Initiatives - ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS HIGHLIGHTSGOVERNOR JAMES E. McGREEVEY

Initiatives

ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS HIGHLIGHTS
GOVERNOR JAMES E. McGREEVEY

Nothing is more important than leaving behind a safe and clean environment for our children. Governor McGreevey has restored New Jersey's long tradition of strong environmental protection . He stood up to the EPA’s efforts to weaken the Clean Air Act and has proposed new rules for mercury and arsenic to protect our air and drinking water. He has also created a new 300 foot buffer for 6,000 miles of our states drinking water to protect it from the pollution of run-off and has proposed giving the highest level of water protection to 500 additional miles of rivers and streams.

PROTECTING DRINKING WATERS
	Adopted the highest possible protections for waterways that provide 4 million NJ residents drinking water.
	Proposed an additional 500 miles of rivers and streams for protection from over development.
	Adopted new clean water protections to establish a 300 foot buffer zone to protect 6,000 miles of critical water supplies from pollution run-off.
	Proposed the toughest arsenic rules in the nation, cutting in half the federal level of arsenic in our water.
	Revamped the state's land acquisition program ("Green Acres") to prioritize the purchase of land surrounding rivers and streams.
	Created Highlands Task Force to protect the Highlands which supply half of New Jersey’s drinking water.


IMPROVING NEW JERSEY AIR QUALITY
	First state to force the shut down of a coal power plant outside its own borders, PPL's Martin Creek in Pennsylvania.
	Introduced new regulations to reduce mercury emissions by 1,500 pounds a year statewide.
	Signed the Clean Car Act raising emissions standards for cars sold in New Jersey.
	Won a precedent-setting Clean Air Act ruling against a Midwest coal power plant that emits more pollution than all the power plants in New Jersey and Connecticut combined.
	Reached an agreement with PSE&G to reduce 85% of its pollution from its coal power plants.
	Stood up to the Bush Administration's anti-environment policies and filed numerous lawsuits against the EPA.

MORE OPEN SPACE, MORE AND BETTER PARKS CLOSE TO HOME
	Signed Transfer Development Rights legislation that allows towns to protect farmland and open space by shifting development to areas targeted for growth.
	Won legislative approval of Ballot Question Number 1: an additional $150 million for open space efforts with no increase in taxes.
	Protected Liberty State Park from commercial development.

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