<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Critics say EPA pick failed to clean up N.J.‘s toxic sites]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by NonprofitWatch http://www.grist.org/article/Jeers-for-Jackson/ Mon, 15 Dec 2008 08:41:17 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/Jeers-for-Jackson/1 But she did so much for global warming

The above assessment seems to be utterly at odds with the perspective from the leader of NRDC, aka "earth's best best defense".  It's surprising that someone with the above record would be so good on global warming.

In a review of Obama's environmental appointments, the esteemed Frances Beinecke notes that


Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator: As a proven leader on energy and climate issues, Jackson is a great choice for the Obama EPA. Many of my NRDC colleagues found her to be a thoughtful and pragmatic leader when they worked closely with her to establish the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the first mandatory, market-based effort to reduce carbon emission from power plants in 10 Northeastern states.

But Jackson didn't stop there. As commissioner of NJ EPA, she helped New Jersey adopt economy-wide limits on global warming pollution, making it second only to California in its efforts to address climate change. She pushed the governor to support an economic stimulus plan that included about $500 million for energy efficiency investments. She also shaped the state's Energy Master Plan, which requires New Jersey to cut energy use by 20 percent by 2020 and meet 30 percent of demand through renewables by 2020.

http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/fbeinecke/the_environme ...

bernardo issel - http://www.NonprofitWatch.org - bernardo (at) NonprofitWatch.org




]]> But she did so much for global warming

The above assessment seems to be utterly at odds with the perspective from the leader of NRDC, aka "earth's best best defense".  It's surprising that someone with the above record would be so good on global warming.

In a review of Obama's environmental appointments, the esteemed Frances Beinecke notes that


Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator: As a proven leader on energy and climate issues, Jackson is a great choice for the Obama EPA. Many of my NRDC colleagues found her to be a thoughtful and pragmatic leader when they worked closely with her to establish the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the first mandatory, market-based effort to reduce carbon emission from power plants in 10 Northeastern states.

But Jackson didn't stop there. As commissioner of NJ EPA, she helped New Jersey adopt economy-wide limits on global warming pollution, making it second only to California in its efforts to address climate change. She pushed the governor to support an economic stimulus plan that included about $500 million for energy efficiency investments. She also shaped the state's Energy Master Plan, which requires New Jersey to cut energy use by 20 percent by 2020 and meet 30 percent of demand through renewables by 2020.

http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/fbeinecke/the_environme ...

bernardo issel - http://www.NonprofitWatch.org - bernardo (at) NonprofitWatch.org




]]> Comment #2 by Peter B. Meyer http://www.grist.org/article/Jeers-for-Jackson/ Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:11:51 -0800 http://www.grist.org/article/Jeers-for-Jackson/2 "Superfund sites???" WRONG!!

Excuse me, but ... the critique of Jackson cites 16,000 "abandoned toxic sites" then labeled as "superfund sites" with a hotlink to a site that notes that NJ has a grand total of 116 sites on the National Priorities List.

There probably are 16,000 BROWNFIELDS in NJ, but that is a very differet matter. These are NOT "abandoned toxic sites" but sites on which the prospects for redevelopment and reuse is impaired by "real or perceived contamination." (That's from the federal legal definition of a brownfield.)

I'm disappointed to see erroneous reporting spanning ProPublica, Politico and Grist. The issue is not insignificant, since the vast majority of the sites with perceived contamination around the country have proven to be redevelopable with virtually no remediation -- reputations CAN be wrong.

Adequately managing site redevelopment oversight with a skeleton staff when judgment calls are required on each individual parcel is just about impossible. I cannot comment on Jackson's appointments, but the failures of the contaminated land program in NJ under her leadership can be ascribed legitimately to the loss of staff that Gov. Whitman forced prior to her taking over the NJ agency.

]]> "Superfund sites???" WRONG!!

Excuse me, but ... the critique of Jackson cites 16,000 "abandoned toxic sites" then labeled as "superfund sites" with a hotlink to a site that notes that NJ has a grand total of 116 sites on the National Priorities List.

There probably are 16,000 BROWNFIELDS in NJ, but that is a very differet matter. These are NOT "abandoned toxic sites" but sites on which the prospects for redevelopment and reuse is impaired by "real or perceived contamination." (That's from the federal legal definition of a brownfield.)

I'm disappointed to see erroneous reporting spanning ProPublica, Politico and Grist. The issue is not insignificant, since the vast majority of the sites with perceived contamination around the country have proven to be redevelopable with virtually no remediation -- reputations CAN be wrong.

Adequately managing site redevelopment oversight with a skeleton staff when judgment calls are required on each individual parcel is just about impossible. I cannot comment on Jackson's appointments, but the failures of the contaminated land program in NJ under her leadership can be ascribed legitimately to the loss of staff that Gov. Whitman forced prior to her taking over the NJ agency.

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