local environment matters autumn 2018autumn 2018 · providing neighborhood enhancements that...

AUTUMN 2018Local Environment Matters AUTUMN 2018Local Environment Matters

about it

Inside:

How towns and cities are fighting flooding

The spotted lanternfly – It’s on the move!

Why noise pollution is bad, and what to do

Inside:

How towns and cities are fighting flooding

The spotted lanternfly – It’s on the move!

Why noise pollution is bad, and what to doabout it

2 ANJEC REPORT – Autumn 2018

Director’s Report


Help us help you

ne of the busiest seasons forenvironmental commissions (ECs) is uponus. Harvest festivals and community fairshighlighting autumn’s bounty givecommunity’s a chance to celebrate theseason. ANJEC is here is help environmentalcommissions showcase their goals andefforts to residents and businesses in thecommunity.

Teach others aboutenvironmental priorities

ANJEC has display boards and interactivecommunity games for ECs to use whenthey table at community events. Ourgames are fun, educational, end engagepeople in a hands-on manner. Some of thegames available for your EC to borrow are:the Wheel of Knowledge in two versions –“Cut Your Carbon Footprint” and “Cut YourWater Footprint;” the EQ Energy Challengeboard game; the Habitat Protection cardgame; and a Plinko-based Plastic PollutionReduction game. We also offer displays ongreen infrastructure; the Passaic River andstormwater.

ANJEC also has seven topical filmsavailable on loan to ECs, schools and greenteams through our environmental filmlibrary, and we’re always looking to addnewly released films. (See page 14.) Getmore details or request a film by emailingus at [email protected] or call 973-539-7547.

Amplify the impact of your park,stream, and coastal cleanups

ECs do a great job of organizing fallcleanup events and engaging communitymembers. ANJEC can help magnify yourhard work. Contact us as far in advance aspossible of your cleanup event. We can helpengage county and State officials and invitethem and their staffs to your event. Havinggovernment officials at your event helpsshine a spotlight on your great work, andcan help garner press attention.

ANJEC can also help you write a pressrelease about your event so those whoweren’t able to attend will read about it andbe sure to mark their calendars next time.Also, ANJEC can provide you with informa-tion about plastics pollution, stormwatermanagement and more to pass along toState and local officials urging them to takeaction to reduce litter and improve recy-cling. After all, the ultimate goal of clean-ups should be to make the events obsolete.

Protect your local environmentwith policy improvements

ANJEC can help your EC research andanalyze issues, draft ordinances, and buildsupport among your local officials andcommunity members. Dozens of municipali-ties have taken action in recent years, withsupport from their ECs, to reduce plasticpollution with bag and balloon release bans,improved stormwater management, andreduced hazards from flood impacts.Ordinances can take time and they needthe support and engagement of local

O

ANJEC REPORT – Autumn 2018 3SUSTAINABLY PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

Executive Director ........................... Jennifer M. CoffeyEditor ................................................. Julie Lange Groth

The Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissionsis a private, non-profit educational organization serving environ-mental commission and open space committee members, con-cerned individuals, non-profits, and local officials. ANJEC’sprograms aim to promote the public interest in natural resourcepreservation, sustainable development and reclamation andsupport environmental commissions and open space commit-tees working with citizens and other non-profit organizations.

The REPORT welcomes articles and photographs but is notresponsible for loss or damage. Opinions expressed by guestauthors do not necessarily reflect ANJEC policy. Articles maybe reprinted with permission and credit. Please addresscorrespondence to ANJEC REPORT, PO Box 157, Mendham,NJ 07945; tel: 973-539-7547; fax: 973-539-7713.E-mail [email protected]. Web site: www.anjec.org.

565 MUNICIPALITIES .................... ONE ENVIRONMENT

Vol. 38 / No. 4 AUTUMN 2018

Library Subscription $18.00ISSN 1538-0742

SUSTAINABLY PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

Jennifer M. CoffeyExecutive Director

On the cover: Luna Moth

2 Director’s Report

4 Solutions for rising seas

6 Single-use plasticslegislative roundup

7 Stormwater utilities tacklepollution and flooding

8 Proposal for MusconetcongRiver gas-fired power plantraises concerns

10 Acting Locally

12 Clean air victory on theElizabeth waterfront

15 Freshwater mussels arecleaning our water

17 The spotted lanternfly hasarrived in NJ

19 Passive House principles saveenergy

21 What’s all the noise about?

23 Water conservation ordi-nances help protect ourwater supply

25 In remembrance

27 It Pay$ to Plug In: NJ’selectric vehicle charginggrants

28 Municipal separate stormsewer system (MS4) permits

29 Local Action Toolkits nowavailable

30 Meet Isabella!

31 ANJEC’S 45th AnnualEnvironmental Congress

32 Aboard the AJ Meerwald

34 ANJEC 2019 Membership

In this issue:officials and community leaders, so contactus when you are in the idea stage. ANJEChas model and samples ordinances frommunicipalities who have already takensimilar actions. Using what already existscan save your municipality time andmoney in legal review.

The best way to contact ANJEC forassistance is by calling us at (973) 539-7547or by sending an email to [email protected] connected with the stories we shareabout municipalities taking action toprotect and restore NJ’s environment byfollowing us on Facebook and Twitter(@ANJECtweets). And if you aren’t alreadyreceiving our news alerts and the biweeklyANJEC News, sign up atwww.ANJECNews.com or send us an emailat [email protected].

Click on an article to jump to that page


Solutions forrising seas

n recent years, flooding has grownto be part of the landscape in New Jerseyand around the world. In particular, thoseliving in hard-hit, low lying areas arestruggling to find solutions to prevent lossof life and property. Some cities have beendeveloping innovative ideas for controllingfloods and even welcoming in the risingwater.

Rotterdam in the Netherlands hasemerged as an example of forward thinking.With 90 percent of its land below sea level,the city needed to pioneer new ways toaddress the effects of climate change.Rotterdam has devised parks, lakes andplazas that double as reservoirs to receivewater when seas and rivers overflow. Byproviding neighborhood enhancements thatwelcome the water in, the Dutch city hasturned potential disaster into publicamenities. This approach has been sosuccessful that Rotterdam consultants arein demand for high-tech engineering andwater management jobs in places like HoChi Min city, New Orleans and other citiesaround the globe.

By Elizabeth Ritter, ANJEC Deputy Director

Similarly, New Orleans has developed awater-welcoming approach as part of theRockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Citiesprogram. The pilot project in the GentillyDistrict diverts water into the landscape.There is a planned “water garden” on thesite of a destroyed convent that will be ableto store up to 10 million gallons of water.Permeable sidewalks, plantings along majorroads and green infrastructure features onplaygrounds and campuses will help toreduce flooding while adding green spacesand other amenities to neighborhoods. NewOrleans will use lessons in this district as anexample for other districts in the city as wellas other areas in the country.

Closer to homeMany New Jersey communities near

waterways are getting used to more fre-quent flooding and are seeking new solu-tions that don’t involve huge walls. LittleSilver in Monmouth County experiencedsignificant flooding and property loss duringSandy in 2012. As a result of participating inthe New Jersey Coastal Community Resil-

I

New Orleansis one of theRockefellerFoundation’s100ResilientCities


ience Demonstration Project, the municipal-ity developed a Coastal Community Vulner-ability Assessment Tool (VAT). Based on theVAT and responses to a Getting to Resil-iency Questionnaire, the Borough updatedits coastal wetlands ordinance. The lawprevents development of coastal wetlandsthat protect areas from storm surge flood-ing. The Borough also passed an open spacetax and an open space plan that makesfloodplain management a priority in identi-fying properties to preserve.

Hoboken’s new Rebuild by Design projectwas put to the test during August’s severerainstorms, and the system is working asplanned. Southwest Park’s two wet-weatherpumps moved rain water into under-groundtanks where it was stored and then releasedinto the Hudson River. Future tanks plannedfor two more public parks will hold anadditional 1.47 million gallons of rain water.

The overall plan supports four main goals:• Resist – A combination of hard infrastruc-

ture (bulkheads, floodwalls, seawalls) andsoft landscape features (berms or leveesincorporated into city parks) providebarriers to sea intrusion.

• Delay – Green infrastructure helps to slowand infiltrate stormwater runoff.

• Store – Green and grey water infrastruc-ture projects like bioretention basins,swales and green roofs complement thecurrent and pending storage tank andpump systems.

• Discharge – The city is identifying andupgrading the existing stormwatermanagement system.

Maurice River Township inCumberland County regularlyfaces flooding due to tidalsurges and sea level rise. Thetownship has converted once-condemned property into amunicipal park, restoring theland to natural habitat. Byremoving storm-ravaged

docks and sea walls and adding kayak andcanoe access, the township added communityparkland while stemming the tide.

Many New Jersey municipalities today arefaced with flooding and sea level rise and arelooking for innovative ways to combatclimate change impacts. Protecting andpreserving coastal lands that help slow risingwater while introducing new green infra-structure elements are affordable methodsfor municipalities to control flooding. Theyalso enrich neighborhoods with parks andother water features that add beauty andenhance quality of life.

For more information, contact the ANJECResource Center at [email protected] or973-539-7547.

Hoboken’s Southwest Park,NJ’s first “resiliency park”under construction

Maurice River Twp. Mayor Andy Sarchettein 2013 walking the flood-ravagedThompson's beach as it was being restoredto natural habitat


In 2018, we have seenincreased public awareness,education, advocacy andscientific understandingabout the dangers ofsingle-use plastics aroundthe nation. New Jersey hashad an uptick in local andstate-level legislativeactivity on single-useplastic bags, polystyrenefood containers(StyrofoamTM), plasticstraws and balloons. Local activity is adriver for statewide change.

Statewide plastic bag billThank you to all those who have

contacted your town council members,legislators and Governor Murphy to amendand sign a proposed statewide plastic bagbill. Unfortunately, rather than fix the bill,Governor Murphy vetoed it, saying it didnot go far enough to protect the State’scitizens and environment.

But, here’s the good news!• Our legislators have proven they’re open

to passing strong legislation to deal withour plastic pollution crisis.

• Over a dozen NJ municipalities, includ-ing Hoboken and Jersey City, havealready taken action by passing localordinances banning single-use carryoutbags and promoting reusable bags.

Single-use plastics legislative roundupBy N. Dini Checko, ANJEC Resource Center

• Retailers big and small are listening andsome are even offering rewards to custom-ers bringing their own bags.

• Numerous environmental commissionsand green teams are actively engaged incommunity education and outreach.Using programs such as South Orange’sS.O. Not Plastic campaign and GlenRock’s Trex Plastic Film recycling chal-lenge towns are educating and offeringalternatives that benefit the wholecommunity.

Stop StyrofoamPolystyrene and expanded polystyrene

foam, better known as Styrofoam, pose aconsumer and environmental health andsafety hazard. There are currently two bills atthe State level to ban this product. Senatebill S.1486 prohibits the use of Styrofoam inpublic schools and public institutions of

A baby osprey is caught in plastic waste. Photo by Ben Wurst


higher education. The other bill, S.2603,prohibits the use of Styrofoam in foodservice products and food packaging.

Many school districts are not waiting forthe State to mandate replacing Styrofoamlunch trays. For example, the Let’s MakeLeonia Styrofoam- Free! campaign success-fully ended the use of Styrofoam lunch traysin schools. In addition, the Leonia ActionAlliance has built a great toolkit and localordinance to make the township Styrofoam-free. http://leoniaactionalliance.org/styrofoam-overview.php

So long, straws!When large corporations such as Starbucks

and Marriott Hotels run public campaignsannouncing plastric straw elimination, itcauses a stir! The Borough of AtlanticHighlands held a townwide event called TheFinal Straw, drawing awareness to the harmdiscarded straws cause in the environment.And Monmouth Beach decided to ban strawsalong with single-use plastic bags andStyrofoam in one comprehensive ordinance.

At the State level, Assembly bill A.4394,would specifically prohibit use of plasticstraws or stirrers. Recently, Senate bill, S.2776,was introduced to comprehensively eliminateplastic straws, single-use bags and Styrofoam.

Ban balloonsBalloons released into the environment

become litter that affects marine andwildlife. A couple dozen Jersey Shore townsfrom Atlantic City to Ventnor haverecognized the potential damage bypassing local ordinances. Some municipali-ties, such as Stone Harbor, have ordinancesthat ban both mass balloon releases andaerial luminaries. In addition to becomingan environmental hazard, aerial luminariesare a fire hazard. https://ecode360.com/32816035

At the State level, Senate bill S.2468prohibits the intentional mass release ofballoons into the environment.

Together, we are making a difference.Please continue to impress upon ourlegislators the importance of this issue bypassing local ordinances and/or supportingresolutions to protect residents.

More infoANJEC has model ordinances and

resolutions available on our website andwe’re always here to help. Just [email protected] or call 973-539-7547. Andplease keep ANJEC in the loop about yourlocal plastic pollution prevention activities!

New Jersey’s aging water infrastructure

By Sheila Baker Gujral, ANJEC Resource Center

Stormwater utilities tackle pollutionand flooding

“Rain rain, go away. Come again anotherday.” As welcome as rain can be, particularlyduring dry spells, it creates problems whenwe get too much. As I write this article,we’ve just endured a weekend of heavy rainswhich caused massive flooding in someareas of the State, requiring evacuationsand water rescues. It doesn’t take a Hurri-cane Irene or Superstorm Sandy to causemajor problems – an intense afternoonthundershower can do the trick.

http://leoniaactionalliance.org/styrofoam-overview.php

https://ecode360.com/32816035

https://ecode360.com/32816035


New Jersey’s stormwater problem isgrowing and the infrastructure that wasbuilt to move polluted runoff away fromour homes and businesses is inadequateand deteriorating. Municipalities arerequired to manage stormwater under “theNew Jersey Administrative Code (NJAC) 7:8(Stormwater Management Rules) as well asthe various Municipal Stormwater GeneralPermits issued under NJAC 7:14A.

Nearly every municipality in New Jerseyhas a stormwater system. In municipalitieswith combined sewer systems, the problemis aggravated by co-mingling raw untreatedsewage and stormwater runoff and, duringrain events, the mixture is released into ourwaterways. It’s a messy situation and onethat is often ignored. Stormwater runoffneeds to be managed to avoid flooding,pollution, and erosion. Deferred mainte-nance of these systems only means theproblem gets bigger. Putting off mainte-nance may provide a temporary budget fix,but always costs more down the road.

In 40 states and countingA successful solution that’s being used in

40 states and over 1,600 communitiesthroughout the country is the creation of astormwater utility. A stormwater utility is aseparate funding mechanism set up toprovide for the care and maintenance ofthe stormwater system. It’s a fee-basedapproach based on how much a property iscontributing to stormwater runoff. It is notassessed across the board, as a tax wouldbe, but is based on the amount of impervi-

ous or hard surface on that lot, which doesnot absorb rainwater but sends it straightinto the stormwater system. Under thisapproach, the more you are contributing tothe problem, the more you pay. Somesystems grant discounts on the fees inconsideration of various stormwaterreduction measures undertaken on theproperty, such as cisterns, green roofs,bioswales, rain gardens, pervious asphalt,permeable pavers and other green infra-structure methods.

On June 21, the New Jersey Senatepassed a bill (S-1073) that would providelocal municipalities the option to establishstormwater utilities. The companion bill (A-2694) was introduced in the Assemblyearlier this year and has been referred tothe Transportation and Utilities Commit-tee. The passage of these bills would enablemunicipalities to better manage theirstormwater and protect their communitiesfrom the polluting, flooding, and erosiveeffects that result from rain events.

More info• Jersey Water Works – www.jerseywaterworks.org/

how-do-we-pay-for-new-jerseys-aging-stormwater-infrastructure/

• Stormwater management funding –www.jerseywaterworks.org/resource/communica-tions-resources-funding-stormwater-management/

• The Watershed Institute – https://thewatershed.org/stormwater-utilities-would-benefit-new-jersey/

• Op-Ed – www.njspotlight.com/stories/18/03/19/op-ed-stormwater-utilities-an-idea-whose-time-has-come/

Proposal for Musconetcong Rivergas-fired power plant raises concernsBy David Peifer, ANJEC Project Director

A proposal by Phoenix Energy CenterLLC to construct a 660MW combined cyclenatural gas generating plant in HollandTownship has raised concerns among localresidents and members of New Jersey’senvironmental community.

The location is on the banks theMusconetcong River, an important Dela-ware River tributary. Designated a Category1 stream, it has been the focus of decadesof preservation and restoration activities byState, county and nonprofit organizations.

www.jerseywaterworks.org/how-do-we-pay-for-new-jerseys-aging-stormwater-infrastructure/

www.njspotlight.com/stories/18/03/19/op-ed-stormwater-utilities-an-idea-whose-time-has-come/


These efforts have included, among others,public education, private conservationefforts, land preservation, environmentalplanning, water quality monitoring and damremovals. Recent dam removals haveresulted in the first successful Shad spawn-ing in the river in over 100 years.

The proposed property is a very large,vacant paper mill with a large amount ofimpervious cover. It is possible that theproject could result in less impervious coverthan presently exists on the site.

The location is in the Highlands Preserva-tion Area, as designated by the HighlandsWater Protection and Planning Act, and theHighlands Regional Master Plan. It is locatedin a sub-watershed that has been determinedby the Highlands Council to be in an existingwater deficit of 983,000 gallons per day.

Impact on waterAccording to the applicant’s submissions

to the Highlands Council, the project willrequire 5.5 million gallons ofwater per day, primarily forevaporative cooling, but willreturn only 1.5 million gallonsper day to the river. Watersources may include the riveror a number of wells. Suchuses are termed “consump-tive uses” by the New JerseyDepartment of EnvironmentalProtection (NJDEP) and theDelaware River BasinCommission (DRBC).

The proposed combinedcycle natural gas generatingplants are fast becoming thepreferred technology forproviding new generatingcapacity nationwide. How-ever, most combined cycleplants like the one proposedevaporate large quantities ofwater from the watershed,unlike the “once-through”cooling systems used in olderplants, where nearly all thecooling water is returned tothe river.

The project sought and was granted anexemption by NJDEP from the HighlandsAct, the Highlands Regional Master Plan(RMP) and local conformance ordinances.The exemption will render these protec-tions ineffective so that only the NJDEPpermitting process, DRBC regulations andthe previously existing local zoning willgovern the site.

The exemption granted is: “Exemption #4:4. Reconstruction of buildings or structureswithin 125 percent of the footprint: Thereconstruction of any building or structure forany reason within 125 percent of thefootprint of the lawfully existing impervioussurfaces on the site, provided that thereconstruction does not increase the lawfullyexisting impervious surface by one-quarteracre or more. This exemption shall not applyto the reconstruction of any agricultural orhorticultural building or structure for a non-agricultural or non-horticultural use.”

Lessons learned fromassessing industrial sites

Assessing complex, former industrial sites is a lotmore complicated than the typical housing project.Planning boards and environmental commissions canhave a lot of say in project development at the locallevel, even on projects with NJDEP permitting. Buteven with an Environmental Impact Statementordinance, it can be hard for municipal officials toknow the right questions to ask of such applicants.

The Musconetcong Watershed Association (MWA),an ANJEC partner, recently met with members of theHolland Township Environmental Commission andPlanning Board to review the Phoenix project proposaland to discuss some lessons learned from a previous,large-scale solar farm project. As an environmentalorganization, the Musconetcong Watershed Associationis often called in to help. According to MWA ExecutiveDirector Alan Hunt, “…we rely on our municipal officialpartners to keep us informed on proposed projects, andalso take action to protect the river.”

Hunt shares his insights about lessons learned in anarticle at www.anjecnews.com/assessing-proposals-for-complex-sites.html


By Michele Gaynor, ANJEC Resource Center, andJulie Lange Groth, ANJEC Report Editor

East Brunswick goesplastic free – one bag at a time

Berkeley Heights is giving residents theopportunity to create something usefulfrom their plastic garbage rather thantossing it into the trash. Through thePlastic Film Recycling Challenge offered bythe Trex decking company, towns andschools are able to reduce their plastic

An entry in the Plastic Free EB - One Bagat a Time poster contest

Berkeley Heights – Recycling plasticinto a park bench

Friends of East BrunswickEnvironmental Commissionwanted to spread the word thatresidents can be part of thesolution to the plastic pollutionproblem. Residents of the townuse about twenty million plasticbags every year. The goal of thePlastic Free EB – One Bag at aTime poster contest was tospread the word about theharm plastic bag pollution isdoing to wildlife and theenvironment. Residents wereinvited to commit to saying noto plastic bags by signing theplastic pledge.

Throughout July the town’s library held anart show featuring the work of EastBrunswick public school students whoparticipated in a poster contest themed onPlastic Free EB – One Bag at a Time. Postersby about 70 kids made the contest a hugesuccess.

East Brunswick plans to continue theirbag use reduction campaign, and theonline plastic reduction pledge will bepromoted at township events.

With more New Jersey towns taking theinitiative to reduce plastic pollution, a littleeducation and outreach can make a bigdifference, even if it is just one bag at a time.

~ Michele Gaynor

pollution by having it turned into a newbench. The company uses 95 percentrecycled plastic and wood to create itsproducts.

With a goal of collecting 500 pounds ofplastic film and bags within a six-monthperiod, Berkeley Heights set out to earn


their own Trex-made bench. Since June,members of Berkeley Heights Environmen-tal Commission (BHEC) have been gather-ing plastic film and bags used to packagefrozen food, dry cleaning, cereal and snacks(to name a few) which residents placed inthe Trex-supplied bins that were placedaround town. One BHEC member and onevolunteer from the community wereassigned to do the collections from thebins each day. They would weigh and thenshuttle the bags to the local Acme super-market, Trex’s collection partner, forrecycling.

Berkeley Heights surpassed their goal bycollecting over 600 pounds of plastic bagsin under two months. Local businesseshave partnered with BHEC in the recyclingand collection effort. Stop and Shop andother stores contributed the thin filmplastic from their incoming shipments ofgoods.

Through this program, Berkeley Heightsresidents saved approximately 45,540 thinfilm plastic bags from going into a landfill.See the complete list of collectable plasticbags and find out how to involve yourtown at www.trex.com/recycling/recycling-programs/.

The town of Glen Rock has also partici-pated in the TREX collection program andhas already collected more than 500pounds of plastic bags and received theirnew Trex bench this year. Residents turnedin the required amount of plastic in just sixweeks. What a fantastic way for towns toreduce the amount of plastic pollution andhelp keep plastic out of our oceans andlandfills! ~ Michele Gaynor

A different angle ongreen design

On June 14, the Reeves-Reed Arboretumin Summit hosted Style & Sustainability, asustainable fashion show in the Arboretum’sgarden. The program featured guest design-ers from major labels as well as emergingdesigners, all presenting wearable fashionusing sustainably-sourced virgin materials,recycled materials, or upcycled materials.

The aim of the show was to engage alllevels of the fashion community – students,emerging designers, established brands,retailers, buyers, manufacturers, industryexperts and fashion media – in an ongoingconversation about ethical fashion choices,with a goal to empower not only thedesigners but consumers as well.

Participating in the evening’s event wereLeslie Patrizio, a local fashion showproducer and stylist, and Laura Engelke, aNew York City stylist with a focus onsustainability and eco-conscious, ethicallyproduced clothing.

Designers from the Fashion StudiesProgram at Montclair University createdoutfits specifically for the evening’s runwayusing soda can tabs, duct tape, coffeefilters and bags, as well as a costume formthe Shakespearean play, “A MidsummerNight’s Dream,” designed with upcycledcredit cards and Metrocards. Some of thefashions items shown came from localboutiques and consignment stores.

~Julie Lange Groth

A clarificationThe ANJEC Report is designed to providehelpful information that is true andcorrect to the best of our knowledge.Information in the ANJEC Report doesnot necessarily imply an endorsement byANJEC. We regret that the article in theSummer 2018 issue about the preserva-tion of CowTown Rodeo reflected animplicit endorsement of rodeo activities.


By Kerry Margaret Butch, Community Engagement Coordinator, Rutgers University Center for Environmental Exposures and Disease (CEED),

former ANJEC Urban Project Director

Clean air victoryon the Elizabeth waterfront

There has been a concerted effort toaddress the adverse environmental healthimpacts of diesel exhaust from trafficcreated by the New York/New Jersey Port. A“big picture” policy initiative put forth bythe Coalition of Healthy Ports calls forbanning diesel trucks servicing the port thatwere made before 2007. Trucks built sincethen are cleaner and adhere to stricterexhaust standards that have reduced PM2.5emissions by 90 percent. There are actions,however, that can be taken on a local levelthat can make a tremendous difference inlocal air quality, health and quality of life.

Local actionDeacon Walter Leak of the Mt. Calvary

United Church on First Street in Elizabethmakes his living driving tractor trailer trucks.He has also led the fight for a healthier andsafer neighborhood. Leak sounded the alarm

Exhaust emissions from diesel enginesare a complex mixture of gases, vaporsand particles that degrade air qualityand harm health. It is also a majorsource of particulate matter air pollution,especially fine “particles” less than 2.5microns in diameter (PM2.5). Theseinvisible microscopic particles, a smallfraction of the width of a human hair,have been linked to worsening ofasthma and other lung diseases, heartdisease, and increased risk of death fromheart attacks and stroke. Increasedexposure to PM2.5 has also been linkedto premature birth and adverse preg-nancy outcomes.

In addition to particulate matter,diesel exhaust contains a number of toxicgases and vapors, including carbonmonoxide, nitrogen oxides, formaldehydeand acrolein, which are among morethan 40 compounds in diesel exhaustwith recognized toxicity associated withhigher risk of asthma. Diesel exhaustcontains several chemical carcinogens,and diesel exhaust itself has recentlybeen determined to cause cancer inhumans according to the InternationalAgency on Cancer Research (IARC).

The effects of diesel exhaust areparticularly troubling in cities likeElizabeth, where there is concern abouthigh rates of asthma, especially amongchildren.


and worked with residents, grassrootsorganizations, local officials and a Statelegislator to ban big rigs on First Street. Hecreated a campaign that included a petitiondrive and a community education program,and he convinced Assemblywoman AnnetteQuijano to champion the cause.

First Street is a narrow, two-lane citystreet that runs through an urban neigh-borhood, past schools, a childcare center,and an athletic field. It also runs across theElizabeth Port neighborhood parallel to theTurnpike. In order to avoid the higher toll,truckers would travel north and south onFirst Street as an alternative to the NewJersey Turnpike between Exits 13 and 13A.Residents were justified in their concernsabout safety and health impacts.

“This area’s big for asthma. Maybe this isone of the things that’s causing it,” Leaklaments.

Truck count and air monitoringon First Street

Other community leaders, includingGlenn Arnold from Brand New Day andJames Carey of the E Port PresbyterianCenter, contacted Dr. Robert Laumbach ofRutgers CEED to ask about partnering toundertake a truck count and air monitoringreport on First Street. Working with a teamof residents, community-based organiza-tions and neighborhood volunteers, theteam stood on the sidewalk and countedtrucks. The actual truck count tallied morethan 50 trucks per hour during a typicalweekday morning. Researchers, working in

tandem with residents, monitored the air.According to their study, there was a spikein black carbon with each passing truck, anindicator of diesel exhaust pollution. (http://ceed.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Report-on-Elizabeth-Truck-Count-5.24.13.pdf.)

The study shone a spotlight on how trucktraffic was negatively impacting the dailylives of residents in Elizabeth. Dr. Laumbachpresented the collected data to local officialsduring a community meeting. The officials,including Council President Carlos Torres,were convinced that there was a need toenact the ban.

On May 10, 2017, the City of ElizabethCouncil unanimously passed an ordinance torestrict traffic on First Street to vehiclesunder four tons, essentially banning tractortrailers.

“The truck ban is about public safety andcleaner air,” declared AssemblywomanAnnette Quijano, describing the changingwaterfront community that included theaddition of three new schools, a senior citizencenter and a waterpark catering to children.She worked to convince the New JerseyDepartment of Transportation that the areawas becoming increasingly residential.

In March of 2018, the Rutgers teampartnered with the E Port PresbyterianCenter and Groundwork Elizabeth to do apost-ordinance assessment. According tothe report:

“Community truck counts documented adrastic reduction in truck traffic, especiallydiesel tractor trailer trucks on First Street,comparing May 24, 2013, to March 14, 2018.

On FirstStreet inElizabeth,volunteerteammembersstood on thesidewalkand countedtrucks.


There was an 86 percent reduction in trucktraffic. Average measurements of blackcarbon and ultrafine particle counts (also asensitive indicator of traffic pollution) wereconsistent with the truck counts, showing areduction of about 80 percent.”

The 2018 graphs also showed that blackcarbon had flatlined, with no spikes indicat-ing fluctuations on weekdays. While per-forming the 2018 truck count and airmonitoring, participants did observe a fewtruckers violating the ordinance. Council-man Manny Grova takes his constituentsconcerns very seriously. “Now it’s aboutenforcement,” he said. “The only message Ican give to the truck companies is to stayout of our neighborhood.”

Elizabeth is a port city and the municipal-ity has a vested interest in maintaining athriving industry, but that doesn’t meanthat its leadership is willing to do so at thecost of risking the health of its residents.

“They need to make the trucks cleaner,”said Elizabeth Mayor Christian Bollwage.“Going forward, the Port Authority andcities like ours have to work together.”

Spreading the wordThe Rutgers CEED, is hosting a conference,

Public Health and Our Ports: The Road toClean Air, on Friday, October 26, at theRutgers Center for Law and Justice inNewark. The symposium will bring togethercommunity members, decision makers andpublic policy thought leaders, environmentaland public health organizations, labor andfaith-based organizations, and academicswho are eager to learn more about the issuesand create solutions to improve publichealth. To register for the conference, clickon www.eventbrite.com/e/public-health-and-our-ports-the-road-to-clean-air-tickets-49746055792. For a copy of Elizabeth’s truckban ordinance or the 2018 Post OrdinanceAssessment, please contact Kerry [email protected] or call(732) 982-6942.

More information• Countdown to Cleaner Air: Street Scientists and the

Fight for First Street – an eight and a half-minutefilm featuring the people who led the fight, available at www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM2gjytmzeo

ANJEC Film Lending LibraryANJEC has the following films available to lend to your environmental commission,

school or green team for public screenings:• Bag It! Is Your Life Too Plastic? – An investigation into plastic and its effect

on our waterways• Poisoned Waters – This film shows the kinds of pollution now contaminating

America’s waterways• Highlands Rediscovered – Explore the history of this heavily-forested NJ

region• King Corn – Addresses questions about how we eat and how we farm• Groundswell Rising – An inspiring film about the power of community

organizing to protect our children’s air and water• Flow – How Did a Handful of Corporations Steal Our Water? – An award-

winning documentary• Kilowatt Ours – A Plan to Re-Energize America – Solutions to the great

energy problems of our day• Turning the Tide – A documentary about the Hackensack Meadowlands.

Get more details or request a film by contacting ANJECat [email protected] or calling 973-539-7547.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM2gjytmzeo


Freshwater mussels

T

Freshwater musselsare cleaning our water

he Delaware Estuary isunique in that it has almost acontinuous ring of fringingwetlands. This large area (133 rivermiles) is home to tidally-influ-enced wetlands: saltwater andfreshwater wetlands, and those in-between. Mile “0” of the DelawareEstuary begins at the mouth ofthe Delaware Bay betweenDelaware and New Jersey. It runs 82 milesnorth to the Commodore Barry Bridge nearPhiladelphia, where fresh and salt watermeet, and then continues farther northending in Trenton. These wetland habitatsare critical to protect against flooding, helpclean water, and sustain native fish, birds,crustaceans and other migrating species.Our tidal wetlands also combat climateimpact by trapping carbon and absorbingfloodwaters.

Understanding, conserving and restoringnative freshwater mussels in the 51 miles ofthe estuary, from the Commodore BarryBridge to Trenton, is part of the missionand an ongoing project for the Partnershipfor the Delaware Estuary (PDE). Freshwatermussels significantly contribute to improve-ments in all-around ecosystem health,diversity and resilience. This is an immenseand important undertaking.

Given the size of this geography, it is notsurprising that it took a large coalition ofpartners – nonprofits, scientific institutes,government agencies, foundations and

By Lyle Landon, ANJEC Development Director

volunteers, working collaboratively, to plan,implement, manage, monitor and reporttheir findings.

Fighting the decline offreshwater mussels

Scientists at PDE initiated musselrestoration in 2008 to understand thecurrent status of freshwater musselpopulations and how they could help thosepopulations in decline. Mussel populationsplummeted due to toxic spills and indus-trial waste, as well as loss of forests alongstreams. Fish populations also dropped,compounding the mussel loss since mussellarvae attach to fish gills during their firstweeks of life. The blue-shelled mussels wesee on menus are saltwater mussels andthey are neither imperiled nor endangered.

Freshwater mussels are some of themost diverse bivalves, with more than 300species native to North America. Morethan 70 percent of mussel species areendangered, and now only a few arecommonly found in the rivers and streams


throughout the Delaware Estuary. The lackof freshwater mussels on riverbeds andstreambeds puts the substrata – literallythe bottom of the habitat – at risk asmussels burrow into rocks and leaves toform beds that naturally fortify them.These filter-feeding bivalves clean thewater.

Kurt Cheng, Shellfish Coordinator forthe PDE, describes freshwater mussels asmighty water treatment animals. “Theyperform the mechanical function of awater treatment plant.” They suck water inand trap solids, like dirt and algae andother pollutants, and release clean, filteredwater. Removing the particles also benefitsother aquatic plants and animals byallowing sunlight to reach river bottoms.An adult freshwater mussel (4-5 inches inlength) can filter up to 20 gallons of waterper day. One mussel bed that PDE scien-tists studied removed 26 metric tons ofsolids from the water in a single summer.That’s equivalent to the weight of fiveadult elephants. Centuries ago, freshwatermussels were a food source for NativeAmericans. Because rivers are morepolluted now, fresh water mussels are notharvested commercially for food.

To conserve or restorefreshwater mussels?

The PDE Mussel Project began with thegoals of surveying, monitoring, anddiagnosing the health of freshwatermussels and their habitats. By identifyingthe drivers of freshwater mussel health,scientists could then determine whetherconserving or restoring mussel beds wouldbe the best course of action for theecosystem. PDE scientists determined thatboth conservation and restoration werenecessary. Conservation alone would notwork because the freshwater mussellifecycle was too long – five to ten years toreach adulthood (saltwater mussels maturein two to three years). Their long matura-tion cycle is another reason why freshwatermussels are not a viable commercial crop,and a reason that even with a protectedstatus, recovery would take too long.

Conservation education was deemed veryimportant because, given the multitude offreshwater mussel species, it is very likelythat uninformed harvesting (now some-times illegal) would occur. A good rule tofollow is, if you see a mussel bed in a river,don’t touch it. Instead, take a picture of it,note its location and send the informationto the PDE.

In a healthy freshwater habitat, musselscan live up to 100 years, making themamong the longest-lived invertebrates.Their survival is all the more remarkablegiven that their reproduction is complex.Mussel larvae develop into perfectly shapedtiny mussels, are released into the waterand attach to their host fish. Eventuallythey drop off to join another bed, or begintheir own. It is easy to see why dams couldwreak havoc with their reproductionprocess; hence the need for restoration.

Analysis of this situation led to thebreakthrough vision of the PDE to put intopractice the theory that mussels couldmake a significant contribution to restoringour degraded freshwater habitats. The PDEproposed creating freshwater musselhatcheries specifically for the purpose ofusing mussels to help clean estuary waters.

Now the PDE is partnering with otherorganizations at the local, state and federallevel to coordinate efforts with existinginitiatives of others. The PDE is workingwith hatcheries to grow hearty, commonmussels which are replanted in uncleanwater where they are most needed. It’s adirty job, but they can do it!

This collaboration among organizations,scientific research and new technologies isproving that freshwater mussel conserva-tion and restoration operations are improv-ing the water quality and the health of thefreshwater ecosystem.

More infoPartnership for the Delaware Estuaryfreshwater mussels program –www.delawareestuary.org/science-and-research/freshwater-mussels/


T

The spotted lanternflyhas arrived in NJ

By Jillian Madsen, ANJEC Volunteer

What you need to know

here’s a new insect species on theeast coast, and it’s traveled all the wayfrom East Asia. TheAsian plant hopper,better known as thespotted lanternfly, is aninvasive species in the USand a huge threat to NewJersey’s crops and trees.

The adult spotted lanternfly’s appearanceis vibrant and unique, with red and blackspotted hind wings, gray and black spottedforewings, and a black head. The insect isabout one inch in length and a half inch inwidth. Their mating season is in the fall,followed by a long stage during the winterin which egg masses are left on smoothsurfaces. An egg mass looks like a patch ofmud. When the spotted lanternflies hatcharound mid-May, they are wingless andblack with white polka dots on their backs.

These insects feed on more than seventyplant species, including cultivated grapes,fruit trees, hardwood trees, willows, maples,poplars and birch. Their primary victim,however, is the Tree of Heaven, where thespotted lanternflies prefer to lay their eggs.The insects use their mouthparts to diginto plant tissues and suck out fluids,which promotes mold growth, makingcrops unsellable. In fact, spotted lanternflyactivity can diminish grape harvest by

75-90 percent,according to theRutgers Cooperative

Extension. Because itfeeds in large congrega-

tions, it can rapidlydevastate vegetation.

The spotted lanternfly’sfeeding habits also attract un-

wanted wasps, hornets, and ants thatare drawn to the sugary fluids around theweeping wounds. Additionally, this invasivespecies can be harmful to domestic animalsdue to the toxic substance, Cantharidin,which is excreted from the Tree of Heavenwhen it is attacked.

How did it get here?The spotted lanternfly was first accidentally

introduced into Berks County, Pennsylvania, inSeptember, 2014, and has since spread tomultiple nearby counties. The State govern-ment responded by issuing a quarantine ofthirteen counties to prevent the insect fromspreading. The quarentine requires thatoutdoor items be inspected before movingthem out of the area. Despite these efforts,the spotted lanternfly still managed to makeits way to New Jersey, particularly in Mercer,Hunterdon and Warren Counties. The NewJersey Department of Agriculture respondedwith a quarantine of these three counties.

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher announcedin July the first sightings of the spotted lanternfly in Mercer,Hunterdon and Warren Counties. This invasive species has thepotential to devastate the Garden State’s trees and crops.


ANJEC depends on our business members to help pay for the cost of printingthe ANJEC Report. Please let them know that you saw their ad here.

Remember, however, that ANJEC does not necessarily endorse any of these firms.

Environmental Impacts • Wetlands • www.njeco.com

Environmental ConsultingThomas D’Angelo

17 Indian TerraceLafayette, NJ 07848

973•875•8585Fax: 973•875•8080

Though this issue has not yet reached thesame magnitude as in Pennsylvania, NewJersey residents are strongly encouraged totake action to prevent the spread thespotted lanternfly and protect preciousnatural resources.

What you can do• Inspect your vehicle for hitchhiking spot-

ted lanternflies before traveling, especiallybetween Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

• Inspect outdoor items (i.e. firewood, pavingstones, lawn equipment) for egg masses.

• If you discover egg masses, scrape themoff, double bag them, and throw themaway or place them in alcohol, bleach orhand sanitizer to exterminate them.

• Closely monitor highly infested andvulnerable areas.

• Do not attempt to solve the problemyourself with insecticides. Instead, reportthe infested site to [email protected] or call the New Jersey SpottedLanternfly Hotline at 1-833-223-2840.

Spotted lanternfly nymph

mailto:SLF-plantindustry @ag.nj.gov

www.kratzerenv.com

mailto:[email protected]


www.hgapa.com


www.amygreene.com


A

Passive Houseprinciples save energyBy David Peifer, ANJEC Project Director

ccording to the US EnergyInformation Agency, approximately 39percent of all energy consumed in the US isby residential and commercial buildings,primarily to operate heating, cooling andventilation equipment. This energy iscurrently derived mainly from fossil fuels,with smaller amounts derived from solar,wind and geothermal sources.

If New Jersey is to achieve its energyconservation objectives, improving theperformance of new and existing buildingswill be a priority. Fortunately, there is aproven, fully developed, cost-effective wayto reduce a building’s energy consumptionby up to 80 percent that can be imple-mented today – Passive House design.

An oldie but a goodieA Passive House is not an architectural

form. The principles and techniques of thePassive House design system have beenapplied for decades to individual residences,apartment structures, schools, public

buildings, libraries, airports and otherstructures in the US and worldwide.

The search for more efficient buildingsreceived a critical boost after the fuel crisesof 1973 and 1979. The basic techniques stillin use today originated in the 1970s. Theseconcepts include:

• superinsulation,• airtight envelopes,• energy recovery ventilation,• high performance windows, and• managing solar gain.

Nobel prize winner Dr. William Shurcliffwrote about Passive House principles in the1980s.1 When the fuel crises ended in theUS, so did interest in Passive Houseconstruction, but interest remained high inEurope. Dr. Wolfgang Feist and Dr. BoAdamson continued to develop the

1 For a good description of the early Americanroots of the Passive House movement, go to:http://blog.phius.org/passive-house-history-phistory-part-i-north-american-roots/

Since Governor Murphy took office, New Jersey has taken severalimportant steps toward developing what it now calls a clean energysystem in our State. In particular, he has acted to rejoin the RegionalGreenhouse Gas Initiative (Executive Order 7), encourage offshore winddevelopment (Executive Order 8), and spur a “clean energy economy”(Executive Order 28). State government has also enacted two importantpieces of legislation: Assembly bill A-3723 that changes clean energyportfolio standards to mandate 50 percent “clean energy sources” forelectricity by 2050 and Senate bill S-2313 that provides for financialsubsidies to the State’s nuclear plants. From an energy perspective, thefirst nine months of 2018 have been a remarkable period for our state.

It is clear that these actions are all about getting energy from cleansources, with only one minor provision in A-3723 that deals with enhanc-ing energy efficiency. It calls for a 2 percent reduction in electricity use anda .75 percent reduction in natural gas, a fossil fuel that is itself a potentgreenhouse gas if released into the air.


theories and applications behindPassivehaus (the German spelling),which led to improvements, such as higher-performing products like triple-glazed windows and air exchange-heatrecovery systems.

The first Passivhaus was built inDarmstadt, Germany.2 To help propa-gate Passivehaus principles, Feist foundedthe Passivhaus Institut (PHI), which isheadquartered in Darmstadt, Germany.PassiveHouse Institute US (PHIUS) wascofounded by one of Feist’s students,Katrin Klingenberg. Because the US climateis far more varied than Germany’s, many ofthe European-specific principles of designwere adapted. Since then, Passive Houseprofessionals have assisted architects andplanners worldwide. Interest continues togrow and numerous expert designers havebeen trained in Passive House principles.

Bringing Passive Houseprinciples to your community

If your municipality is planning a newtown hall, school, social center or evenaffordable housing, the environmentalcommission can recommend the use ofPassiveHouse design principles early in theprocess. To see how one group of designersused PassiveHouse design principles on anaffordable housing project that has actuallybeen built, go to: www.architectmagazine.com/practice/how-affordable-housing-is-driving-passive-house-design_o. The newbuilding could become a powerful examplefor others who are retrofitting theirbuildings or constructing new ones.

In evaluating the feasibility of aPassiveHouse approach to building design,it is important to remember that whilesome “first costs” may be higher, otherswill be lower. For example due to thesuper-insulated nature of the building,heating and cooling equipment will be

smaller, lighter and less costly. Importantly,most of the costs associated with abuilding are not from construction costsbut rather over the building’s lifespan inthe form of energy use and maintenance,so long-term energy savings will quicklyoffset higher construction costs.

You can contact the Passive HouseInstitute of the US at: www.phius.org/.You will probably be able to arrangefor a highly qualified speaker to present tothe commission, the governing body orthe public. Remember, with an 80 percentenergy reduction over current buildingcodes, Passive House design could go along way toward meeting energy objec-tives.

More informationEnergy-related executive orders• Executive Order 7: Re-joining the

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative,https://nj.gov/infobank/eo/056murphy/pdf/EO-7.pdf (See also: Regional GreenhouseGas Initiative: www.rggi.org/)

• Executive Order 8: Offshore WindDevelopment, https://nj.gov/infobank/eo/056murphy/pdf/EO-8.pdf

• Executive Order 28: Clean EnergyEconomy (authorizes new Energy MasterPlan, https://nj.gov/infobank/eo/056murphy/pdf/EO-28.pdf

Legislation:• A-3723, www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/

BillView.asp• S2313, www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/

S2500/2313_I1.HTM

2 The first Passivhaus: https://passipedia.org/examples/residential_buildings/multi-family_buildings/central_europe/the_world_s_first_passive_house_darmstadt-kranichstein_germany

A Passive HouseCourtesy of David Peabody Passive House Institute & Alliance US

https://passipedia.org/examples/residential_buildings/multi-family_buildings/central_europe/the_world_s_first_passive_house_darmstadt-kranichstein_germany

www.architectmagazine. com/practice/how-affordable-housing-is-driving-passive-house-design_o

https://nj.gov/infobank/eo/056murphy/pdf/EO-7.pdf



www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillView.asp

www.njleg.state.nj.us/2018/Bills/S2500/2313_I1.HTM


What’s all the noiseabout?By Cheryl Reardon, ANJEC Project Director

What is noise?According to the Webster and Oxford

dictionaries, noise is an unwanted sound,especially one that is loud or unpleasantand causes disturbance. The definitioncontinues with similar adjectives, but it’simportant to note that these terms aresubjective. To some extent, noise is in theear of the listener. But it’s also true thatnoise can have real, serious, negative andmeasurable effects. For example, many ofus grew up enjoying loud music throughheadphones and at concerts, which mayhave led to some level of hearing loss.

In addition to premature hearing impair-ment, whether we realize it or not, noisepollution can negatively impact health invarious ways, including: hypertension, sleepdisturbances, child development problems,cardiovascular issues, dementia andpsychological dysfunctions.

What about marine andwildlife?

Our oceans are no longer quiet. Thou-sands of oil drills, sonars, seismic survey

devices, recreational watercraft and ship-ping vessels are now populating our waters,causing serious noise pollution for marinelife. Whales are among the most affected astheir hearing helps them to orient them-selves, feed and communicate. Noisepollution also interferes with feeding habitsof dolphins as well as their reproductivepatterns and migration routes. It can evencause hemorrhage and death.

Birds and land animals are also affectedby noise pollution in the form of traffic andaircraft noise, firecrackers and other loudsounds pervasive in our densely populatedworld.

Social and economic costs ofnoise pollution

The World Health Organization estimatesthat one out of three people in Europe isharmed by traffic noise. Beyond the purelymedical effects of noise pollution on theindividual, there is a significant social andeconomic impact associated with impairedhealth. For example, sleep disturbance dueto noise pollution can affect an individual’s

“Calling noise a nuisance is like calling smog an inconvenience.Noise must be considered a hazard to the health of people everywhere.”

~William H. Stewart, Former US Surgeon General

(And why should we care?)

Noise from aircraft is a major cause of noise pollution.


work performance during the day. Hyper-tension and cardiovascular disease aggra-vated by noise cause increased healthcarecosts as well as lost productivity. Noise alsonegatively affects school performance inchildren.

How towns resolve noise issuesThe issues surrounding noise in our

environment can be complicated andpervasive. People believe in their right toquiet enjoyment of their surroundings.Conflict often arises when one person’ssounds are another person’s noise, resultingin calls to the municipal office and/orpolice… and sometimes even lawsuits.

With the exception of nuisance animals(barking dogs), the need to limit excessivenoise by states and local municipalitiesappears to have arisen from the 1972 NoisePollution and Abatement Act. The federallaw was passed mainly in response tohuman hearing loss caused by occupationalnoise and by excessive noise from airportsand highways. Outdoor noise can be amajor concern, especially in communitieswith dense residential areas and those inclose proximity to commercial/industrialareas.

As a result, more noise ordinances arebeing developed that limit the allowablenoise levels at different times of day fordifferent zoned areas. For example, amunicipality might seek to limit construc-tion noise by forbidding work between thehours of 10 pm and 6 am or by settingmaximum decibel limits (depending on the

time of day) that are measured at thebusiness property line.

Commercial noises could range fromloud music from a night club to thebanging at a construction site to the 24/7sound of diesel engines in industrialcenters. As suburban sprawl has intrudedinto agricultural areas, new residentsoften became alarmed at the soundsechoing across farm fields from tractorsand trucks operating pre-dawn to verylate in the evening. For this reason, somemunicipalities have adopted “Right toFarm” ordinances protecting farmingoperations from nuisance complaints.

Unlike nuisance noise, commercialnoise limits are most often set out as partof the zoning code, so offenders are citedfor violating the zoning ordinance, orsometimes specific use permits, whichcan carry a high penalty.

More Information:ANJEC’s Resource Center can provide

sample ordinances to help municipalitiesenact new or updated noise ordinances.Just email [email protected] or call 973-539-7547.

These websites contain more informa-tion on noise pollution:• New Jersey Department of Environmen-

tal Protection – www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement/noise-intro.html

• Us Environmental Protection Agency –www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-noise-control-act

The ANJEC Report welcomes submissions or suggestionsfrom our readers.• Is there a topic or issue you’d like us to write about?• Have you recently completed a project that would be of

interest to other local environmentalists?• Would you like to author an article in your area of expertise?

If so, please let us hear from you. Your input is valuable. Justemail the editor at [email protected].

Got an idea for theANJEC Report?

www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement/noise-intro.html


W

Water conservationordinances helpprotect our watersupplyBy Jody Carrara, ANJEC Project Director

Water conservationordinances encourage smart

irrigation techniques

ith a population densitysimilar to that of India, it is critical thatNew Jersey’s fresh water supplies are usedsustainably for the welfare of residents,farms, industry and ecosystems. And NewJersey will continue to grow; census datapredict the State will have a population of9.2 million by 2020 (http://worldpopulationreview.com/states/new-jersey-population/)

Have you paid attention when the newsdeclares a drought emergency and an-nounces that the “salt front” is gettingclose to Philadelphia? That happens whenhigh tides during drought reach farther upthe Delaware River and closer to watercompany intake pipessupplying many towns withdrinking water. Our livesand livelihoods dependupon consistent anddependable rainfall, butwith changing weatherpatterns rainfall amountsare no longer dependable.

Rivers, reservoirs andaquifers that supply the

drinking water for our population are whollydependent upon rainfall for replenishment.New Jersey owns all surface and groundwater within its boundaries, and it is theState’s obligation to allocate water supplyin a sustainable manner. It is also, however,an obligation for all of us to use our waterwisely.

Have you ever seen lawn sprinklers left onwhen it’s raining, or an outdoor hoserunning into the gutter? We can certainlyreduce our water use at home by using themost efficient appliances, landscaping withdrought resistant native plants/grasses andstoring irrigation water in rain barrels. Andthe New Jerey Department of Environmen-


tal Protection can deny water allocationswhen there is not sufficient water supplyfor new development as they did inLakewood recently. But piecemeal actionsare not enough to sustain our water supplywell into the future.

Put it in writingOnly a commitment to water conserva-

tion by municipalities can help mitigateNew Jersey’s enormous water usage.Bloomfield, Moorestown, Camden,Westwood, Belmar and Vineland are just afew of the towns that have adoptedmandatory year-round water conservationordinances in New Jersey.

Water conservation ordinances have keyelements that provide easy to followguidelines for when a homeowner canirrigate their lawn, shrubs and flowers.Some of those regulations are:• Properties may only water two days per

week. Various approaches are used todetermine which days, depending uponthe size of the town, such as an even/odd address number schedule, a districtmap, or coordinating irrigation days withtrash pick-up.

• Watering may only be conductedbetween the hours of 6 am and 9 am orbetween 5 pm and 8 pm.

• The watering of any single area may notexceed thirty minutes per day.

• Flowers and shrubs may be watered asneeded with a handheld hose equippedwith an automatic shut-off nozzle.

• No hose or irrigation system watering ispermitted when it is raining.

• Irrigation with systems equipped with aSMART controller must have met theminimum requirements for water useefficiency as described in the irrigationindustry’s guidelines: (www.irrigation.org/SWAT) Smart Water Application Tech-nologies).

• All new irrigation systems must have aSMART controller that detects moisturein the soil so that sprinklers will not turnon if it is raining.

• Outside water use is strictly prohibitedduring a declared drought emergency. In

addition to the outside prohibition andwhenever possible, all inside water use forhomes and businesses shall be reduced.

Enforcement is keyA typical water conservation ordinance in

New Jersey specifies that a particular townofficial or office is responsible for upholdingthe ordinance, and fines can reach as high as$500 for infractions. Camden’s ordinancestates: “Violations include knowingly orrecklessly watering or irrigating or permittingirrigation of lawn or landscape on owned,leased or managed property that results inthe following:1) Watering during any form of precipitation;2) Water leaking from any irrigation equip-

ment;3) Water puddling on landscape or impervi-

ous surfaces;4) Water runoff from irrigated property;5) Irrigating on days not permitted in this

ordinance; or6) Irrigating at hours not permitted in this

ordinance.” www.jerseywaterworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/City-of-Camden-Water-Conservation-Ordinance.pdfMany towns are finding that neighbors are

proud to conserve water and happy to letpeople know if sprinklers are on when it israining. And of course there are exceptions inthe ordinances for newly sodded lawns, farmsand grey water use. Education of residents isextremely important so that neighbors canspread the word about the value of thetown’s water supply. As part of an educationcampaign to make residents aware of thenew ordinance, towns have created veryinformative websites. Vineland’s can befound at: http://utilities.vinelandcity.org/water-conservation/

New Jersey is in the unique position ofbeing both coastal and highly developed. Wemust work toward sustaining our ecosystemsand industries. Environmental commissionsthroughout the State are doing this byeducating residents about the source of theirdrinking water and its finite nature, and byadopting mandatory water conservationordinances to normalize the habit of valuingand conserving water.

http://utilities.vinelandcity.org/water-conservation/


In remembrance

By Julie Lange Groth, ANJEC Report Editor

Remembering Jean Clark:Mother of Recycling

After pioneering Montclair’s recyclingprogram in the 1970s (one of the first inthe country), Jean Clark, who died in Juneat age 95, became known as the “Motherof Recycling.” She shepherded landmarkrecycling legislation at the State level andbecame a repository of knowledge aboutthe environmental movement in NewJersey.

Along the way, Clark received manyawards, including: “Recycler of the Year”from the National Recycling Congress(1980), “Recycler of the Decade” (1980)from the New Jersey Department ofEnvironmental Protection, the New JerseyPride Award in the field of Environment(1986) and more.

She was both tireless and effective,serving on the Essex County Solid WasteAdvisory Council, the New Jersey AudubonSociety Board, the Montclair Bird Club, theMontclair Organizations for Conservation,the Association of New Jersey Recyclers,the Montclair Nature Center, the MontclairHawk Watch and the League of WomenVoters. Her passion for the environment

was inspired by a strong connection to thenatural world that was as intimate and realas other peoples’ connections to family.

Gray Russell, Montclair’s SustainabilityOfficer, recalled that, thanks to Clark’spioneering efforts, the township passed aMandatory Separation Act in 1975, whichwas the first such law in the State. By 1978,Montclair had a town-wide curbside collec-tion program.

“We were the first town in the state toprovide this service, too – almost a decadebefore the 1987 Mandatory Recycling Act ofNJ. And since New Jersey was the first statein the country with a mandatory recyclinglaw, Montclair was the first of the first.”

Russel remembers Clark as “a true original:a real gem, a protector of the planet, and adetermined advocate for environmentalresponsibility.”

In a speech at Wells College in 2000,when Clark was honored as the Alumna ofthe Year, she cited famed environmentalwriter Rachel Carson and the first picture ofthe earth from space as her inspirations. Shereminded others that “bringing about

change takes a lot oftime, persistence, andpatience,” and thatbeing a volunteer waseffective because “yourmotives are notsuspect…and it’s alsoharder to get rid ofyou.”

Jean Clark enjoyingnature


Connie Stroh, a dedicated citizen ofRandolph and of the world, died in May atthe age of 83. She served on many com-mittees dedicated to the environment,including: the Randolph EnvironmentalCommission, Parks Conservation Commit-tee, New Jersey Clean Water Council,Rockaway River Watershed Association,and the new Environmental & LandmarksCommittee.

Years ago Connie was instrumental increating the Environmental Commission(EC) as a separate municipal board to focuson environmental issues in our community.She was the EC’s point person for review-ing applications for development, spendingcountless hours examining site plans forenvironmental impacts and attendingmeetings. Most recently Connie served asthe Vice Chair of the Environmental &Landmarks Committee and also served asPresident of the Rockaway River WatershedAssociation.

Earlier this year it was my honor topresent Connie with the OutstandingVolunteer Award on behalf of the Town-ship Council. I had the privilege to serve onthe Environmental Commission with herfor two years, and in that time I saw justhow dedicated and sincere she was. Shehad a special interest in invasive species inRandolph, and helped develop an indig-enous species list for the Township as wellas educational materials. Frankly I wasunaware of the very real problems that thewrong plantings can cause to our localenvironment, but Connie enlightened us.

Due to her dedication and enthusiasmfor the issues near and dear to her, manyof our residents were much better in-formed. She was a wonderful communityvolunteer, and Randolph Township willcertainly miss her. I would like to offer mymost sincere condolences to her family,and would also like to remind them how

Connie Stroh with Randolph Mayor MarkForstenhasler

Photo by Pat Robinson, Randolph Reporter

Excerpt from eulogy given by Mark Forstenhausler,Randolph Mayor

We will miss Connie Stroh

much Connie was appreciated for the hugedifference she made in the course of herfull, meaningful life.

Thanks to ANJECmember communities

We are grateful to the thousands ofvolunteers serving as local officials inmore than 260 municipalities andcounties that are members of ANJEC.These dedicated people – from municipaland regional environmental commissionsand green teams to open space commit-tees, planning boards, governing bodies,shade tree commissions and zoningboards – dedicate their time and effortsto assure a clean environment and highquality of life in their communitiesthroughout our State. Thank you!


I

It Pay$ to Plug In:NJ’s electric vehiclecharging grants

A public EV chargingstation in Secaucus

t Pay$ to Plug In will providegrants of up to $6,000 per charger tooffset the cost to purchase and installelectric vehicle charging stations. Theprogram is designed to expand NewJersey's growing network of electric vehicle(EV) infrastructure, allowing residents,businesses and government agencies topurchase and drive electric vehicles. EVsdramatically reduce vehicle emissions andimprove air quality for everyone.

Eligibility criteria• Level 1 and Level 2 charging stations are

eligible.• The program is open to businesses,

governments, nonprofit organizationsand educational institutions. Privateresidential dwellings other than multi-unit dwellings are not eligible for grants.

• Charging stations must be installed inNew Jersey.

• Charging stationsmust be owned bythe applicant, notleased.

• Approvals are first-come, first-served.

Eligible projects• Workplaces:

Charging stationsfor employees whodrive electricvehicles.

• Public places: Charging stations that areavailable to the public.

• Multi-unit dwellings: Charging stationsfor multi-family residences, includingapartments, condominiums andtownhouses.Application forms, grant amounts and

instructions are available atwww.drivegreen.nj.gov/plugin.html.

More info• Learn more about electric vehicle

charging stations atwww.drivegreen.nj.gov/charging.html.

• For questions or additional information,please contact the New Jersey Depart-ment of Environmental Protection,Bureau of Mobile Sources [email protected] or call(609) 292-7953.


Your town can help move New Jerseytoward an EV-friendly future

ANJEC is a proud partner of ChargEVC, a nonprofit organization working toprovide leadership, resources, research and advocacy to advance electricvehicle programs and policies in New Jersey.

Associate membership in ChargEVC is now being offered to municipalities,environmental commissions, green teams, and other local groups who wantto be at the vanguard of this important movement. Individuals can alsobecome members. Benefits of membership include:

• alerts about available funding and promotional programs for EV

charging infrastructure;

• a Municipal Guide, which outlines template resolutions, model

ordinances, and other helpful content to assist municipalities;

• a weekly summary of media reporting on developments in the EV field;

• access to the EV studies and plans developed by ChargEVC;

• updates on the electric vehicle market in New Jersey;

• advocacy opportunities at the State level for programs and policies.

Municipal membership dues are $100 annually and membership for individu-als costs $50. Find more information at www.chargevc.org/how-to-join/.

Lead the charge!

Has your municipality complied with the2018 MS4 permit requirements? One ofthe new requirements is that in municipali-ties with a Tier A permit, all local officialsand staff who review or make decisions onstormwater plans need to complete theAsking the Right Questions E-tool forStormwater training. The good news is, it'seasy to do!

Asking the Right Questions in Stormwateris an interactive training tool designed byRutgers and ANJEC specifically for munici-pal board and governing body members. Itprovides a general understanding of thepost-construction section of the permit sothat they can “Ask the Right Questions”during their review.

Municipal separatestorm sewer system(MS4) permits


Municipal officials and staff include allmembers of the planning board, zoningboard/board of adjustment, environmentalcommissions, and the municipal engineer.In municipalities with Tier B permits,officials and staff are also strongly encour-aged to complete the training.

Most municipalities have a Tier A permit.Tier B permits are generally given to ruralmunicipalities. Municipal permit designa-

tions can be found at www.nj.gov/dep/dwq/pdf/MS4_municipal_tier_list.pdf.

ANJEC is also offering Asking the RightQuestions E-tool for Stormwater Trainingwebinars where you can ask live questionsof an expert. Check with the ANJECResource Center at [email protected] forupcoming dates.

Local Action Toolkits now availableHas your environmental commission or green team identified some issues you

want to work on in the coming year, but don't know how to get started? TheANJEC Resource Center has prepared a set of tools and information that may helpyou get out of the starting gate with a bang.

Climate Action Toolkit - Includesdozens of helpful resources, such as:

• How to assess a community carbonfootprint

• Model resolution for a municipalgreenhouse gas audit

• Resource paper on siting solarinstallations in NJ

• Guidance for creating Plug-In ElectricVehicle (PEV) friendly ordinances

• Information on stream corridorprotection

• Model water conservation ordinance and how to develop one

Plastic Pollution Toolkit - Articles, reports and sample ordinances including:

• Sample municipal ordinances for balloon release ban (Atlantic City) andplastic bag reduction (Longport)

• Lambertville's food waste collection ordinance

• Lots of articles, tips and other information

Templates for basic environmental commissionannual reports and budgets

To get these tools, please contact the ANJEC Resource Center at [email protected] visit our website at www.anjec.org.

2017 Climate March in Washington


H

Meet Isabella!

Isabella woking on a raingarden at Olson Middle

School

ello! I'm Isabella and I'mworking with both ANJEC and thePinelands Preservation Alliance (PPA) asthey implement the Delaware RiverWatershed Initiative Plan. A lot of my workwill be helping homeowners and municipali-ties to build green stormwater infrastruc-ture projects, mainly within the RancocasCreek Watershed. These could vary from asmall rain garden that takes runoff from ahomeowner's driveway, to much largerprojects covering thousands of square feet.

A little bit about my background: Igraduated from Binghamton University in2016, where I studiedphysical geography andminored in both geologyand biological anthropol-ogy. I previously worked forthe AmeriCorps WatershedAmbassador Program,where I enjoyed getting to

do a mix of field work, projects andenvironmental education. In addition tomy work with ANJEC and the PPA, I'mpursuing a Master's of EnvironmentalStudies at the University of Pennsylvania.

Like a lot of others in the environmentalfield, I decided on this career because I lovebeing outside. When I have free time, Ienjoy going for a hike or a walk. My otherhobbies include reading and listening tomusic. I look forward to working withANJEC and hope to meet many of you atthe ANJEC Environmental Congress onOct. 12 or other ANJEC events!

ANJEC is delighted to welcome Isabella Castiglioni tothe staff. Her ample skills and experience will contrib-ute greatly to our efforts to ensure clean water and ahealthy environment for the people of New Jersey.

For more informationcontact ANJEC at (973) 539-7547

ANJEC is proud to be a member ofEarth Share New Jersey.


ANJEC’S 45th Annual

Environmental CongressFriday, October 12, 2018

9:00 am to 4:30 pm

Mercer County Community College,

West Windsor, NJ

Keynote address:Governor Christine Todd Whitman

Featured Speaker:NJDEP Commissioner, Catherine McCabe

Highlights include:• Exciting workshops on important environmental topics

• Exhibits from New Jersey Nonprofits

• Electric vehicle Ride & Drive

• 2018 ANJEC Environmental Achievement Awards

• New for 2018 – Farmers Market!

Enjoy a day jam-packed withinformation and resources you can use!

For more information and registration, visit the ANJEC website:

http://anjec.org/confworkshops.htmOr call 973-539-7547.

Once again, ANJEC friends set sailaboard the historic AJ Meerwald thissummer for cruises on the HudsonRiver.

The AJ Meerwald is a Delaware BayOyster Schooner, a distinct vessel thatevolved to meet the needs of the localoyster fishery. It originally launched in1928 and was one of hundreds ofschooners built along South Jersey's

Aboard the AJ Meerwald


Delaware Bay before the decline ofthe shipbuilding industry during theGreat Depression.

In 1998 Governor Christine ToddWhitman designated the AJMeerwald New Jersey's Official TallShip. Each summer it spends sometime in North Jersey, setting sailfrom the Alpine Boat Basin.

Matt Hanks


Martha Lieblich

Martha Lieblich

Matt Hanks

Matt Hanks


s an ANJEC member, yourcommission is part of a vital network ofover 350 New Jersey ECs working to ensurethat the environment has a strong voice inlocal government. Your ANJEC membershipempowers you with in-person and on-linetrainings, resources, updates on statewidepolicy proposals, and opportunities topartner with non-profit leadership initia-tives.

ANJEC training is an importantbenefit of membership

Our courses, workshops, webinars, roadshows and conferences provide topnotchtraining for local environmentalists andoffer a robust forum for sharing informa-tion and success stories among towns.ANJEC members get FREE ADMISSION toall of our 2019 workshops and webinars, aswell as our annual Fundamentals forEffective Environmental Commissionscourse, offered at three locations aroundthe State.

Members also are eligible for discountedadmission to:• The annual ANJEC Environmental

Congress• Road shows on topics of your choice,

delivered at your location.

The ANJEC Resource Centeris on call

Experienced ANJEC project directors areavailable to research members’ questions,provide information and share theirknowledge to help your commission,committee or green team work moreeffectively. This includes best practices andinformation on emerging environmentalissues.

ANJEC 2019 membership packets willbe mailed to your town hall soon!

See membership details on our websiteat http://anjec.org/EnvCommMember.htm.

A

It’s time to plan forANJEC 2019Membership




Garden State Laboratories, Inc.BACTERIOLOGICAL & CHEMICAL TESTING

410 Hillside Ave • Hillside, NJ 07205 • (800) 273-8901

“Quality is No Accident”– Mathew Klein, MS,

Founder

[email protected]

CIVIL ENGINEERS, LAND SURVEYORS,PLANNERSCIVIL ENGINEERS, LAND SURVEYORS,PLANNERS

PARK DESIGNGREEN ACRES SURVEYSREDEVELOPMENT

P.O. Box 191258 Main Street

Millburn, NJ 07041Ph 973-379-3280Fx 973-379-7993

www.caseyandkeller.com

Casey & Keller, Inc.Casey & Keller, Inc.

Get the latest news on theenvironment

Read theANJEC News

a biweekly e-newsletter forenvironmental commissionsand others who care about

natural resources in NJ

Emailed FREEto ANJEC members and

supportersSee the latest issue atwww.anjecnews.com


http://princetonhydrocom

http://mottmac.com


Network with ANJECSocial networking can offer important tools for staying connected, getting

news out quickly and gathering feedback in a world where people have manychoices for how they communicate. That’s why ANJEC is on both Facebookand Twitter. We’d love to highlight your town’s successes on our Facebookpage, so please “like” us at www.facebook.com/ANJECpage and then post yourcommission or green team events, activities and accomplishments. And if youuse Twitter (www.twitter.com), please follow @ANJECtweets and we’ll returnthe favor!



• Wetland Delineations• Ecological Impact Assessments

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTSJill Stein Dodds

President

[email protected](908) 996-3214

• Endangered Species Surveys• Wildlife Inventories/Studies• Habitat Mitigation Proposals

• Photography• Expert Testimony

[email protected]

973-942-3131

Lower Total Cost Alternative100% Compliant

EPA RecommendedReclaimed Concrete is Recycled

The environmentally-consciouschoice for safe, responsible, and

efficient concrete washout!


www.dvrpc.org

http://brinkenv.com


ENVIRONMENTAL &ENGINEERING STUDIES

● Environmental Impact Statements● Wetland Studies● Floodplain Studies and Flood Control● Stormwater Best Management Practices● Natural Resource Inventories● Site Evaluation Studies● Permits● Expert Testimony

John A. Thonet, PE, PP14 Upper Kingtown Road • Pittstown, NJ 08867

Tel: 908.238.0473 • Fax: 908.238.9164john.thonet@thonetassociates.comwww.thonetassociates.com

ENVIRONMENTALLAND USE PLANNING

● Community Master Plans● Zoning and Land

Development Ordinances● Environmental Ordinances● Site Plans & Subdivisions● Development Feasibility Studies● Expert Testimony



Thanks to ANJEC Supporters

PSEGAtlantic City Electric

Church & Dwight Co., Inc.An Exelon Company

Environmental Strategy ConsultantsProject Management Support and Services

TheNomadGroup.com (973) [email protected]

CAGE: 819L6, DUNS: 82-795-9151

*SBE


msilto:[email protected]

http://thenomadgroup.com




http://shoprite.com/sustainability




Globally, our demand for natural resources will more thandouble our current supply. If we don’t start working towardsa solution now, it will be too late.

That’s why SUEZ is consolidating our businesses around asingle mission — preparing for the resource revolution.By pooling our resources today, we’re able to bring a globalnetwork to work on a local level. We do this so you cancontinue to enjoy the great water and service you do today,for many years to come.

http://mysuezwater.com

No

n P

rofi

t O

rg.

U.S

. P

ost

age

P

A

I D

Tre

nto

n,

NJ

Perm

it N

o.

11

4P.

O. B

ox 1

57M

endh

am, N

J 07

945

AN

JEC

Rep

ort

now

in f

ull c

olor

!

local environment matters autumn 2018autumn 2018 · providing neighborhood enhancements that...

Documents