newjerseynewsroom.com

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Common sense has never been one of New Jersey’s biggest resources. And now what constitutes "common sense" has suddenly a battle between 27 environmentalist groups and Governor Christie.

Two years ago, Christie insisted that all state agencies eliminate rules that hurt New Jersey's economy. And last month, a “waiver rule” was passed that would give developers the opportunity to get around environmental regulations.

As a result, Philly.com reported that 27 environmental and labor groups have filed suit in New Jersey Superior Court. Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club Jeff Tittel said, “The rule is so vague and open-ended it will allow for abuse and political pressure from developers and polluters.”

Among the groups included in the lawsuit are the New Jersey Audubon Society, the New Jersey Environmental Lobby, the Communications Workers of America, Clean Ocean Action, Teamsters 877 and United Steelworkers District Four, and the Delaware Riverkeeper Network.

The Department of Environmental Protection feels it will cut through needless bureaucracy. Businessweek reported that DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said that regulators will apply “common sense principles” in waiving compliance, and the rule gives the state more room in special circumstances.

And Larry Ragonese of the DEP said, according to NorthJersey.com, "This is an effort to bring common sense to government that the average guy in New Jersey always complains about.”

According to mondaq.com, someone may qualify for a waiver if there is a conflict with DEP or state rules that makes compliance impossible, compliance would be excessively burdensome, a public emergency existed, or if the waiver would create an environmental benefit for the state.

Tittel called it one of the worst rules ever adopted in New Jersey. He told NorthJersey.com, “More people could find themselves living on a contaminated site. This is one of the biggest environmental rollbacks I have ever seen."