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NJ DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION NEWS RELEASE
RELEASE: 8/22/01
01/99

CONTACT: Loretta O'Donnell or Amy Collings
(609) 984-1795 or 609-292-2994

DEP AND BURLINGTON COUNTY SIGN PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
FIVE-YEAR PLAN TO SPEED COUNTY'S ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS

Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Shinn today signed a five-year partnership agreement with Burlington County Freeholders to accelerate achievement of the county's key goals for protection of its natural resources.

The overall goal of the agreement is to advance the implementation of local and regional land use plans for balanced growth management. Burlington County is the first local government in southern New Jersey to sign the agreement that is modeled after the National Environmental Performance Partnership System between DEP and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

"Through results-based management, we can focus our technical expertise on issues that are important to the county and can link economic development opportunities with environmental improvements in a holistic manner. The agreement builds on Burlington County's leadership in open space and farmland preservation, growth management and solid waste management," Shinn said.

Shinn signed the agreement with Freeholder Director Vince Farias at the freeholders board meeting and highlighted the agreement's four key priorities - continued protection of farmland and the water quality of streams and aquifers, and reducing the amount of solid waste and greenhouse gas emissions generated by industries and county facilities.

"Burlington County has a distinguished track record of protecting natural resources, and this agreement will further our progress through a joint action plan to achieve specific objectives. These goals include enhancing the Rancocas Creek and Delaware River greenways and Route 130 corridor, initiating a Silver Track based assessment with businesses to reduce solid waste and improve air quality by voluntarily reducing greenhouse gas emissions," Farias said.

DEP established a Greenhouse Gas Action Plan in 1999 to improve air quality by asking private and public sectors to agree to reduce air emissions from permitted facilities. More than 75 entities have agreed so far to work in partnership with the state toward this goal.

The county will solicit stakeholder input in developing the action plan to meet its goals and timelines. A team leader at DEP will work with the county's Office of Land Use Planning to develop a project schedule and help the county reach its goals.

This is the fourth Performance Partnership Agreement Commissioner Shinn has signed with a local government, the others were with Bayonne, Hudson County and Perth Amboy.

 

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