On April 17, New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) finalized its Environmental Justice rules (EJ Rules), following the state’s pioneering Environmental Justice Law (EJ Law) that was enacted in September 2020 (N.J.S.A. 13:1D-157 et seq.), laying the groundwork for a framework strengthening protections for communities disproportionately burdened by environmental contamination.
According to the publication by Lowenstein Sandler LLP, the final EJ Rules align closely to the previously proposed regulations and include key definitions and regulatory measures.
The final EJ Rules hold critical implications for the legal professionals, particularly those advising corporations and law firms engaged in industries with significant environmental impacts. Understanding the rules’ practical implications and applicability could be essential for firms and their clients— aiding them in navigating the legal landscape and aligning their operations with New Jersey’s sophisticated environmental protection standards.
Famed for its first-of-its-kind nature, New Jersey’s EJ Law has captured the attention of legal and corporate circles nationwide. It has set a precedence that could prompt other states to enact similar regulations aimed at addressing environmental justice, providing yet another dimension to the ever-evolving legal and environmental challenges corporations must reckon with.