All posts by SallijaneG

Speak out on NJ State DEP plans to redevelop the Meadowlands

The Federal Government has created a national competition to award $1 Billion dollars to assist communities with becoming more resilient to disasters. The New Jersey DEP has submitted an application for more than $326 million dollars in funds to create berms in the Meadowlands, a NJTransit garage in Teterboro, and Resiliency Planning Assistance to municipalities throughout the state. The New Jersey application (see it in English and Spanish) proposes a pilot project “service area” in the municipalities of Carlstadt, East Rutherford, Hackensack, Hasbrouck Heights, Little Ferry, Moonachie, Rutherford, South Hackensack, Teterboro, and Wood-Ridge.

It is critical that the State hear everyone’s thoughts on how this money should be spent. This project will affect our neighborhoods, our schools, our businesses and our quality of life.

There will be a meeting for residents to find out more about this application; assistance in providing comments will be available.

National Disaster Resilience Competition Residents’ Meeting
Monday 05 Oct 2015 | 6-9:30pm
North Jersey Vineyard Church
370 North Street, Teterboro, NJ 07608

(Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/824726964314802/)
If you can’t make the meeting, you can submit your comments from now through October 9, 2015, at 5:00 p.m.

By E-mail: ndrcpubliccomments@dep.nj.gov
By Postal Mail:
Office of Flood Risk Reduction Measures
Attention: Dave Rosenblatt
501 East State Street
Mail Code 501-01A
P.O. Box 420
Trenton, NJ 08625-0420

Free EPA webinars on safe chemical waste disposal

Chemical disposalWe should all be aware by now that many of the chemicals we use are poisonous. Bottle labels from pesticides to paint thinners carry skull-and-crossbones and “dispose of properly” warnings. Repair facilities and manufacturing businesses work with many dangerous chemicals that, obviously, need to be discarded after use.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s job is protecting the environment in which we all live, work, and play. This charge includes regulating the manufacture, handling, and disposal of useful but dangerous chemicals. President Clinton’s executive order in 1994 made environmental justice part of the EPA mission. The EPA Web site explains:

Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. EPA has this goal for all communities and persons across this Nation. It will be achieved when everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental and health hazards and equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work.

The EPA is holding two webinars this month on reducing the risks of the use of chemicals that are recognized as having a high impact on environmental justice communities.

You must register to attend EPA webinars. Registrants have the option of just listening in but can also ask a question, share information or make a statement.

Environmental Justice Public Consultation on trichloroethylene (TCE) Webinar
Date: 27 May 2015
Time: 1-2pm EDT
Register

Environmental Justice Public Consultation on paint removers NMP and methylene chloride Webinar
Date: 27 May 2015
Time: 1-2pm EDT
Register

Green Drinks Hackensack, meeting notes, 12 Nov 2012

In N.J., perhaps due to lots of small towns, planning seems to have no critical mass, no substantive overview; focused on zoning applications; master plan has no real standards;
Safe Routes to School
Amsterdam, 3 level of bike parking completely full
recycling not helped when towns take everything in dumpster, regardless of whether it is appropriate
first amendment rights at malls; The Green Party vs. Hartz Mountain; malls are public fora, modern town squares; hypothetical risks can not be considered
for-profit private prison industry; three strikes laws
Colorado and Washington, passed recreational marijuana laws, what about federal laws requiring antidrug policies for funds (much as speed limit laws are required for funding); they may be test cases for breaking those federal laws
wedges been driven between sectors of society
CohousingUSA (monthly newsletter) J. Cloud, ISE (Institute for Sustainable Enterprise), Fairleigh Dickinson, Madison. Attempting to try to put together community, purchase land, etc., for cohousing project
1980s Delaware, concept started
project with individual apartments, common washer/dryer, common kitchen (round robin meals)
community-based enterprise, unity economics; many models
why does every bride feel that she needs to own a gown; why not borrowing or rental?
one regular attendee is looking to create community compost site in Hackensack
(Sally stopped taking notes to get on Occupy Sandy NJ nightly conference call, 9 p.m.)