across this state, regardless of their zip code. “
“I am disappointed that the Passaic Valley Sewerage commission has approve the construction of an additional power plant instead of taking this opportunity to collaborate with the community to create a solution that everybody could support.” Nicky Sheats. Ph.D., Esq., Director, Center for the Urban Environment, Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research at Kean University Senior Policy Fellow and Lecturer, Center for Policy Research on Energy and the Environment, School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University
“It is very regrettable that the PVSC board of commissioners has chosen to vote against climate science, clean technology, and community voices. Our goal is to avert the health impacts of another toxic gas plant in an already environmentally overburdened community. Instead of taking the high road, PVSC continues to take the path of least economic and political resistance at the expense of the Ironbound and neighboring communities. We expect more from our utilities and our dollars.” Melissa Miles Executive Director, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance
“This yes vote is not only incredibly disappointing, but an example in which community members have been passed over and not valued as the equal stakeholders in this process that they are. Many technical experts, advocates, experienced community members, and residents have not only vocally opposed this project, but offered viable alternatives and solutions to the issues PVSC has raised. Newark does not want – or need – a fourth fossil-fuel burning power plant.” Brooke Helmick Director of Policy, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance
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To learn more and read our open letter to PVSC, click the button below.
As a vote on the proposed PVSC power plant appears imminent, NJEJA is shining a spotlight on our letter to PVSC which went unanswered. On September 19, NJEJA submitted a letter to the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission’s Commissioners expressing our deep opposition to the proposal of a fourth power plant in the Ironbound Community of Newark, New Jersey.
For years, community members both in the East Ward and across the state have been clear: no more power plants in Newark! Not only has the community continually come to monthly PVSC meetings to voice strong opposition to this plan, but numerous technical, legal, and planning experts have highlighted that there are better alternatives for the energy needs of PVSC than a fourth power plant.
We stand in solidarity with the residents of the Ironbound in opposing this plant as it will contribute to local air pollution, exacerbate risks to negative health outcomes, and continue a reliance on fossil fuels when a rapid transition to renewables is deeply needed.
Commissioners, leave behind a legacy of environmental justice and Vote No on this proposal.
