Have a Say in Plans to Stop Sewage Overflows
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In less than three months, the final Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plans will be submitted by municipalities and utilities to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).
What type of infrastructure will your municipality and utility choose to reduce sewage overflows? Large tunnels? Green infrastructure? Treatment of sewer discharge? A combination of several alternatives?
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On March 4, the NJDEP held an environmental justice listening session in the City of Paterson. Riché Smiley Outlaw, the Director of the Office of Environmental Justice, opened the listening session. According to the Office of Environmental Justice website, the office “aims to guide the NJDEP’s program areas and state agencies in working to achieve environmental justice, empower residents who are often outside of the decision-making process of government, and address environmental concerns to improve the quality of life in New Jersey’s overburdened communities.” Learn more
here.
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By Nicole Miller, NewarkDIG Co-Chair
On January 28, several members of NewarkDIG (Doing Infrastructure Green), a Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers partner, made a presentation to the Newark City Council on the upcoming final report of the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Long Term Control Plan (LTCP). Nicole Miller emphasized the importance of Newark administrative and council officials taking ownership of the process to keep our streets and rivers clean and safe. After all, they are the final decision-makers and action-takers with regard to the LTCP, which is due to be completed by June 1. Learn more
here.
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In a welcome and important step forward, long-awaited amendments to New Jersey’s stormwater management rules were
published
in the March 2, 2020 New Jersey Register. The new rule amendments, which take full effect March 2, 2021, require the use of green infrastructure. Green infrastructure refers to a set of stormwater management practices that use or mimic the natural water cycle to capture, filter, absorb and/or re-use stormwater. Learn more
here.
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New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-19th District, on February 11, 2020 created the Assembly Special Committee on Infrastructure and Natural Resources. The panel will hold a set of hearings throughout the state on issues concerning water, such as beach erosion, water integrity and security, dams and reservoirs, algae blooms, lead contamination, waste water infrastructure, stormwater challenges, and the effects of climate change. Learn more
here.
Number of Days Until the Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plans are Due
75
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Get Involved and spread the word!
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Got something we should include in this newsletter?
Let us know!
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Sewage-Free Streets and Rivers is an action-oriented campaign that empowers community organizations to engage residents and small business owners to shape the
solutions
that will be adopted in July 2020 to reduce localized flooding and the raw sewage dumped into our waterways. It
is organized by its
partners
and an
advisory board
, with the support of
New Jersey Future
.
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