Highlights

Weinberg Urges NJ Transit to Expedite Transition to Electric Bus Fleet

TRENTON– Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) today joined transit advocates and environmentalists in urging New Jersey Transit to expedite conversion to an electric bus fleet. “Cutting vehicle emissions is critical to the fight against climate change,” said Senator Weinberg. “NJ Transit should be in the forefront of the conversion to a zero-emission electric bus fleet that is a priority for forward-looking mass transit agencies across the country.” Senator Weinberg issued her statement in the wake of a press conference that brought together experts from the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, Clean Water Action, Environment New Jersey, ChargEVC, the League of Conservation Voters and the New Jersey Work Environment Council to urge NJ Transit to make electrification of its bus fleet a top priority. Read more from InsiderNJ.com.

By |2019-09-13T11:40:29-04:00September 13th, 2019|Highlights|Comments Off on Weinberg Urges NJ Transit to Expedite Transition to Electric Bus Fleet

Governor Murphy Signs Two Bills To Protect First Responders

The “Thomas P. Canzanella 21st Century First Responders Protection Act”, named after the Professional Firefighter Association of New Jersey former President Thomas Canzanella who worked on the 9/11 “pile” and passed in June 2007, will modernize the workers’ compensation system in New Jersey.   The Act ensures the meeting of the critical needs of public safety workers who are New Jersey’s first line of defense in the event of catastrophic emergencies, epidemics and terrorist attacks, and assures that those workers are not denied a level of support which is commensurate to the sacrifices they and their families make for the safety and wellbeing of the citizens of this State and the Nation.  This new law reforms New Jersey’s workers’ compensation law to create a rebuttable presumption of coverage for public safety workers for certain illnesses. For firefighters, those with seven or more years of service who suffer an injury, illness or death caused by certain types of medical conditions would not be required to demonstrate causation or exposure before receiving medical benefits and financial compensation. Other first responders, including first-aid or rescue squad members, police, corrections officers, nurses, medical technicians, and other medical personnel, are also not required to demonstrate causation of [...]

By |2019-08-28T11:29:48-04:00August 26th, 2019|Highlights|Comments Off on Governor Murphy Signs Two Bills To Protect First Responders

Our children are being exposed to mercury in schools. We need to act.

Floors emitting mercury vapor have now been found in several school districts in New Jersey. Schools have been using rubber-like polyurethane floors since the 1960s. Some of these floors, installed as late as 2006, contain phenyl mercuric acetate (PMA), a catalyst that releases odorless, colorless mercury vapor. Any item that has been in contact with these contaminated floors emits harmful mercury vapor indefinitely. Recently, several New Jersey schools have had to confront concerned parents and staff members regarding these toxic floors, as well as the exorbitant cost to remove and remediate them. One such stand-out parent is Colette Staab of Washington Township who has mobilized fellow parents to get engaged and to stay informed by attending local school board meetings and pushing for greater transparency. Read the full opinion-editorial on NJ.com from the Star-Ledger by Heather Sorge, Healthy Schools Now organizer for the NJ Work Environment Council and Trisha Sheehan is the national field manager for Moms Clean Air Force. Healthy Schools Now

By |2019-08-08T10:22:48-04:00August 2nd, 2019|Highlights, Opinion Pieces|Comments Off on Our children are being exposed to mercury in schools. We need to act.

NJ to regulate school floor manufacturers after mercury vapors discovered

Gym floor and school track manufacturers for schools will face tighter regulations, after the discovery of mercury-tainted fumes closed gymnasiums in districts across the state This month, the New Jersey Schools Development Authority reported it would, for the first time, require certification from rubberized or urethane floors floor manufacturers that their products do not contain mercury. The mercury fumes are given off by certain rubberized or synthetic polyurethane flooring that contain the chemical phenyl mercuric acetate, known as PMA. The chemical, found in gym, cafeteria and multipurpose room floors, as well as indoor and outdoor running tracks, has been used in floors since the 1960s, according to the New Jersey Education Association, the state's largest teacher's union. The chemical breaks down over time and emits mercury fumes, according to the union. The chemical is not found in gym floors made of wood or vinyl tile, according to the NJEA. Read more at app.com

By |2019-07-24T10:25:43-04:00July 24th, 2019|Highlights|Comments Off on NJ to regulate school floor manufacturers after mercury vapors discovered

No Easy Way to Tell if Your Kid’s Gym Floor is Laced with Mercury

It's unclear exactly how many school gymnasium floors in New Jersey have the potential to emit toxic mercury vapor over time, or are already doing so. But the state can be sure of one thing now: no future Schools Development Authority projects will include floors that contain a mercury catalyst, which can lead to harmful effects on humans and has already been recognized in several New Jersey instances. The SDA, which funds and manages construction and renovation of schools in 31 New Jersey districts, announced it will be requiring an additional certification from manufacturers of rubberized and/or urethane floors that can guarantee the product is free of any mercury catalyst during manufacturing and installation. Read more at nj1015.com.

By |2019-07-10T13:00:34-04:00July 10th, 2019|Highlights, WEC in the News|Comments Off on No Easy Way to Tell if Your Kid’s Gym Floor is Laced with Mercury

SDA Takes Action to Protect Kids from Mercury Found in Floors

Press Release For Immediate Release: July 3, 2019 Contact: Heather L. Sorge, NJ Work Environment Council, Campaign Organizer for Healthy Schools Now 908/310-7874; [email protected] Debra Coyle McFadden, NJ Work Environment Council, Executive Director 609/707-1320; [email protected] New Jersey Schools Development Authority Takes Action to Protect Kids from Mercury Found in Floors The New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) will be requiring a certification from manufacturers of rubberized and/or urethane floors installed on SDA projects ensuring the floor does not contain phenyl mercuric acetate (PMA) or other mercury catalysts. These floors, which continue to be identified in New Jersey schools, have been installed since the 1960s. This flooring, and items that have been in contact with it, emit harmful mercury vapor indefinitely. Mercury vapor can damage the central nervous system, kidneys, lungs, skin and eyes and is especially harmful to young children and fetuses whose bodies are still developing.  Studies show that children with autism have an even harder time excreting toxic metals, further increasing the health risk. The additional certification from manufacturers is necessary as Safety Data Sheets and date of installation are not determining factors in identifying whether or not a floor contains mercury.  The floors release odorless, colorless mercury vapor. The only reliable way to determine whether [...]

By |2019-07-03T11:08:47-04:00July 3rd, 2019|Highlights, Press Releases|Comments Off on SDA Takes Action to Protect Kids from Mercury Found in Floors

US Senator Booker Alerts Agencies about Mercury Hazard in Schools

Thanks to the work of Healthy Schools Now, New Jersey Education Association, Mom's Clean Airforce and WEC, US Senator Cory Booker is calling for an investigation into potentially hazardous emissions from flooring that has been widely installed in public spaces across the country since the 1960s. Some synthetic rubberized floors found in schools, hospitals, and community centers were made using a substance, phenyl mercuric acetate (PMA), that may release mercury vapor into the air as they deteriorate. This colorless, odorless vapor can damage the central nervous system, kidneys, lungs, skin and eyes and is especially harmful to young children and fetuses whose bodies are still developing. Studies show that children with autism have an even harder time excreting toxic metals, further increasing the health risk. Recently, several of these contaminated floors were identified in Gloucester County and are being removed and replaced this summer. It is currently unknown as to how many of these floors exist and how many people are being exposed. "Too many schools in New Jersey have rubberized floors that may contain mercury, potentially exposing school staff and children to this neurotoxin,” said Heather L. Sorge, Campaign Organizer for Healthy Schools Now, New Jersey Work Environment Council. [...]

By |2019-07-03T08:06:38-04:00July 3rd, 2019|Highlights, WEC in the News|Comments Off on US Senator Booker Alerts Agencies about Mercury Hazard in Schools

WEC Statement on New Jersey Budget for FY 2020

  New Jersey Fiscal Year 2020 Budget  Governor Murphy signed New Jersey's Budget for FY2020. The NJ Work Environment Council (WEC) is, for the most part, proud of the progressive, pro-worker, pro-community investments this budget makes. Increased funding into schools and special education programs, including $250 million into special education, $457.5 million into transit, $70 million towards clean energy, $3.8 billion into the public employee pension system and a $401 million deposit into our state’s rainy day fund are all a breath of fresh air in a state previously starved by austerity economics. The Governor also should be commended for signing Executive Order No. 73 directing the Treasury to place up to $235 million in discretionary spending into reserve. It will be monitored by the Treasury and released only if during the course of the fiscal year, sufficient revenues and assumed savings materialize. This is sound fiscal stewardship. However, the FY2020 budget falls short of our goal in supporting safe, secure jobs and a healthy sustainable budget in several ways. The Legislature made it clear raising revenue and creating a progressive tax structure was not a priority, failing to tax opiate manufacturers and the extremely wealthy. And while the budget [...]

By |2019-07-02T14:38:39-04:00July 1st, 2019|Highlights, Press Releases|Comments Off on WEC Statement on New Jersey Budget for FY 2020

Statement from WEC on BPU Announcement on Offshore Wind

Bravo New Jersey for leading the nation in offshore wind development. Today the Board of Public Utilities announced the winner of the country's largest offshore wind project. Orsted will be building the 1,100MW project, called OceanWind, which will bring clean energy to approximately 500,000 homes. Thank you to Governor Murphy for his vision and commitment to clean energy. Offshore wind development has obvious clean energy benefits and also promises to bring good, family-sustaining jobs to the state. These are skilled, well-paying jobs include construction, maintenance, operations, ports, and supply chain, more than 74 occupations in total, that cannot be outsourced. With this announcement today, and an aggressive solicitation schedule for the next 2,400 MW, New Jersey is well positioned to become a regional offshore wind clean energy and economic powerhouse.

By |2019-07-02T09:45:20-04:00June 21st, 2019|Highlights, WEC in the News|Comments Off on Statement from WEC on BPU Announcement on Offshore Wind

WEC Statement on Alden Leeds Fire

The threat of a catastrophic chemical release remains a major vulnerability for New Jersey.  Every year, chemical releases, fires, and explosions claim lives and threaten residents’ health across the nation.  New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the country, nestled between New York City and Philadelphia, and has one of the highest ratios of toxic facilities per square mile in the nation. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities have been reported from the chlorine fire at the Alden Leeds facility in South Kearny. Alden leads manufactures pool chemicals including chlorine tablets. The Pulaski Skyway was shut down in both directions and residents as far away as Staten Island were alerted to stay inside. The core of WEC's work is to advocate for stronger state and national chemical security policies such as switching to safer alternatives and implementing inherently safer technologies as a way to eliminate or reduce the hazard from toxic chemicals.

By |2019-07-02T09:45:45-04:00May 18th, 2019|Highlights, WEC in the News|Comments Off on WEC Statement on Alden Leeds Fire
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