Greetings from Eastern Environmental Law Center!
We hope this newsletter finds you and yours staying safe and healthy.
Here’s a sample of what EELC’s been up to this year so far:
Meet Kaitlin, our new staff attorney!
We’re thrilled to welcome Kaitlin Morrison, EELC’s newest staff attorney, to our team! Prior to joining EELC, Kaitlin worked as an environmental litigator and policy advocate at several nonprofits, including the Natural Resources Defense Council. Kaitlin joined EELC in March and works across each of our practice areas.
Environmental Justice
On behalf of the New Jersey Progressive Equitable Energy Coalition – a Black and Brown led coalition working to bridge the equity gap in energy and climate justice arenas – EELC prepared and filed comprehensive comments supporting EPA’s proposed finding that lead emissions from aircraft operating on leaded fuel contribute to unacceptable air pollution and endanger public health. NJPEEC’s comments highlight the disproportionate impacts of lead on New Jersey’s overburdened communities, and call for EPA to ensure that lead air emissions are decreasing in communities near these airports through ongoing air monitoring.
Clean Energy
On behalf of Food & Water Watch, the New Jersey Highlands Coalition and Sierra Club, EELC is appealing DEP’s decision to exempt a proposed fracked-gas compressor station in the Highlands from regulation under the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act. The compressor station is part of the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company’s “East 300 Upgrade” project and would be built in West Milford, near the Monksville Reservoir and Wanaque River. The East 300 Upgrade project is projected to result in at least 2.35 million metric tons of annual CO2 equivalent emissions and threaten sensitive water resources in the Highlands.
Open Space & Sustainable Development
In our ongoing efforts to combat warehouse sprawl, we’re partnering with The Watershed Institute to challenge state approvals issued for a massive, 5.5 million square foot warehouse development project – known as “Bridge Point 8” – in West Windsor, which could release contaminated stormwater runoff to nearby tributaries of the Millstone River.
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As New Jersey’s only nonprofit, public-interest environmental law firm, we rely on your support to help fight for environmental justice, advance clean energy solutions and defend New Jersey’s treasured open space and natural resources – please consider donating here at whatever level is right for you.
From all of us at EELC, thank you and best wishes for a happy and healthy spring!
Christopher Miller, Executive Director
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