Mercer Times

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette have announced the resolution of two environmental lawsuits and the filing of six new enforcement actions, with a focus on environmental justice communities.

"Today’s filings represent the latest action in the Murphy Administration’s initiative to right past environmental wrongs that were committed in environmentally stressed neighborhoods," said Attorney General Platkin. He emphasized the importance of holding violators accountable for repairing environmental damages and abiding by laws and regulations.

Commissioner LaTourette echoed this sentiment, stating, "Enforcement actions like these embody our steadfast commitment to protecting vulnerable communities and make clear the consequences for creating or contributing to environmental injustice."

One of the resolved cases involved a settlement with McWane Ductile, a foundry in Phillipsburg, requiring them to take specific actions to achieve and maintain compliance with the Air Pollution Control Act. Another case saw the Superior Court holding a corporate owner personally liable for environmental misconduct at a gas station in Newark.

The filing of six new enforcement actions includes cases in Secaucus, Jersey City, Voorhees, Pennsauken, Woodland Township, and Gloucester Township. These actions target various violations such as soil and groundwater contamination, failure to remediate hazardous substances, and non-compliance with environmental regulations.

DEP's efforts in environmental justice enforcement have been ongoing, with 68 cases or actions filed since 2018. The Attorney General and the Commissioner urge the public to report any actions that may negatively impact human health or the environment in New Jersey.

The enforcement actions and case outcomes are being handled by the Environmental Enforcement and Environmental Justice Section within the Division of Law’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Practice Group, with various legal professionals involved in prosecuting these cases.

For more information on New Jersey’s environmental justice enforcement actions, including an interactive map, visit the DEP's website.