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Hudson County Politics Message Board |
Posted by STATE ASSEMBLYMAN ANTHONY CHIAPPONE on October 15, 2004 at 16:51:44:
Assemblyman Chiappone (201) 437-2442
In response to the “Fast Track” development bill which was recently passed by the Assembly and Senate with Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone and Assemblyman Lou Manzo voting “no” and Senator Doria voting “yes”, Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone has introduced legislation to exempt brownfield sites from automatic approval by the Department of Environmental Protection Agency. This past summer, the Save N.J. Coalition held a public hearing to outline ways to ameliorate the worst aspects of the new so-called “Fast Track” law. At a meeting held at N.J.’s state house, Assemblyman Chiappone sat on the panel with Bradley Campbell, Comm. of N.J.’s DEP and with the Chairman of Save N.J. Coalition, Paul Chrystie. Assemblyman Chiappone opposed the “fast track” bill because he felt that it permitted the building of homes on “Brownfield” sites (former industrial areas) which could mean that homes are built on contaminated property. The “Fast Track” bill was as a compromise, according to Chiappone, to appease developers who weren’t happy over the Highlands Act, a bill that set aside acreage for preservation without allowing for development within the protected area. To appease the developers, the “Fast Track” bill was attached to the Highlands Act; it allows developers to “fast-track” building permits of former brownfield sites. “Builders can get automatic approval to develop in 45 days ”, said Chiappone, “if the D.E.P. doesn’t act on the application. It’s approval through inaction and the 45 day period is simply not enough time to investigate the potential contamination of some sites.” Chiappone added “on the surface, it seems reasonable to encourage development; however, in areas such as Bayonne and Jersey City, with a multitude of brownfield sites, my concern is that their “fast tracking” may be done to the detriment of the health and welfare of the public; especially if these sites were not properly remediated, “Chiappone stated.” The Coalition, which formed to urge the Governor to veto the law, will challenge it legally and will work for its repeal. However, now that the bill is law, the coalition asked several McGreevey Administration officials present today to work diligently to limit the problems and environmental damage from this bill. “We are extremely disappointed with the fast track permit bill passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor McGreevey. The bill weakens thirty years of environmental protections, reduces public participation to minimal at best, and undermines ongoing and important environmental initiatives,” said Paul Chrystie. “The backtracking and undermining of environmental protection is not limited to any one region of the state. Rather, it affects all New Jerseyans, regardless of whether they live in an urban, suburban or rural setting,” said Andrew Willner, Executive Director of the NY/NJ Baykeeper. The Save NJ Coalition said the Legislature must pass and Governor McGreevey must sign real Smart Growth Legislation to not only promote development in appropriate locations, but also to protect the environment, assure public participation, and include up to date environmental data. To this end assemblyman Chiappone has unveiled Assembly bill A-2318 which would exclude Brownfields from the Fast Track permitting process.
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Hudson County Politics Message Board |
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UrbanTimes.com |