As you probably have heard, Wharton State Forest was severely impacted earlier this week by a wildfire that was started by an illegal campfire set along the Mullica River. As a result, all recreational trails along the Mullica and Batsto Rivers between Atsion and Batsto Village are closed indefinitely.  This includes all hiking and mountain biking trails. In addition, the Mullica and Batsto Rivers are also closed in this area as is the Mullica River Campground.

Complaint seeks compensation for natural resource damages; Ford disposed of toxic paint sludge, other contaminants at mining site that includes state-recognized tribal lands. 

Furthering the Murphy Administration’s commitment to reduce air pollution in overburdened communities, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette helped unveil the prototype of an electric ambulance that will be purchased with New Jersey Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative auction proceeds and housed in the City of Paterson.

Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula, is an invasive planthopper native to China, India, and Vietnam; it is also established in South Korea, Japan and the U.S. It was first discovered in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in Berks County in 2014 and has spread to other counties in PA, as well as the states of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, New York, Connecticut and Ohio.

This insect has the potential to greatly impact agricultural crops and hardwood trees. SLF feeds on the plant sap of many different plants including grapevines, maples, black walnut, and other important plants in NJ. While it does not harm humans or animals, it can reduce the quality of life for people living in heavily infested areas.

The draft proposal of the Environmental Justice (EJ) Regulations, which are required to implement the EJ Law, is published and available for public comment. All comments must be received by Sunday, September 4, 2022, with the applicable N.J.A.C. citation, commenter’s name and affiliation following the comment.