A Conversation with Rick Engler on the Environment
Christie talks a good game, but hasn't delivered much yet. Full Article June 16, 2011 - Star Ledger
Environmentalists urge N.J. to drop proposed ‘waiver’ allowing businesses to bypass regulations
Environmental advocates today painted a bleak picture of what would happen to New Jersey's natural resources if the state moves ahead with a plan that would allow businesses, towns and people to bypass environmental regulations. See Article Here
Environmentalists argue against ‘waiver rule’ in N.J.
Advocacy groups in New Jersey are urging the Christie administration to drop a proposed rule they say would be one of the most dramatic rollbacks of environmental regulations in 30 years. See Article Here
Environmental Regulatory Shift in N.J. Draws Praise and Concern
Home to a densely packed population and heavy industry, New Jersey has been a longtime leader in adopting strong regulatory standards to protect residents against pollution of their soil, air, and water. That's why environmental advocates sounded alarms when they learned that a bill scheduled for a vote in the Assembly last week would ban state agencies from adopting rules stricter than federal ones without coming to the Legislature for approval. See Article Here
Press Statement In Response to Environmental Protection Agency Action To Force NJ Ambulance Company to Stop Using Toxic Fogger
New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC) Director Rick Engler issued this statement responding to EPA's action ordering a New Jersey ambulance company to cease using misting machines to disinfect its vehicles with toxic chemicals that have sickened workers. Go to the EPA Press Release. Go to the New York Times online coverage. See the Press Release here
EPA Wades in to Battle Over Hospital Disinfectant
U.S. EPA is interceding in a New Jersey public-health flap that could have national implications, ordering a hospital services company to stop disinfecting its ambulances with finely misted pesticides after a local union complained of workers falling ill. See Article Here
EPA Orders Ambulance Company to Stop Using Fogger
Acknowledging that workers have become ill after exposure to disinfectant chemicals, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week ordered a New Jersey ambulance company to cease using fogging machines to sanitize its vehicles. See Article Here
EMS Workers In a Fog Over Disinfectant’s Feared Danger
In the months after the Monmouth-Ocean Hospital Service Corporation (MONOC) began using newly acquired machines to disinfect its ambulances in May 2009 by pumping the vehicles full of pesticide fog, paramedics began experiencing troubling ailments, PEMSA officials say. See Article Here
Union Fights Toxic Misting of Ambulances
Eileen Senn, WEC Industrial Hygiene Consultant was interviewed by Jose Santiago, News Director at WBAI in New York City. The interview is available online here in the WBAI archive file. Go to WBAI Evening News, December 22, 2010, 6 PM and fast forward to the 15:30 mark. You can also download the mp3 file here.
Workers to Help EPA Prevent Chemical Accidents
New EPA Policy Enlists Workers to Identify Hazards During Inspections of Dangerous Facilities A landmark policy issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will for the first time engage employees and their union representatives during environmental inspections of the nation's most dangerous industrial facilities. Front-line workers will assist EPA inspectors by pointing out hazards that could threaten the safety and health of workers, surrounding communities, and the environment. Read EPA's press release and policy. Read the December 2009 letter to EPA Administrator Jackson. See the Press Release here