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Community Corner

Urge Gov. Christie to Ban Fracking Waste in NJ - Before August 11th

Do you think that dumping unregulated hazardous waste in NJ is still a bad idea? Our legislators do. Almost all of them just voted for bills that would ban facilities from accepting fracking waste in NJ.

A ban is essential right now. Unlike regulated hazardous waste, fracking waste is largely unregulated, unreported, and untreated. But these exemptions only remove the hazardous characteristics of fracking waste on paper – it's still radioactive and toxic. And it's already been shipped to facilities in NJ: in Deepwater, Carteret, Elizabeth and Kearny.

But the Governor may have his own ideas about what he thinks is best. He vetoed the first bill banning fracking waste that the legislature sent him in 2012. In spite of all the additional evidence since then that fracking waste poses “financial, operational, health, and environmental risks to the citizens of the State”, he may still not have changed his mind.

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He can decide anytime until August 11th to veto the new bill banning fracking waste that is on his desk. Before he does, call Governor Christie at 609-292-6000 and tell him not to veto S1041.

Tell him you agree with the vast majority of our legislators:

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You don't want fracking waste contaminating water, sediment and landfills in NJ with unregulated radiation, heavy metals, volatile organics, and endocrine disruptors.

You don't want Public Works departments in NJ to be able to apply fracking brine directly to roads as a de-icer, as was done in other states.

You don't want the confusion over the exemptions to lead to a new generation of publicly-funded Superfund cleanups in NJ.

Call him at 609-292-6000 right now. Encourage him to sign S1041 and do what's right for NJ.

Want to read about how a fracking waste ban does not violate interstate commerce, in spite of what the Governor said in 2012? See Fracking Waste Ban is About Prudence, Not Protectionism.

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