New Jersey Currents | Fall Update 2011www.cleanwateraction.org/njef

Catastrophic flooding just weeks ago, a record heat wave in July, massive snowfalls forecast for this winter — makes you wonder about climate change, doesn’t it? The science is clear and overwhelming. Climate change is happening and human action is a significant contributor. Yet, politics have locked us into an energy-policy stalemate, and we need real solutions now.

Thanks to New Jersey’s Global Warming Response Act, Clean Energy Program, and participation in the Regional Green-house Gas Initiative (RGGI), the Garden State has become

a national leader for renewable energy and energy efficiency. This year, New Jersey sur-passed California and

claimed the top spot as the country’s largest commercial solar market. Unfortunately, New Jersey’s new 2011 Energy Master Plan would scale back these efforts in favor of expanding fos-sil fuels, nuclear power and more wasteful, polluting garbage incineration, wrongly classified as “renewable.”

Real renewable energy lowers costs and creates jobs, while fossil fuels remain a harmful economic and health burden. At a time when thousands of green jobs are being lost to China and individuals are protesting against corporate power and inequity across the nation and the world, it makes no sense to cut these beneficial programs. The NJ Environmental Fed-eration is urging state legislators to defend and advance key renewable energy laws and programs by:

• Opposing S2250/A3147 which would repeal the Global Warming Response Act and RGGI;

• Supporting a series of bills (most notably S3032) to ensure adequate energy efficiency funding, remain in RGGI, and increase renewable energy production goals; and

See NJEF Endorsements pages 4 and 5.

• Overriding the Governor’s conditional veto of S2576 which would ban hydrofracking in New Jersey and passed the Legislature with bi-partisan veto proof majorities.

Energy production and climate change aren’t the only areas where water and toxics come together to threaten people’s health. NJEF is also working to reduce the toxic burden in our environment, homes, and bodies. Chemicals in everyday prod-ucts such as pesticides, fertilizers, cleaning products, cosmet-ics and pharmaceuticals get into New Jersey’s water supplies. The science is also becoming increasingly clear on connections between exposure to these chemicals and serious health prob-lems, including cancer, birth defects and fertility problems.

While the chemical industry lobbies to weaken protections for public health and water, Clean Water Action and NJEF are fighting in Trenton and Washington to ensure passage of the NJ Child Safe Playing Fields Act (S1610) to protect kids from toxic pesticides where they play and the US Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 (S847) to help reduce chemicals’ impact on human health and the environment (see page 3).

NJEF’s Smart, Green and Clean campaign tackles another major water crisis facing the U.S. today — outdated and overextended water and wastewater infrastructure. Decay-ing water infrastructure causes water pollution, makes children sick and wastes natural resources. A recent report by Green for All found that upgrading water infrastructure could create 1.9 million American jobs and add $265 billion to the economy. The report calls for maximizing the use of green infrastructure, a new approach that mimics natural systems and can deliver clean water much more efficiently.

This election day, your vote is your voice.Your pro-environment vote will send a clear message to the

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VOTE ENVIRONMENT November 8thHigh Stakes Election for the Environment — Entire State Legislature on Ballot

Fall Update 2011 New Jersey currents

2 New Jersey Currents | Fall Update 2011 www.cleanwateraction.org/njef

From the Director

Amy Goldsmith

vote environmentThe NJ Environmental Federation (NJEF) has waged and won environmental and public health protections in the best of times and the worst of times. In the mid-90s, U.S. Congressman Jim Saxton (R-NJ) championed passage of the first ever Safe Drinking Water “right to know,” new programs to protect drinking water sources and related water funding. This was back when Newt Gingrich’s Contract with America, a platform designed to dismantle government environmental programs and funding for them, posed serious threats. We not only stopped them, we actually secured bi-partisan support to strengthen our nation’s drinking water laws.

The economic challenges we face today are being used as an excuse to undermine our environmental and public health safeguards here in New Jersey and in Washington. Without these fundamental protections, our children, the elderly and health compromised individuals bear the brunt of the medical bills, lost school and work days, and degraded quality of life. The upcoming younger generation may not only face fewer employment opportunities, but may also struggle with health issues related to their environment. Sadly, we hear more and more about friends, families or colleagues being diagnosed with cancer. Urban areas are hot spots for cancer-causing traffic pollutants and a multitude of other toxics.

Rebuilding our state’s economy with both the environment and green jobs in mind is a path forward that puts people back to work, fixes our aging water infrastructure, accelerates clean energy installations, slows down the adverse impacts of climate change, and protects the Garden State from pollution hazards. We need to stop environmental rollbacks and advance our proactive agenda. That’s why you need to make your voice heard in Congress, in the State House, and in the voting booth this November. Find out how by reading this edition of NJ Currents. Once our hard earned victories are taken away, it will hard to get them back. We can’t let that happen, and with your support it won’t!

Amy Goldsmith, State DirectorNew Jersey Environmental Federation Chapter of Clean Water Action

ANNOUNCING THE CLEAN WATER CARDClean Water Action announces a new partnership with Capital One®. Through this partnership, Clean Water Action and NJEF members and supporters applying for the Clean Water Action VISA® credit card, will be able to select between three different credit options to fit individual needs. Purchases made with your Clean Water Action VISA card will help support our Clean Water Action movement.You can select between three great card art designs, and choose the credit option that you feel best meets your needs while showing your support for Clean Water Action. Great rewards, low introductory interest rate, or build your own credit — you decide.Members who apply and qualify for the Rewards card will earn 1.25 miles for every $1 spent on purchases with the card.This Clean Water Action VISA® card is the only credit card offered to support our cause. Apply today at www.cleanwatercard.org!

Continued from page 1

pro-pollution lobby and to the legislature about the critical importance of protecting health and the environment. Big Oil companies like Exxon are spending billions on ads and bank-rolling candidates, hoping to weaken environmental pro-tections. Don’t let them have their way — vote for a healthy environment and stronger, greener economy this fall.

NJEF reviewed the records and the positions of the candi-dates for State Senate and Assembly. We asked tough ques-tions and now offer our support to those candidates who not only understand the issues, but have proven their leadership

through actions to protect our environment. They understand that protecting our air and water means protecting people’s health and livelihoods, and that a clean water-clean energy future will create good jobs here in the U.S and in New Jer-sey. These are the candidates whom NJEF has endorsed for 2011. All of them deserve your support.

On November 8th, vote for the candidates who are working for a healthy environment and green economy — see page 4 to see this year’s green team of NJEF-endorsed candidates.

New Jersey Currents | Fall Update 2011 3www.cleanwateraction.org/njef

taking action to protect kids and families from toxic chemicalsThe national numbers are staggering. Asthma rates have risen 100%, premature babies 30%, breast cancer, 40%, impaired fertility 40% and autism diagnoses 1000%. New Jersey has seen even higher spikes in these areas, often chalking in data that is the highest in the nation. Scientific studies have found links between all of these health problems and chemical and environmental exposures.

More than 80,000 synthetic chemicals have been developed since the 1940s and are now used in commercial products. About 2000 new chemicals are produced each year with only 10% tested for their long term effects on human health. Only 12 of the 80,000 chemicals have been fully tested for their toxic-ity to children’s neurological development. Children are also regularly exposed to other dangerous toxic substances such as lead and mercury.

Current laws and safety standards fail completely to consider the cumulative effects these dangerous toxic cocktails may be having on children and how these chemicals interact with each other in children’s developing immune, neurological, reproductive and endocrine systems. Most Americans assume there is some system to ensure chemicals are safe before they end up on our homes. Yet, the federal laws and regulations for assessing chemi-cal safety and protecting health are outdated and badly broken.

In 1976 Congress passed the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). It has not been significantly updated in 35 years. Dur-ing that time, new and sometimes frightening levels of toxic chemicals have been introduced into workplaces, schools and homes through products used every day. NJEF is part of the national “SAFER” coalition (Safer Chemicals, Healthy Fami-lies), which is pushing for the possibility of a rare bi-partisan bill to pass Congress. The coalition brings together groups from across New Jersey and thirty-two other states.

New Jersey’s U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg (with strong support from Sen. Robert Menendez) has intro-duced the Safe Chemicals Act, legislation that would require chemicals to be tested for safety before they are allowed into the market-place. This would increase demand and innovation for new and safe chemicals and could also create new oppor-tunities for revitalizing the American chemical industry. The bill could face its first test in the U.S. Senate before year’s end.

New Jersey lawmakers are also considering bills aimed at reducing harmful chemical use and exposures:

• A2259 ( Moriarty-Evans, Chivakula) /S1636 (T.Kean-Scu-tari-Greenstein, O’Toole): Prohibits the sale, distribution, import or manufacturing of any children’s product intend-ed for use by a child under the age of 16 which contains, is composed of, or made with lead, mercury or cadmium.

• A3293 (Quintano)/ S844 (Turner): Makes the sale, dis-tribution or manufacturing of any hard plastic beverage container an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act if that beverage container contains BPA (bisphenol A).

Get involved! Ask your NJ legislators to advocate for safer chemicals and healthier families by voting yes on A2259 and A3293. For more information on the safety of products used in your home, visit: www.saferchemicals.org or contact NJEF’s Peg Sturmfels at psturmfels@cleanwater.org.

A Congressional Assault on the Environment. Some of the most important issues facing the environment in U.S. Congress this fall are efforts to block implementation of, or even reverse, laws protecting public health and natural resources. In addition to passing a bill that will gut the Clean Water Act, H.R. 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives also voted in September to make our air less breathable with the passage of the TRAIN act. In the first two weeks in October Representatives voted to weaken health protection from cement plants and industrial boilers’ toxic emissions. Click here to learn about Congressional attacks on health and environmental protections and what you can do to stop them!

LD 11 Senator Jen Beck (R)(monmouth county)Strong champion in the fight to protect children, Beck is a co-sponsor of the Child Safe Playing Fields Act (S2610) to limit toxic pesticide use at playgrounds and athletic fields. She has played a key role in moving and securing strong bi-partisan support for the bill. Beck is an advocate of protecting NJ’s waterways from fertilizer pollution, a major source of excessive nutrients plaguing Barnegat Bay and other waters. Co-prime sponsor of S2554, the nation’s strictest fertilizer law, signed by Gov. Christie earlier this year, she is concerned about overdependence on fossil fuel because of national security and environmental concerns. Beck, like Gov. Christie, opposes offshore liquid natural gas but also supports overriding the Governor’s veto of the ban on hydrofracking.

LD 14 Senator Linda Greenstein (D) and Assemblyman Dan Benson (D) (mercer and middlesex)Both legislators are fighting to ensure New Jersey remains a leader in the fight against climate change and on other key issues. Greenstein was the original co-prime sponsor of the historic Global Warming Response Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050, and is currently prime sponsor of S2946/SCR64 to keep New Jersey in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), an important tool to reduce CO2 from power plants, make polluters pay, and fund clean energy programs. Governor Christie wants to abandon RGGI. Benson practices what he preaches, fighting for environmental causes in Trenton, but also working in the renewable energy field in his day job. He is a cosponsor of S2576 to ban hydrofracking in the state and a cosponsor of the bill to keep New Jersey in RGGI.

LD 15 Senator Shirley Turner (D), Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D), and Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson-Coleman (D) (mercer)Turner, Gusciora and Watson-Coleman are strong environmental leaders, fighting for open space, water protection and increasing renewable energy and energy efficiency. Turner was the lead proponent of repealing NJ’s 2004 “Fast Track” or “EZ Pass for Polluters” bill, which would have given developers even more advantage to pave over NJ’s rapidly shrinking open spaces, further endangering natural resources. She is currently the author/champion of the Child Safe Playing Fields Act.As Vice Chair of the Environment Committee, Gusciora authored the 2008 law to require electronic waste to be recycled and played the key role requiring polluters pay for it.Watson-Coleman authored legislation to update energy efficiency standards for appliances, saving consumers money and reducing air pollution.

LD 16 Senator Kip Bateman (R)(morris and somerset)An important member of the Senate Environment Committee, Bateman helped pass the nation’s strongest fertilizer law and is currently pushing several bills to promote clean renewable energy and protect kids where they play from toxic pesticides. As co-prime sponsor of the bill to ban hydrofracking in New Jersey, Bateman has played a key role in ensuring passage of the bill with veto-proof majorities. Bateman is a champion in protecting Barnegat Bay from nutrient pollution as co-prime sponsor of S2341/A3415, which requires the state to study and clean-up Barnegat Bay within two years.

LD 17 Senator Bob Smith (D)(morris and somerset)As Chair of the Senate Environment Committee, Smith has led on practically every major environmental law of the past decade from Highlands and Clean Car to renewable energy and e-waste. Smith is prime architect of a package of bills to protect Barnegat Bay and other NJ waters, most notably passing the nation’s strongest law earlier this year regulating lawn fertilizing. Smith is also the lead supporter of providing significant, long-term, and stable funding for open space and farmland preservation.

LD 18 Senator Barbara Buono (D) and Assemblyman Peter Barnes (D) (middlesex)Buono and Barnes are critical players in the ongoing effort for strong environmental protections.As a prime Senate sponsor of the 2007 Global Warming Response Act, Buono is an adamant opponent of Gov. Christie’s current plans to weaken the Energy Master Plan and pull New Jersey out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). She is also the leading legislator against the bi-partisan effort to weaken environmental protections that NJ needs, protections that make NJ a national leader. Barnes is the co-prime sponsor of SCR157/AJR80 to constitutionally dedicate funding for clean energy and a key member of the Assembly Environment Committee.

LD 19 Senator Joe Vitale (D) and Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D) (middlesex)Both candidates have pushed for NJEF’s current top issues including the passing the Child Safe Playing Fields Act, banning hydrofracking, protecting Barnegat Bay, stopping fertilizer nutrient pollution, and defending the Global Warming Response Act and RGGI.Vitale, long-time chair of the Senate Health Committee, and Assemblyman Wisniewski, current State Chair of the Democratic Party, authored the 2008 law strengthening enforcement of NJ environmental law.

LD = Legislative District

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VOTE FOR A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT THIS FALL

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LD 21 Senator Tom Kean, Jr. (R)(essex, morris, somerset and union)No stranger to NJ’s environmental issues, Kean has been a leader in protecting NJ’s environment since his first year in office when he played a critical role in passing the Clean Cars Act and even before then when he worked at the EPA. As the NJ Senate’s current Republican leader, he demonstrates that the environment isn’t a partisan issue by helping to advance protections concerning fertilizer, pesticides, hydrofracking Barnegat Bay and global warming. In past legislative sessions, Kean was co-prime sponsor of the Global Warming Response Act and helped secured passage of the NJ Highlands Act.

LD 22 Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D) (middlesex, somerset and union)Stender has been one of the strongest voices in protecting NJ’s environment. As prime sponsor for the 2007 Global Warming Response Act, Stender is now committed to defend RGGI and the Clean Energy Fund. Stender is also committed to protecting children’s health. In 2002, she authored the School Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Act, a landmark law which requires schools to use the least toxic alternative when controlling pests.

LD 27 Senator Dick Codey (D), Assemblyman John McKeon (D), and Assemblywoman Mia Jasey (D) (essex)The 27th district team’s environmental leadership is second to none.As Senate President and Governor, Codey ensured passage of the Highlands Act and the Clean Car Act and stopped implementation of the “Fast Track” or “EZ Pass for Polluters” law, and he continues to be a strong defender of the environment today.As Chair of the Assembly Environment Committee, McKeon has led the way in support of practically every major environmental law of the past decade from Highlands to Barnegat Bay on issues ranging from global warming and clean water to recycling and electronic waste.

Jasey completes this vibrant legislative team as the co-prime sponsor of the bill to clean-up Barnegat Bay, and cosponsor of open space, farmland preservation, pesticide, clean energy/global warming bills, and the recently enacted fertilizer law.

LD 37 Senator Loretta Weinberg (D), Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri-Huttle (D), and Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (D) (bergen)Long time friends and advocates of NJ’s environment, this environmental dream team helped secure increased protections for the Hackensack River, a major Bergen County drinking water supply. Weinberg, current Health Committee chair, personifies leadership. She doesn’t just vote or put her name on a bill, she follows through to see it passed. Two of her recent priorities include the nation’s strongest fertilizer law and the ban on hydrofracking with the pending override vote of the Governor’s veto.Vainieri-Huttle is the co-prime sponsor of most of the current major environmental bills ranging from pesticides, Barnegat Bay, and global warming to fertilizer, hydrofracking ban, open space and farmland preservation.Rounding out the 37th legislative team is Assemblyman Johnson who strongly supports and votes for his teammate’s initiatives.

LD 38 Senator Bob Gordon (D) and Assemblywoman Connie Wagner (D) (bergen)As the prime sponsors of the Childs Safe Playing Fields Act and the banning of hydrofracking in New Jersey, Gordon and Wagner are leading the effort to get these bills into law.Vice chair of the Senate Environment Committee, Gordon has been a strong advocate for New Jersey’s environmental health and practices what he preaches by working in the clean energy field in his day job. Wagner cosponsored the nation’s strictest fertilizer law and is cosponsoring the bill to constitutionally dedicate the Clean Energy Fund.

Paid for by NJ Environmental Federation for distribution to its members. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. NJEF is the Garden State Chapter of Clean Water Action (CWA). NJEF has 150,000 individual members and an additional 100 member groups. NJEF makes endorsements based solely on our environmental campaigns. NJEF member groups with a 501 (c) (3) tax status do not participate in decisions or activities to support political candidates. For more information, call (732) 280-8988 or visit www.cleanwateraction.org/njef

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VOTER INFORMATIONFind out what legislative district you are in:

www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.aspNJ Spotlight Voter Information Guide:

www.thevoterguide.org/v/njspotlightBrowse and learn about candidates, generate customized comparisons,

and more at this new, nonpartisan voter education site.

New Jersey CurrentsFALL UPDATe 2011

Clean Water Action is a national citizens’ organization working for clean, safe and affordable water, prevention of health-threatening pollution, creation of environmentally-safe jobs and businesses, and empowerment of people to make democracy work.

The New Jersey Environmental Federation is the Garden State chapter of Clean Water Action. NJEF has 150,000 individual members and an additional 100 member groups.

NJEF and Clean Water Action organize strong grassroots groups, coalitions and campaigns to protect our environment, health, economic well-being and community quality of life.

Managing editor: Jonathan ScottPresident and CeO: Robert WendelgassWriters: Amy Goldsmith, David Pringle, Peggi Sturmfels,and Jenny VickersDesign: ES DesignReproduction in whole or part is permitted with proper credit.© Copyright 2011 All rights reserved.

National: 1010 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005-4918 | Phone 202.895.0420 | Fax 202.895.0438 | cwa@cleanwater.org New Jersey: 1002 Ocean Ave, Belmar, NJ 07719 | Phone 732.280.8988 | www.cleanwateraction.org/njef

making nj safer one yard at a timeActivist Highlight: Suzanne Aptman, Northern NJ Safe Yards AllianceFor more than a dozen years, the New Jersey Environmental Federation has worked to end the use of toxic pesticides in parks, playgrounds, ball fields and grassy areas near water-ways. Pesticides have been linked to health effects such as cancer, asthma, endocrine disruption and other respiratory disorders. The issue draws support not just from those who care about the environ-ment but also people concerned about protecting children’s health.

Suzanne Aptman, who runs the Northern New Jersey Safe Yards Alliance, is working to shift lawn care to practices that are safer for people, pets, and the planet. This organization was founded by sev-eral Montclair residents and is now hoping to extend its reach to the rest of North Jersey and beyond.

Suzanne Aptman and her orga-nization have produced educational materials and an informative website. They have also spoken at local events and organized numerous non-toxic, sustainable lawn care seminars for both homeowners and landscapers. Their Safe Yards Challenge launched this summer asks residents to help inspire chemical-free yard care changes by taking a stand to raise awareness and educate neighbors. In Montclair, the campaign has already succeeded in getting 100 people to put “pesticide free” signs on their front yards. Suzanne also encourages smaller lawn areas and more sustainable alterna-

tives such as groundcover (plants which spread across the ground but do not grow tall, so no cutting is required), clover, ornamental grasses, and flower and shrub beds.

Suzanne has taken her local activ-ism to the next level, becoming a lead expert and organizer for the Child Safe Playing Fields Act (S2610/A3782) to protect kids (daycare through 12th grade) on playgrounds and park playing fields from unsafe lawn chemicals. Suzanne has enlisted support for the bill from physicians, medical institutions, health non-profits and local officials. Her legislative testimony, mobilization of many New Jersey residents and contact with lawmakers and coalition partners have built a bipartisan majority supporting the bill in the State Senate.

Want to Go Pesticide Free?Encourage State Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Oliver to post the Child Safe Playing Fields Act for full floor votes: www.cleanwateraction.org/action/pesticides-and-kids-dont-mix

Sign up to learn more or help organize support in your community by emailing njcwa@cleanwater.org orInfo@NorthernNJSafeYardsAlliance.org (North Jersey)and visit www.safeyardsmontclair.org

Suzanne Aptman, here at the Montclair Farmers Market, is working to reduce toxic lawn pesticides in Montclair and statewide, especially in public places where children play.

“I am motivated by my desire to shatter the myth that

we must use these pesticides to have a lovely yard.”

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