Environmental News and Newsletters

On this page we feature stories that are relevant to our environmental justice mission. We appreciate your help in locating news coverage about SJ environmental justice issues. We are especially interested in articles that illustrate local environmental issues with broad ramifications for people's health and the communities they live in. Please email your suggestions to webmaster@sjenvironmentaljustice.org. Thank you.

SJEJA - Environmental Voice Bulletin, Spring 2010.

This newsletter features an update about the resolution of the drinking water/Puchack class action suit, which we have attached, English and Spanish versions.

1. WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE CLASS ACTION CASE ABOUT CAMDEN CITY CONTAMINATED DRINKING WATER?
2. CAMDEN DRINKING WATER – IS THERE STILL A PROBLEM?
3. WHAT YOU CAN DO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY

Read this important newsletter about Water Quality in Camden City and how to protect your family
>>> in English or in Spanish (word doc)

Results of a study released this month by the state Department of Environmental Protection state that approximately 10 percent of the dust found in the neighborhood of Holcim -- formerly St. Lawrence Cement Co. -- can be traced to the plant, but not necessarily to the open piles of recycled material that the residents have long pegged as the culprit.

>>> read the whole article by EILEEN STILWELL (Courier-Post Staff)

Breaking NEWS:
Governor Corzine Announces Conservation Easement
for Petty's Island in Delaware River

GOVERNOR CORZINE ANNOUNCES CONSERVATION EASEMENT FOR PETTY'S ISLAND IN DELAWARE RIVER (09/02) TRENTON * A state land-preservation board has voted to accept a conservation easement for Petty's Island, marking a crucial first step toward restoring and preserving one of the Delaware River's largest islands, Governor Jon S. Corzine announced today. The New Jersey Natural Lands Trust voted today to accept CITGO Petroleum Corp.'s offer of an easement for the island, located off Pennsauken in Camden County. CITGO must remove structures associated with former petroleum operations and complete cleanup of industrial contamination before the island can be transferred to the state for ownership and management. "Although located in one of New Jersey's most heavily industrialized river corridors, Petty's Island is a surprising oasis for wildlife such as bald eagles, herons and waterfowl," Governor Corzine said. "I commend CITGO and Pennsauken Township for working toward this milestone. One day, people from all over the region will flock to Petty's Island to enjoy the Delaware River and learn about its diverse natural and cultural history." "This vote shows true vision and appreciation for the island's untapped potential," Department of Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Mark N. Mauriello said. "We now have a unique opportunity to create a wonderful urban park with spectacular views from an island that has long been off-limits to the public." The company will create a $2-million stewardship fund for the Natural Lands Trust to manage the island and will set up another $1-million fund to assist the Trust in establishing a cultural and education center. The Natural Lands Trust is an independent agency that protects land on behalf of the state, usually through acceptance of donations and easements. "The board members of the Natural Lands Trust are delighted that Governor Corzine cleared the way for reconsideration of this historic matter," said Michael Catania, the Trust's chairman. "The Governor's leadership enabled us to take an action that will greatly benefit wildlife, result in a cleaner environment, and improve the quality of life for residents of Camden County and all of New Jersey." A restored and preserved Petty's Island will provide Pennsauken residents with a front-porch view of their river and the wildlife that thrives along it for the first time in many years. "Petty's Island is a 400-acre natural jewel in the heart of the Delaware River estuary," said Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper. "The Natural Lands Trust vote is an important first step in protecting and restoring the island so it can contribute to a healthier Delaware River as well as support fish, birds and wildlife, all of which enrich our lives, communities and economy. By preserving Petty's Island as natural open space, the Governor and Pennsauken residents are creating a legacy of healthy rivers and lands that all generations can enjoy.'' The 392-acre island is surrounded by some 140 acres of ecologically important riparian lands, namely tidal flats. A pair of American bald eagles uses Petty's Island as part of its foraging and nesting territory. The island also provides breeding and foraging habitat for species of heron, including the great blue heron and the state-endangered black-crowned night-heron. Songbirds that migrate along the river corridor find habitat and cover within the island's woods and wetlands. The state will assume no liability for cleanup of past pollution on the island. CITGO will turn the island over to the Natural Lands Trust to manage after the company removes petroleum facilities that include a tank farm and asphalt-blending operation. The DEP must certify that contamination has been cleaned up according to state standards. The cleanup terms will be covered under a separate agreement with the DEP. The title transfer for the island may not occur before 2020, which is three years following the 2017 expiration of a lease a shipping terminal has with CITGO. This gives CITGO time to address any additional contamination issues found on the property after the terminal shuts down. Until the transfer occurs, CITGO may allow limited access to groups for educational purposes. A Quaker, Elizabeth Kinsey, acquired the island from Lenni-Lenape Indians around 1684. She transferred it to William Penn. The island derives its name from John Petty, who owned it around the time of the Revolution. Schooners were built on Petty's Island during the 19th century and a summer resort flourished there before giving way to industrial operations in the early 1900s. The Natural Lands Trust's acceptance of the easement now must be approved by the Attorney General's Office and CITGO.
>>> read more about Petty's Island

We are also proud to announce that Ms. Lois Gibbs will be a featured guest speaker at the conference. Ms. Gibbs is nationally acclaimed for her groundbreaking work at Love Canal and is currently the Director of the Center for Health, Environment and Justice. >>> more

DuPont heads this year’s Toxic 100, a list of the top corporate air polluters in the U.S. from researchers at the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts. Nissan Motor, Archer Daniels Midland, Eastman Kodak, and General Electric round out the top five.

The rankings take into account not only the quantity of releases, but also the relative toxicity of chemicals, nearby populations, and transport factors such as prevailing winds and height of smokestacks, according to the researchers. >>> more

The issue of children's exposure to toxic chemicals while at schools and day care centers has exploded as a political issue in New Jersey, as a result of several high profile cases reported by media. A series of tragedies across the state have exposed major flaws and breakdowns in DEP's toxic site cleanup program.

>>> READ FULL ARTICLE (NJ Voices, 2/20/08)

Dozens of businesses will pay more than $13 million to remove contaminated soil and groundwater from a Superfund site in Camden, according to a remediation plan outlined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Industrial chemicals in soil and groundwater beneath the vacant Martin Aaron site in the city's Waterfront South pose an "imminent and substantial endangerment to the public health or welfare or the environment," according to a consent decree filed in U.S. District Court on Nov. 8. >>> more
>>> READ THE CAMDEN COURIER POST ARTICLE (December 3, 2007)

There will be a public hearing on Tuesday June 26, 2007 at Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority Auditorium (CCMUA) at 7 p.m  (Ferry Ave near corner of South 4th Street, Camden) on proposed modifications to the St. Lawrence Cement permit. SLC proposes to expand throughput of slag processing from 785,000 metric tons per year to 1,051,200 metric tons per year, increasing storage capacity (bigger slag piles and new silos), and increasing the height of its stack. SLC is a significant source of fine particulate (PM2.5) emissions in the area, and Waterfront South is already an overly burdened community. People can voice concerns at the hearing and submit written comments. While we all know SLC should not even be here in Camden, we need to also be making sure that DEP tests, monitors, and imposes very strict emission standards on SLC while it is in operation. Everyone’s support on this is much appreciated. DATE: June 26, 2007 --- TIME: 7:00pm --- PLACE: CCMUA

>>> READ THE CAMDEN COURIER POST ARTICLE (June 27, 2007)

>>> READ Olga Pomar's Final Comments to the DEP (July 7, 07)

Governor Rendell will be releasing the news of a deal has been struck between Governors Rendell and Corzine regarding the Delaware River deepening project on Thursday morning at a DRPA meeting (10 AM, One Port Center, 2 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ), the first DRPA meeting to be held since the PA/NJ feud over the deepening began in earnest.
>>> READ THE FULL STOPY

A Grassroots Leadership Award will be given to our very own SJEJA member, Mangaliso Davis, Chair, Camden City African American Commission, for his innovative work on producing an important film on the history of Petty's Island. The documentary, "Petty's Island: The Untold Story," was produced by the Camden City African American Commission and the Scribe Video Center in Philadelphia as part of Scribe’s Precious Places Community History Project. Actor and activist Danny Glover narrated the film.
>>> READ MORE ABOUT PETTY's ISLAND
>>> learn more about the Environmental Federation Conference
>>> download a brochure and register

The future of Petty's Island -- development or natural preserve -- lies with decision-makers in Trenton who are not tipping their hands. Will the state let the township and its chosen redeveloper, Cherokee Pennsauken LLC, proceed to build on the 392-acre island in the Delaware? Or will it accept an offer from CITGO, the island's owner, to donate the land to the state for use as a preserve?
>>> READ THE FULL ARTICLE (in the Courier Post)

Superior Court Judge Irvin Snyder stopped just short of throwing out the Waterfront South redevelopment plan on a technicality Wednesday morning, but he made it clear he was prepared to do so.
>>> READ THE FULL ARTICLE

(in the Courier Post)

The legal battle to improve the Waterfront South neighborhood is scheduled to begin today before state Superior Court Judge Irvin Snyder.

At issue is whether a city plan to allow more industry in the already polluted neighborhood should be permitted to move forward.
>>> READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Slimmer Plan for Petty's Island by Elisa Ung and Dwight Ott (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Pennsauken has reversed course and decided to back a plan for Petty's Island that would entail far less development than was originally planned, township officials said last night.
>>> READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Petty's Island proposal cuts land use in half by RICHARD PEARSALL (Courier Post)

The Courier Post also featured a report on Pennsauken Township's scaled down plan.
>>> READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Ban on coal burning in Dublin cleans the air, reduces death rates
The Harvard School of Public Health reports that a 1990 ban on coal sales and coal burning had desired effect.
>>> more (http://www.researchmatters.harvard.edu/story.php?article_id=506)