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DEP AWARDS GRANTS TO LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES
(04/27) TRENTON - The
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded
forty-three local environmental agencies a total of $100,000
in grants to support a wide-variety of environmental improvement
projects, including open space planning, natural resource
inventories, trail designs, watershed protection, Geographic
Information Systems (GIS) mapping and educational programs.
DEP awards these grants to environmental
commissions and soil conservation districts throughout the
state.
"These local projects will help to
preserve open space, protect our watersheds and support
Governor McGreevey's overall emphasis on environmental stewardship,"
said DEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell. "Environmental
commissions and soil conservation districts play a key role
in generating grass roots support and action to improve
environmental quality in our state."
"These Environmental Services Grants
will enable many deserving municipal environmental commissions
to carry out essential projects that protect natural resources
and curb pollution in their towns," said Sandy Batty,
Executive Director of Association of New Jersey Environmental
Commissions. "Over the last 14 years, the combined
efforts of local commissions under these grants have resulted
in significant environmental improvement statewide."
The Environmental Services Matching Grants
Program (ESP) helps local environmental agencies to inventory
environmental resources, develop practices to improve those
resources and to prepare and disseminate information about
how the public can protect the environment.
Since the program's inception in 1990,
over $2 million has been awarded to environmental agencies
statewide. Grants range from $1,000 to $2,500 and require
a 50 percent match from the local governing body.
For more information about this grant program,
contact the DEP Environmental Services Program at (609)
984-0828, or visit the website at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/esp.
A full list of the recipients statewide is posted on the
website.
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