New Jersey Natural Resource Laws

As one of the most heavily industrialized states in the nation, New Jersey is plagued with a legacy of abandoned factories, contaminated sites, and pollution.  The irresponsible release of industrial contaminants into drinking water, air, or residential areas is now known to promote cancer, respiratory problems and other health problems in nearby communities.

Tough natural resource law in New Jersey and a dramatic change in public opinion give rise to environmental litigation seeking to hold big businesses, such as oil, chemical and pharmaceutical companies, responsible for personal injuries and environmental damages.

While it costs considerable sums of money to clean up contaminated sites, there is also an opportunity cost to allowing this valuable land to sit idle.  By remediating contaminated sites, such as Brownsfield sites, dead real estate can become productive again and boost property values in surrounding areas.

Understanding the scope of natural resources law in New Jersey

To get a grip on environmental abuse and pollution, New Jersey environmental laws spell out how and where natural resources can be used.  The following is a summary of key laws preserving natural resources in New Jersey:

• The New Jersey Spill Compensation and Control Act (N.J.S.A. 58:10-23.11), also known as The Spill Act, controls the transfer, containment and removal of petroleum products and other hazardous substances and encourages the clean up of contaminiated sites that pose an economic drain on the municipality.
• The Pinelands Protection Act (N.J.S.A. 13:18A-56) preserves the unique pine-oak forest in Southern New Jersey by limiting development and use of the land in this region.
• The Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act preserves open space in the Highlands Region in order to protect water resources that supply over 379 million gallons of drinking water daily to more than half of the families in New Jersey.
• The Coastal Area Facility Review Act (CAFRA) (N.J.S.A. 13:19) regulates development in South Jersey coastal areas to protect wildlife and habitats as well as prevent loss of life and property due to coastal storms and flooding.
• The Brownfield and Contaminated Site Remediation Act (BCSRA) enables developers to recoup up to 75-percent of the cleanup costs when they agree to remediate any of over 10,000 contaminated N.J. Brownfield sites.

Consult us about New Jersey natural resource law

Whether you are buying a Brownsfield site, dealing with a leaking underground storage tank, or experiencing toxic poisoning from a nearby industrial site, the law firm of Lieberman Blecher & Sinkevich P.C. can help.

Our website details our extensive track record fighting and winning toxic contamination lawsuits.  To protect your rights and discuss your case, call us today at (732) 355-1311 or contact us online.