New Jersey Assembly Bill AR197

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 11/30/23
• Refer: 11/30/23

Caption

Urges EPA to expend funds from NJ Superfund settlements to remediate sites at issue.

Impact

The resolution stresses that New Jersey has the highest number of active Superfund sites, with 829 currently requiring remediation as of April 2023. By calling for the exclusive use of Superfund settlement funds for site cleanup instead of administrative costs, the bill aims to enhance the effectiveness of remediation. This could significantly impact local environments and public health by addressing the hazards posed by these neglected sites more directly and efficiently. The implementation of this resolution could set a precedent for how federal funds are allocated for environmental cleanups in other states as well.

Summary

Assembly Resolution No. 197 urges the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to utilize funds generated from New Jersey Superfund settlements specifically for the remediation of contaminated sites within the state. This resolution highlights the historical context of the Superfund law, which was enacted in 1980 to address the urgent need for cleaning up hazardous waste sites across the United States, and points toward New Jersey's significant role in that legislative development due to its own history of hazardous waste issues. With a total of 2,168 identified contaminated sites in New Jersey, the bill underscores an immediate need for federal action to alleviate ongoing environmental risks.

Contention

The resolution seeks to limit administrative costs associated with settlements to a maximum of 10% of the total value, thus ensuring that the majority of funds are directed toward remediation efforts rather than bureaucratic overhead. This raises potential points of contention regarding the operational management of the program and could lead to opposition from those who argue for a more balanced approach to funding administrative functions that ensure compliance and technical oversight. Further discussions on its implementation would likely reveal a spectrum of perspectives on environmental funding priorities and resource allocation.