NJDEP | Environmental Justice

Please provide comments on EJ Law Rulemaking via survey by May 19, 2021

Get involved with NJ’s Environmental Justice Law Rulemaking Process
Pursuant to EJ Law, NJ publishes list of Overburdened Communities (OBCs) and EJ Mapping Tool

Please click here for more information.

Office of Environmental Justice

Environmental Protection through Public Involvement

DEP’s Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) aims to empower residents and communities who are often outside of the decision-making process of government, address environmental concerns to improve the quality of life in New Jersey’s overburdened communities, and guide state agencies and the DEP’s program areas in incorporating environmental justice.

Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

Fair treatment means that no group of people, including a racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic group, should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of federal, state, local, and tribal programs and policies.

Meaningful involvement means that that public has an opportunity to participate in decisions about activities that may affect their environment and/or health; the public's contribution can influence the regulatory agency's decision; community concerns will be considered in the decision making process; and decision makers will seek out and facilitate the involvement of those potentially affected.

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Spotlights

NJ’s Environmental Justice Law

NJDEP is conducting rulemaking for New Jersey’s Environmental Justice Law. Click here for information on the rulemaking, stakeholder process, recordings from past meetings, and how to give your input.

Overburdened Communities (OBCs)

Pursuant to New Jersey’s Environmental Justice Law, NJ has published a list of block groups identified as Overburdened Communities (OBCs), an Environmental Justice Mapping Tool, and associated data. Click here for OBC data.

Furthering the Promise: A Guidance Document for Advancing Environmental Justice Across State Government

As directed under the Governor’s Executive Order 23, this guidance document provides a framework and tools for New Jersey’s executive branch agencies to implement environmental justice in their work and decision-making processes.

Addressing Climate Change

Climate change severely affects overburdened communities. New Jersey is taking bold steps to address and mitigate the impacts of climate change, including specific actions to support clean energy in underserved communities.

NJ DEP Message on
Social Justice

We must listen to and amplify the voices of people of color. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection stands with its black and brown employees and all people of color in New Jersey, and across the country, in pursuit of social, economic and environmental justice.

We can and must do better to further the promise of equality—for all.

Environmental Justice Advisory Council (EJAC) Statement on the Death of George Floyd ^(pdf)

Environmental Emergency?