SECURING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
What is Environmental Justice?
Environmental justice embodies the principle that particular communities and populations should not be disproportionately exposed to adverse environmental impacts. In New Jersey, everyone, no matter how much money they make or where they come from, should be able to enjoy living, working, and having fun in a clean and safe environment. But poorer neighborhoods often deal with the legacy of having more pollution and health problems compared to wealthier places. More people of color live in these neighborhoods that have a history of pollution, compared to whiter, wealthier areas.
Begun under the Murphy Administration in 2018, this initiative of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) specifically targets environmental law enforcement affecting communities of color, low-income communities, low-English-proficiency communities, and those subject to cumulative environmental stressors (“overburdened communities”). Our environmental enforcement efforts continue in all communities across the state.
New Jersey Environmental Justice Lawsuit Map
The Attorney General and DEP have filed more than 70 environmental justice lawsuits in overburdened communities all over the state since 2018. Click on this map to find information about cases near you, including when each case was filed, a link to the press release and court complaint, what kind of environmental problem was at stake, and whether the case has been resolved yet.
New Jersey Environmental Justice Lawsuit Highlights
Our environmental justice lawsuits are designed to compel polluters to clean up our air, soil, and water in overburdened communities and to compensate the state for its enforcement work. So far we have filed 72 lawsuits and collected over $31 million in penalties and past costs. We’re proud of our results, some of which are explained here.
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M.J. & Sons
Environmental Justice News
Acting AG Bruck Announces Settlement with EPA to Protect New Jersey from Air Pollution from Upwind States
For Immediate Release: July 29, 2021 Office of The Attorney General- Andrew J. Bruck, Acting Attorney GeneralDivision of Law- Michelle Miller, DirectorFor Further Information: Media Inquiries-Lee Moore609-292-4791Citizen Inquiries-609-984-5828TRENTON – Acting Attorney...
Acting AG Bruck, DEP Commissioner LaTourette Take Action to Force Immediate Clean-Up of Contamination from Illegal Waste Dump in Camden
For Immediate Release: July 19. 2021 Office of the Attorney General- Andrew J. Bruck, Acting Attorney GeneralNJ Department of Environmental Protection- Shawn M. LaTourette, Commissioner For Further Information Contact: Lee Moore (LPS), 609-292-4791Larry Hajna (DEP),...
Attorney General Grewal, DEP Acting Commissioner LaTourette Announce Nine New Environmental Enforcement Actions, Seven in Environmental Justice Communities
For Immediate Release: May 10, 2021 Office of The Attorney General - Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney General NJ Department of Environmental Protection - Shawn M. LaTourette, Acting Commissioner For Further Information: Media Inquiries- Lee Moore 609-292-4791 Larry Hajna...
AG’s Office Releases Hotel Surveillance Videos, Taser Camera Footage, and 911 Call Related to Incident Involving Non-Fatal Police Shooting in Clifton, N.J.
35-Year-Old Man Slashed Officer’s Face and Two Other Officers Fired at the AssailantFor Immediate Release: January 21, 2021 Office of The Attorney General- Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney GeneralOffice of Public Integrity and Accountability- Thomas J. Eicher, DirectorFor...
AG Grewal Announces Multi-Million Dollar Settlement with Insys Therapeutics Founder John Kapoor over His Role in Fueling the Opioid Epidemic
Money Recovered in the Settlement Will Help Fund the State’s Response to the Opioid EpidemicFor Immediate Release: January 21, 2021 Office of The Attorney General- Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney GeneralNJ CARES- Sharon M. Joyce, DirectorDivision of Consumer...
AG Grewal Opposes Lame Duck Environmental Rollbacks in the Trump Administration’s Final Days
In Comments and Lawsuits, New Jersey Is Pushing Back Against “Midnight Rules” Weakening Environmental ProtectionsFor Immediate Release: January 15, 2021 Office of The Attorney General- Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney GeneralDivision of Law- Michelle Miller, DirectorFor...
AG Grewal, DEP Announce Lawsuit Against U.S. Government over Drinking Water Contamination from Military Bases’ Use of Firefighting Foam
For Immediate Release: January 14, 2021 Office of The Attorney General- Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney GeneralNJ Department of Environmental Protection- Catherine R. McCabe, CommissionerFor Further Information: Media Inquiries-Lee Moore(LPS)609-292-4791Lawrence...
Attorney General, DEP Commissioner Announce Seven New Environmental Cost Recovery Lawsuits Targeting Polluters, Responsible Parties
Complaints Seek to Recover Costs to the State of Investigating, Remedying Contamination that Tainted Drinking Water Supplies, Threatened Other Harms For Immediate Release: December 18, 2020 Office of The Attorney General - Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney General NJ...
Attorney General, DEP Commissioner Announce Two New Natural Resource Damage Lawsuits over Contamination of Riverfront Sites Suit Against Solvay Demands Accountability for Company’s PFAS Chemicals Found in Public and Private Water Sources
For Immediate Release: November 10, 2020 Office of The Attorney General- Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney General New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection- Catherine R. McCabe, CommissionerFor Further Information: Media Inquiries-Lee Moore609-292-4791Larry Hajna...
AG Grewal Challenges More Rollbacks of Limits on Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Relaxed Standards for Methane Emissions Arrive During New Jersey’s Second Hottest Summer on Record For Immediate Release: September 14, 2020 Office of The Attorney General- Gurbir S. Grewal, Attorney GeneralDivision of Law- Michelle Miller, Director For Further...
Resources
NJ Department of Environmental Protection Environmental Justice Program home
All New Jersey residents, regardless of income, race, ethnicity, color, or national origin, have a right to live, work, and recreate in a clean and healthy environment. Historically, New Jersey’s low-income communities and communities of color face a disproportionately high number of environmental and public health stressors and, as a result, suffer from increased adverse health effects. New Jersey seeks to correct these outcomes by furthering the promise of environmental justice.
NJ Department of Environmental Protection Environmental Justice Mapping, Assessment, and Protection Tool
EJMAP depicts each 50th percentile value for each individual stressors in the OBC and its point of comparison for both the State and relevant county. If the 50th percentile value for an individual stressor is higher than the lesser of the State or county point of comparison for that same stressor, the stressor is considered “adverse”.
NJ Department of Environmental Protection Environmental Justice Contact Information
Did you know OEJ has a newsletter? Enter your email to stay up-to-date with environmental justice opportunities and additional resources.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Justice Home
“Environmental justice” means the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of income, race, color, national origin, Tribal affiliation, or disability, in agency decision-making and other Federal activities that affect human health and the environment
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency EJScreen: Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool
In order to better meet the Agency’s responsibilities related to the protection of public health and the environment, EPA has developed a new environmental justice (EJ) mapping and screening tool called EJScreen. It is based on nationally consistent data and an approach that combines environmental and demographic indicators in maps and reports. Learn more about Environmental Justice at EPA.