EnviroPolitics Podcast

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Nick DeRose, a managing principal at Langan, a prominent environmental engineering, science and consulting firm, is our guest. He tells us about 'emerging contaminants' which is the term used for a number of chemical compounds that are appearing in an alarming number of locations including public drinking water supplies. They are believed to be toxic at very low levels and pose significant regulatory and technical challenges for governments, manufacturers and remediation firms that are charged with cleaning them up. A one-day course at Montclair State University on June 8 will explore the topic in detail. Enviro-Events Calendar has the registration and info link    

This is the second of two episodes in which we interview two investigative reporters who are part of a team assembled by the Bucks County Courier Times and The Burlington County Times to explore potential health risks from groundwater containing toxic chemicals PFOS and PFOA that has spread to private drinking wells outside the bases in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. This episode focuses on the potential impact of the contamination on property owners with drinking water wells near the Fort Dix, McGuire and Lakehurst bases.  EnviroPolitics Podcast is a companion to the daily, paid-subscription newsletter, 'EnviroPolitics', and its free, 'EnviroPolitics Blog'. The podcast provides news, commentary and interviews on energy and environment issues and the politics that drives them.

This is the first of two episodes in which we interview two investigative reporters who are part of a team assembled by the Bucks County Courier Times and The Burlington County Times to explore potential health risks from groundwater containing toxic chemicals PFOS and PFOA that has spread to private drinking wells outside the bases in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Just a few of the dozens of great energy and environment stories that appeared last week in our daily EnviroPolitics digital newsletter. A Pa mine fire that's been burning for decades. Yes, decades An important federal approval for gas pipeline that's opposed in Pa and NJ A big, expensive cleanup of a NJ lake polluted by a DuPont munitions plant An effort to bring back the Bobwhite quail Ozone pollution in Delaware Gas and chemical industries joining with seniors to fight nuclear bailout  ...and more

A sampling of some of the top environment, energy and political stories of the past week in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and Delaware that appeared in the daily newsletter, EnviroPolitics. Get a 30-day trial without charge or obligation

In this episode, we take a look back at some of the dozens of energy, environment and political stories that appeared last week in our daily newsletter, EnviroPolitics If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, Stitcher or any major podcast service. Let us know if we are not appearing in your favorite podcast server and we'll join them. Just email: frankbrilljr@gmail.com  You also can try out EnviroPolitics free and without obligation for an entire month.

Journalist Jon Hurdle explains how a fire-fighting material formerly used at the Army's Fort Dix in New Jersey has polluted groundwater at the base and has poses a potential impact for private wells and public drinking water downstream. 

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A sample of some of the the top political, energy and environment stories of the past week in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and beyond, as reported in EnviroPolitics and EnviroPolitics Blog. Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher or other leading podcast outlets. 

For three years, the NY/NY Baykeeper has been trying to restore its oyster research operation in NJ's Raritan Bay that was shut down by the state DEP. A bill to lift the ban passed the Senate on Sept. 24 but last-minute amendments may have crippled it. Baykeeper Debbie Mans explains what happened.

          Tom Wolf will become Pennsylvania's Governor today with an inaugural ceremony at the Capitol in Harrisburg followed by parties. A coalition of anti-fracking organizations threatens to disrupt the event despite the fact that Wolfe has promised a number of new restrictions on fracking and a natural gas tax to raise funds for other budget demands like education and transportation funding.    In this episode, we detail the key new energy and environment players in the Wolfe administration and interview one of them-Cindy Dunn who is about to become Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Cindy talks about her lifetime of environmental work, the political makeup of the General Assembly and what the governor might hope to accomplish in his first 100 days in office. She also details the work of the environmental advocacy organization, PennFuture, that she was directing before the governor gave her a call. If you like this episode, check out the previous nine and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher or a podcatcher of your choice. Comments or suggestions?  Drop us an email at: editor@enviropolitics.com  

Who and what won and lost - In our latest podcast episode, we review highlights of the November 4 Election, focusing on voting results that are likely to influence energy and environment policies, legislation or regulations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.  Pig Farmers Rejoice - In Part 2 of the show, you'll hear former NJDEP Chief of Staff Gary Sondermeyer explain a new initiative that could require food waste recycling in the Garden State. Who would it affect?  What will it cost?  Give a listen and all will be revealed. 

EnviroPolitics Editor Frank Brill speaks with NJ Keep it Green Chairman Tom Gilbert who learned that his organization's fight for public funding of open space purchases has received unexpected new life. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you like the show, please subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher. Both will notify you when future episodes go live. Your comments are welcome at: Editor@EnviroPolitics.com Please spread the word about the podcast to your friends and colleagues and let us know who you'd like us to interview on future shows. You also might be interested in these two free energy and environment information resources: EnviroPolitics Blog   Enviro-Events Calendar Finally, you're really serious about energy and environmental issues--and the politics that drives them, try: EnviroPolitics (Daily Newsletter -30 days, free, no-obligation)

EnviroPolitics Editor Frank Brill interviews paricipants at a hearing held by the New Jersey Senate and Assembly's environmental committees on the health of Barnegat Bay.  You'll hear from Rutgers University bay expert, Research Professor Michael Kennish, Ocean County Freeholder John Bartlett, Clean Ocean Action's Cindy Zipf and Senate Committee Chairman Bob Smith. If you like the show, please subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher which will notify you when future episodes go live. Your comments are welcome at: Editor@EnviroPolitics.comPlease spread the word to your friends and colleagues and let us know who you'd like us to interview on future shows.  Check out these two free energy and environment information resources:  EnviroPolitics Blog   Enviro-Events Calendar And if you're really serious about energy and evironmental issues--and the politics that drives them: EnviroPolitics (Daily Newsletter -30 days, free, no-obligation)    

On this Thanksgiving Day episode, EnviroPolitics Editor Frank Brill interviews Cindy Zipf, executive director of Clean Ocean Action. Cindy reflects on the battle her group led 20 year ago to stop ocean dumping off the New Jersey coast. She touches on national legislation that her coalition has been pushing to protect one of the nation's remaining un-industrialized ocean areas and details their present-day fight to stop Port Ambrose a liquified natural gas (LNG) facility proposed by Liberty Natural Gas off the coasts of New Jersey and New York. The conversation wraps up with a dicussion of how Clean Ocean Action contributed, in award-winning fashion, to numerous cleanups in shore communities following Superstorm Sandy--and what lies ahead.We think you'll really like this epidsode and you may learn a good deal, too.  Want to help us grow the podcast? We'd be most grateful if you'd take a few minutes to give us a review on iTunes and Stitcher. You review will help us reach more listeners and encourage experts to participate in future interviews. Thanks in advance.    

Michael Catania has played a major role for three decades in New Jersey in the areas of environmental legislation, regulation and conservation. In this interview, we discuss major environmental laws, like the Pinelands Act, that Michael helped to draft when he worked for the Office of Legislative Services. We also cover his time at the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, his recent leadership in conservation projects, and his exciting new challenge as executive director at Duke Farms. Michael has been a participant in and witness to much of the progress of the environmental movement as we know it in New Jersey. Is he discouraged by currenet events?  Listen and learn. We think you'll really like this epidsode and you may learn a good deal, too.  Want to help us grow the podcast? We'd be most grateful if you'd take a few minutes to give us a review on iTunes. You review will help us reach more listeners and encourage experts to participate in future interviews. Thanks in advance. We also recommend that you check out our free EnviroPolitics Blog, our paid-subscription daily newsletter, EnviroPolitics (30 day free trial) and our Enviro-Events Calendar where we will help you publilcize your upcoming event for free.   

Tony Russo is new in the position of Executive Vice President - Government Affairs and Communications at the Commerce and Industry Asssociation of New Jersey. But he is not new to environmental regulations and legislation in the Garden State. Tony has been involved for more than 20 years, starting out with the NJDEP and expanding his knowledge by working for private firms and most notably with the Chemistry Council of New Jersey.  After a stint learning how lobbiing works in D. C., he's returned to Trenton where he directs CIANJ's government relations office.  Tony explains for EnviroPolitics the path he's followed to his new position, what the CIANJ is all about, and what issues are paramount for his association's membership. If you have an interest in the environment, politics, trade associations, business or lobbying, you'll enjoy this episode. Tony is the first of what we hope will be a long line of energy and environment experts with whom we'll be speakaing in future epidodes of the EnviroPolitics Podcst.  Is there someone you'd like to hear us interview? Give us your suggestion(s) in an email. Send it to us at: Editor@EnviroPolitics. Thanks for listening. Frank BrillEditor@EnviroPoliticswww.enviropolitics.com609-577-9017   

Fracking, the controversial drilling technique that uses a high-pressure mix of chemicals, sand and water to blast natural gas free from underground shale rock formations, continues to make headlines in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. EnviroPolitics interviews environmental critics and business supporters at a hearing in Trenton on a bill to ban fracking (hydrofracturing) in New Jersey. Fracking advocates tout natural gas's impact on energy costs, jobs and manufacturing. Critics raise concerns about water pollution, environmental degradation and human health.   We also update you on the status of New York's natural gas drilling moratorium and highlight a new piece of legislation in Pennsylvania that encourages the use of acid mind water in the fracking processs.   

EnviroPolitics visits NJ Spotlight's Energy Roundtable and speaks with reporter Tom Johnson about alternative fuel vehicles and with Bob Smith, chiarman of the NJ Senate's Environment and Energy Committee about dune rebuilding (after Superstorm Sandy) and about his solar roof warranty legislation.  For more valuable environment and energy news in NJ, PA, NY & DE, check out EnviroPolitics Blog 

Almost three months since Superstorm Sandy ravaged scores of shore communities in New Jersey and New York, residents and municipalities are still struggling with the job of digging out and rebuilding their homes, towns and coastal environments.   Fortunately, there has been no shortage of people willing to pitch in to help and a New Jersey environmental organization has taken up the challenge of matching eager volunteers with needy projects.   Clean Ocean Action has launched Waves of Action For the Shore, a year's worth of volunteer projects, educational events and environmental restorations. It's also established a valuable web site (ForTheShore.org) where homeowners and towns can register cleanup projects and volunteers can learn about project dates, locations, numbers of workers needed, and the type of work involved.   In this interview, Tavia Danch, Education Coordinator for Clean Ocean Action, talks about her organization's wide-scale volunteer effort with EnviroPolitics Editor Frank Brill