News Flash

Posted on: June 2, 2023

Local Leaders and Climate Resilience

The NJLM Educational Foundation is hosting a Climate Resilience Roundtable on June 26, at Warren County Community College beginning at 10:00 a.m. and concluding at 2:00 p.m.

This event aims to address critical topics including hazard mitigation, stormwater...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: June 2, 2023

NJ Brownfields Assistance Center Hosts Webinar

On Monday, June 26, at 11:00 a.m., the NJ Brownfields Assistance Center at NJIT is hosting a webinar on available funding in the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA’s) Brownfields Planning and Assessment Services Program

T...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: June 2, 2023

Spotted Lanternfly Grant Program for Counties and Municipalities

The NJ Department of Agriculture has announced the availability of grant money to assist counties and municipalities slow the spread and reduce spotted lanternfly populations across the state. 

Nearly $5 million has been made available for the gra...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: May 23, 2023

NJ OEM FEMA Safeguarding Tomorrow Grant Plan Public Comment Sought

The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM) has applied for funding through the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan (RLF) Fund Grant to FEMA for FY 2023. They are now seeking public comment on their Intended Use Plan and Proposed Project List. ...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: May 19, 2023

FEMA & NJDEP Provide Training on Letter of Map Change

FEMA Region II and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) State National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Coordinators Office will be providing virtual training on Letter of Map Change. The goal of the webinar is to communicate and...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: May 19, 2023

NJDEP Offers Floodplain Managers Training

NJDEP will be providing virtual training for Floodplain Managers on ordinance administration and model permit on June 27 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. The training will include a discussion on the Model Code Coordinated Ordinance, its administratio...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: May 19, 2023

Christmas Tree Bonfire Bill Advances

On Monday, the Senate Environment and Energy Committee advanced S-861, legislation that would allow municipalities to conduct an annual event for the open burning of Christmas trees.  

Municipalities throughout the state have hosted community even...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: May 12, 2023

Governor Issues Conditional Veto of Flooding Notification Bill

As part of his conditional veto of S-3110/A-4783, Governor Murphy has suggested the bill be amended to provide that a tenant whose landlord fails to provide the required notifications may terminate the lease without penalty any time afte...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: April 12, 2023

NJDEP Releases Draft MS4 Model Ordinances

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has released two draft model ordinances related to the new conditions as part of the updated MS4 Tier A permit and will be accepting informal comments until May 12.   

The firs...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: March 16, 2023

Right to Farm Protections Extended to Aquaculture Activities

This week, Governor Phil Murphy signed S-428 into law, amending the Right to Farm Act to specify that shellfish aquaculture activities are eligible for Right to Farm Act protections. 

To be eligible for Right to Farm protections a shellfish commer...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: March 10, 2023

League Seeking Information on MS4 Permit Compliance

The League is asking our members to answer a short survey aimed at gathering information related to individual municipalities efforts to comply with the NJDEP’s new MS4 permit program requirements.   

The New Jersey Department o...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: March 10, 2023

NJDEP Provides Details on MS4 Permit Compliance Grants

In February, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced it would be making available of $19 million in grants to help municipalities with the transition to new municipal stormwater permitting requirements. Additional details o...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: March 3, 2023

NJBPU Seeking Input on LED Streetlight Program

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) has issued a Request for Comments, seeking input from interested parties regarding the conversion of existing streetlights to LED streetlights. Specifically, seeking information related to streetlight and p...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: March 3, 2023

NJDEP Hosting Meeting for Mayors on MS4 Grant Program

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) will be hosting an executive information session for mayors to review the recently announced grant program to assist municipalities with the new stormwater permitting requirements.&...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: February 17, 2023

NJDEP Announces Grants to Assist with New MS4 Permit Requirements

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has announced the availability of $19 million in grants to help municipalities with the transition to new municipal stormwater permitting requirements. Details on the grant program have not bee...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: February 10, 2023

Special Occasion Events on Preserved Farmland Bill Signed

Governor Phil Murphy has signed legislation authorizing commercial farms located on preserved farmland to hold special occasion events.

The new law expands authorization of special occasion events at commercial farms and wineries on preserved farmland. The...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: February 6, 2023

NJPDES Permit Fees Stakeholder Meeting

This week, League staff participated in a stakeholder meeting hosted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) regarding the New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES) permit fees. The meeting was to introduce the NJ...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: February 6, 2023

League Seeking Information on LIHWAP Participation

The League continues to work with legislators and the administration to better understand the scope of municipal utility and local authority participation in the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), and to develop an agreeable solution ...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: January 31, 2023

Bill Authorizing Special Occasion Events on Preserved Farmland on Track to Become Law

On Thursday, the Assembly voted to approve the recommendations of Governor Murphy’s conditional veto of S-757, after suspending their normal rules to include the bill onto the voting session board list.

The legislation looks to expand au...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: January 31, 2023

Senate Committee Discusses Bill Looking to Increase Utility Participation in LIHWAP

This week, the Senate Economic Growth Committee reviewed S-3333 for discussion only. While the League agrees that additional efforts are needed to ensure the success of the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), we do not agree t...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: January 31, 2023

NJDEP Announces Reimbursements for Radon Test Kits

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) is offering Radon Awareness Program (RAP) grants to all municipalities, on a first come basis to be distributed to residents. Please see the Radon Action Partnership Packet, t...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: January 31, 2023

USDOE Announces Funding for EECBG Program

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program is designed to assist states, local governments, and tribes in implementing strategies to reduce energy use, reduce fossil fuel emissions, and improve energy efficiency. The U.S. Departmen...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: January 9, 2023

FY2023 Federal Omnibus Budget Passed

In the final week of December, the House and Senate passed, and President Biden signed a $1.7 trillion FY2023 federal budget through September 30, 2023. For provisions of state and local interest, please read the League’s two blog posts, the fir...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: December 23, 2022

White House Releases Inflation Reduction Act Clean Energy Guidebook

Last week, the White House released the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Guidebook of Clean Energy provisions in the law. This guidebook provides an overview of the clean energy, climate mitigation and resilience, agriculture, and conservation-relat...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: September 27, 2022

MS4 Tier A Permit Renewal Comment Period Closed, Advocacy Efforts Continue

The comment period for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (NJDEP) Draft Tier A Permit renewal closed on September 20. The League in partnership with the New Jersey Conference of Mayors submitted comments focusing on...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: September 27, 2022

Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Increasing Offshore Wind Goal by 2040

Yesterday, Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 307, increasing New Jersey’s offshore wind goal by nearly 50% to 11,000 megawatts (MW) by 2040. The Executive Order, which increases the state’s current goal of 7,500 ...

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Environmental Issues
Posted on: September 27, 2022

Bill Authorizing Special Occasion Events on Preserved Farmland is Conditionally Vetoed

On Thursday, Governor Murphy issued a conditional veto of S-757. The legislation sought to expand authorization of special occasion events at commercial farms and wineries on preserved farmland. The League opposed S-757 as passed by the legislatu...

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Environmental Issues