Mr. Papperman will represent the Environmental Section of the New Jersey Bar Association in hopes of working with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to improve upon the current Brownfield Program in New Jersey.

Technorati Tags: New Jersey : Environmental: Brownfield

Papperman said, "The biggest thing you can do is due diligence. If DEP is satisfied you've done all you can do, you are protected from future claims."  The article goes on to discuss steps businesses need to take to find out about a property's past and the possibilities of environmental contamination.

Commissioner Campbell reportedly received some 10,000 emails in the two weeks after his proposal and heard from many thousands more thereafter. In light of the tremendous opposition to the regulations by industry, municipal, housing and other groups in the weeks after proposal of these regulations, Governor Codey extended the existing water quality management regulations, which were set to expire, effectively quashing the water quality management proposal. However, the companion wastewater management regulations, although hanging on life support by all reports, had not been withdrawn and could have been enacted at any time without further notice to the public. Happily, the proposed wastewater management regulations have now been withdrawn.

Certainly, the housing community and residents of this state can take a breather from this assault on affordable housing, we should not be resting easy either. As noted above, the current water quality management regulations are still set to expire in May and therefore newly inaugurated Governor Jon Corzine and new DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson will have their opportunity to put their stamp on this important area of regulation during the early days of this administration, perhaps setting the tone for the next four years.

We encourage you to stay tuned. We know we will.

Technorati Tags: New Jersey : Real Estate : Environmental

Public sanitary sewer systems discharge to sewerage treatment plants as opposed to the ground. The to be proposed regulatory change would not only impact groundwater, but where sewerage treatment facilities have been built and sized anticipating additional development and connections, residents would be forced to absorb substantial additional costs arising from the elimination of intended users for these systems. These regulations would limit development in many areas, possibly even where such development was intended as part of "smart growth" that the State Plan and NJDEP have touted, but would also have negative environmental impacts. While it must be noted that the regulations have not been released by the NJDEP or seen by this author, even the limited information available suggests that such a proposal would have various adverse impacts, intended and unintended. Indeed, anyone owning or under a contract to purchase property in Planning Areas 3, 4 or 5 and located in a sewer service area, would be wise to consider the impacts of the regulations on their ability to develop and use their real estate and the likely downzoning that will result in the event such regulations are adopted by the NJDEP.

Anyone having questions about the new regulations and whether their property is located in Planning Areas 3, 4 or 5 as well as a sewer service area should contact the Real Estate or Environmental Group at Stark & Stark at (609) 895-7250.

The panel will discuss the Highlands Act and the nexus between enhanced regulatory standards and the development of a regional plans.

The Forum will be held from Friday June 24 through Sunday June 26 at the Golden Inn Hotel & Resort in Avalon New Jersey.