• Policy Category: Environmental Justice
• State: New Jersey
• Date Implemented: 2/18/2004

Signed on 2/18/2004 

This Executive Order by Governor McGreevey established an initial EJ framework for all executive branch departments, agencies, boards, commissions related to environmental quality and public health to follow. It created an advisory multi-agency Environmental Justice Task Force spearheaded by DEP and DHSS. Allowed communities to file petitions related to environmental health risks, develop Action Plans with selected communities to reduce environmental burdens. “Any community may file a petition with the Task Force that asserts that residents and workers in the community are subject to disproportionate adverse exposure to environmental health risks, or disproportionate adverse effects resulting from the implementation of laws affecting public health or the environment.” Reconstituted the Environmental Justice Advisory Council (EJAC)- an advisory body to DEP, composed of a range of stakeholders appointed by Commissioner of DEP. (In 2018, EO 23 extended EJAC). 

In 1998 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shinn created an Environmental Equity Task Force (later known as EJAC). An historical overview of DEP’s EJ program through 2018 can be viewed here. 

• Action Agency(ies): executive branch departments, agencies, boards, and commissions related to environmental quality and public health
• Read the full policy language