Press Releases

After taking nearly a year to review 429 applications for so-called "emergent" (urgently needed) facilities repairs submitted by 23 former Abbott districts, the NJ Department of Education (NJDOE) has approved state funding for only 15, or 5%, of the repairs. Education Law Center and the Healthy Schools Now (HSN) coalition of the NJ Work Environment Council are calling on State Education Commissioner Kimberly Harrington to publicly explain why so many of the repair projects were denied. ELC and HSN also note that, even for the 15 projects given the go-ahead, the NJDOE has yet to provide any timeframe for undertaking and completing the repairs. In July 2016, the NJDOE and the Schools Development Authority (SDA) asked the former Abbott districts, now called "SDA districts," to submit requests for emergency health and safety repair projects under an initiative called the "Potential Emergent Projects Program" (PEPP). In response, the districts submitted extensive lists of needed repairs and hazardous conditions for State review. An emergent project is a capital project necessary to address a building condition that causes imminent peril to the health and safety of students and staff, and that must be alleviated on an expedited basis. Under a 1998 NJ Supreme [...]

Gov. Christie has conditionally vetoed the Oil Train Safety bill (S806/A2463). This conditional veto puts fence line communities and first responders at risk by continuing to deny them access to information about rail hazards that other states have made available. Blocking information to local first responders is egregious and puts their lives at risk. The bill also called for owners and operators of high hazard trains to file discharge, response and clean-up plans with the NJ Office of Emergency Management. Gov. Christie also conditionally vetoed this requirement with no credible explanation. Right to Know is not just a phrase. It is a call for action. In this case, giving community members the right to know about rail car hazards would give them an opportunity to work with emergency responders and have a plan in place in case of a derailment. It could lead to more community engagement and oversight to ensure everything is being done by the railroads to ensure their community is protected. “At the end of the day, we don't know what is moving through our communities. We don't know that rail companies have plans or financial ability to deal with disasters,” said Dan Fatton, WEC Executive Director. [...]

Bill will improve accountability of companies and require proactive planning The New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC) and allies commend the Assembly today for passing A2463, the Oil Train Safety bill. The bill ensures that owners or operators of high-hazard trains have discharge response, cleanup, and contingency plans to transport certain hazardous materials by rail, and requires that the plans be filed with the State. The NJ Office of Emergency Management will share information with both county and local emergency service providers having jurisdiction in communities along the routes and offer training to emergency service personnel. “We’re thankful to our legislative champions for getting this common-sense bill passed,” said Dan Fatton, executive director of New Jersey Work Environment Council. “Even one accident would have tremendous costs, and we hope that never comes to pass, but first responders, workers and community members have to be prepared for such an emergency, which this bill enables.” The bill gives community members and emergency responders the right to know about crude oil and other high-hazard trains carrying certain chemicals, and would require owners or operators of high hazard trains to provide evidence of financial responsibility for cleaning up in the event of an accident. [...]

WEC joins NCOSH & other advocates call for action in local communities and workplaces The New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC) is advocating for worker safety, and has joined a nationwide campaign to advance an action agenda for workplace safety. “Protecting Workers’ Lives and Limbs,” compiled by the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, has been endorsed by 92 groups across the country, including WEC. The comprehensive platform for strong worker safety protections can save workers’ lives and reduce costs to employers in New Jersey. Recent Congressional actions have put workers at risk by taking steps to eliminate sanctions against federal contractors who violate safety laws, and reversing longstanding recordkeeping rules. Cecelia Leto, WEC Project Director states, “As a safety specialist, I hear horrific worker testimonials of injuries, illnesses, and even deaths on the job.  Workers, trying to earn a living for themselves and their families, can be just one injury away from falling into financial hardship or poverty. We need stronger, not weaker, Federal and State workplace protections.” The 92 organizations, including seven from New Jersey, endorsing “Protecting Workers’ Lives and Limbs” represent workers, unions, environmentalists and civic groups. Key elements of the platform include: ensuring health [...]

New Statewide Coalition Calls for Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Jobs, Improved Air Quality; Targets Current & Future State Leaders   Trenton – A diverse array of over 30 New Jersey labor, faith, community and environmental organizations today announced the launch of a new coalition, Jersey Renews, to press current and future state leaders to increase dramatically New Jersey’s commitment to fighting climate change.  They released a statement at a State House press conference calling for action by the state in a number of areas. “Climate change poses a massive threat to our state,” reads the Jersey Renews statement.  “(Y)et strong actions to counter it offer an opportunity to prepare New Jersey for the future… New Jersey should be a leader in progressive policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution while maintaining and creating jobs and economic benefits for those most affected.” Accelerating Climate Commitments Coalition members called for the state to increase its progress towards meeting its existing commitment to cutting the state’s greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent from 2005 levels by 2050.  In their statement, the coalition demanded an implementation plan and commitments to increase New Jersey’s use of renewable energy to 30 percent of its overall [...]

Governor Chris Christie continues to fail in carrying out his legal responsibility under federal law for ensuring that the public has access to an up-to-date Emergency Response Plan (ERP) in each of New Jersey’s counties and municipalities in the event of a chemical plant fire, explosion, or other toxic emergency. The Governor's State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) is supposed to ensure public access to these plans. However, despite acknowledgment of the violation, they have not done so. Public access to these Emergency Response Plans as required under the 1986 Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) is critical given that New Jersey has more than 5,000 facilities that use large amounts of hazardous chemicals, with the highest population density of any state. As detailed in a new research report issued today, ACCESS DENIED, the New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC) wrote to the 59 municipalities and 19 counties that host the 95 most potentially hazardous facilities that are regulated by the NJ Toxic Catastrophe Prevention Act (TCPA), requesting to review the community Emergency Response Plans as authorized by EPCRA. Thirty-four municipalities (or 58%) and 16 counties (also 84%) denied the request, reflecting continued confusion about the federal [...]

Mayor Derek Armstead of the City of Linden, NJ has failed to carry out his legal responsibility under federal law for ensuring that the public has access to an up-to-date Emergency Response Plan (ERP) in the event of a chemical fire, explosion or other toxic emergency. Today, Teamsters Local 877 and NJ Work Environment Council (WEC) filed the required 60-day notice of the intent to file suit against the city of Linden for violating federal law. Under Section 326 of Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) citizens have the authority to file civil actions against violators of EPCRA. Since February 2014, WEC and Teamsters Local 877, representing chemical and terminal workers at the Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery and Watco Crude Rail Terminal, located in Linden, have repeatedly requested access to Linden’s ERP and have been denied on multiple occasions. The most recent denial occurred on June 29, 2016. Linden continues to keep community members and workers at industrial facilities within its’ municipal borders in the dark. This is despite both the US Environmental Protection Agency and NJ State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) issuing documents in 2015 regarding the legal obligation to publicly disclose ERPs and the importance of [...]