On December 6, 2018, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal
and New Jersey Environment Department of Protection
(“NJDEP”) Commissioner Catherine McCabe announced the
filing of eight separate lawsuits in an attempt to address
pollution and environmental hazards at eight sites throughout the
state. The lawsuits concern two sites in Newark, as well as sites
in Camden, Flemington, Palmyra, Pennsauken, Phillipsburg, and
Trenton.
According to the Office of the Attorney General, “[t]he
lawsuits marked a new ‘environmental justice’
initiative designed to support communities that have historically
suffered some of the worst environmental harms in the state.”
Environmental justice is the idea that all people regardless of
race, color, national origin, or income deserve fair treatment and
meaningful involvement with respect to the development,
implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations,
and policies.
