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Columbia
University Environmental Law Clinic ¨ Environmental Defense January 8, 2003 FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Edward
Lloyd, Esq., Columbia Environmental Law Clinic,
212-854-4376
James T. B. Tripp, Environmental Defense, 212-505-2100 Captain Bill Sheehan, Hackensack Riverkeeper, 201-755-6466
(cell)
Jennifer Danis, Natural Resources Defense Council, 212-727-4417 Andrew Willner, NY/NJ Baykeeper, 732-291-0176; 732-768-4848 (cell) Susan Kraham, Esq. Rutgers Environmental Law Clinic, 973-353-5695 Hackensack
Meadowlands Partnership Lauds New Master Plan
Environmental leaders celebrate “victory for conservation” at historic meeting. Lyndhurst, NJ – Five of the region’s leading advocates for Meadowlands preservation lent their support to two history-making initiatives that were approved by unanimous vote of the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) here today. “Today will be remembered as the turning point for the Meadowlands,” said Hackensack Riverkeeper Capt. Bill Sheehan, “Because the New Jersey Meadowlands has finally been recognized as one of our state’s special places.” · The New Jersey Meadowlands Master Plan is supported by the group because it calls for the preservation of the entire 8,400-acre Meadowlands wetlands ecosystem and sets the stage for the creation of the Meadowlands Estuary Preserve. The Master Plan will also facilitate redevelopment within the 32-square mile Hackensack Meadowlands District – a potential market value of $5.6 billion. · The Regulations and Zoning Map will provide the framework, which over time will include over 24 million square feet of commercial space – none of which will be on wetlands. Added to other projects, the regulations will create $73.1 million in additional revenues for the District’s 14 municipalities. The Zoning Map establishes a broad green zone along the Hackensack River, placing all wetlands under conservation restrictions. “This is the culmination of a 15 year process and it is the most
protective land use plan we’ve seen since the inception of the Commission in
1968,” said Ed Lloyd, Director of the Columbia
Environmental Law Clinic. “In 1969 New Jersey took the bold
step of establishing an innovative regional planning framework for the
Hackensack Meadowlands. The NJMC is now
taking another bold step in regional planning by adopting this
new Plan that will conserve the remaining wetlands in the Meadowlands and will
focus new development in areas that have already been filled. This reflects recognition of the incredible
value of those remaining wetlands and the importance of the Meadowlands as an
ecological treasure for our entire densely populated metropolitan area,"
commented James T. B. Tripp of Environmental Defense. “We applaud the leadership
of the Commission in drafting a progressive Master Plan and are further
encouraged by the positive response of the municipalities, landowners and other
interested parties, said NY/NJ Baykeeper Andrew Willner who added, “We are encouraged by the
adoption of this Master Plan – a plan infused with a land conservation ethic that
is important to our environment, the economy and to our collective well being.” “We also applaud the open public
process that has resulted in a Master Plan for the Meadowlands that preserves
this urban treasure,” said Susan Kraham of the Rutgers
Environmental Law Clinic, which has represented both Keeper programs for
many years. “The
Meadowlands’ unique landscape is of local, regional and national significance;
the Commission’s long-awaited Master Plan draws a green line around this
incredible urban wildlife refuge, and shifts development out of the wetlands,”
said NRDC Staff Attorney Jennifer Danis.
Also
today, the Commission held the first reading of Meadowlands
Mobility 2030, a proposed transportation plan for the Meadowlands
District. The Meadowlands Partnership
will be reviewing this document and looks forward to the public participation
process and providing comments to ensure that this plan best serves the needs
of the community. Captain
Sheehan summed up the feeling of his partners by stating, “Without question,
today is a victory for many things: wetlands preservation, for economic growth,
habitat restoration but most importantly, it’s a victory for all the people of
New Jersey.” Principals of The Hackensack Meadowlands Partnership The Columbia Environmental Law Clinic represents
local, regional, and national environmental and community organizations working
to solve critical environmental challenges facing the metropolitan region.
Clinic students represent clients on a broad array of issues including clean
water, wetlands preservation, endangered species, environmental justice,
"smart growth," and clean air. www.law.columbia.edu/focusareas/clinics/environment Environmental Defense is a leading national nonprofit
organization that was founded in 1967. Since then, the organization has linked
science, economics and law to create innovative, equitable and cost-effective
solutions to society's most urgent environmental problems. Environmental
Defense is dedicated to protecting the environmental rights of all people,
including the rights to clean air and water, healthy and nourishing food, and a
flourishing ecosystem. www.EnvironmentalDefense.org Hackensack Riverkeeper is recognized as the leading
environmental organization working on clean water issues throughout the
Hackensack River watershed from New City, New York to Newark Bay. Founded in
1997 by Captain Bill Sheehan, Hackensack
Riverkeeper has been in the forefront of the fight to preserve the
Meadowlands for its value as critical wildlife habitat as well as an open space
resource for the people who live in the Metropolitan area. www.HackensackRiverkeeper.org Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a
national, non-profit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental
specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded
in 1970, NRDC has more than 550,000 members nationwide, served from offices in
New York, Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco. More information is
available through NRDC’s Web site at www.nrdc.org. NY/NJ
Baykeeper is a subsidiary of
the American Littoral Society. Its mission is to protect, preserve and restore
the ecological integrity and productivity of the Hudson/Raritan Estuary, its
tributaries and watershed. As the citizen conservation advocate for the
Estuary's waterways and shores, Baykeeper
pursues opportunities for land preservation, habitat restoration and helps
advance the Estuary's value as a recreational and cultural resource. www.NYNJBaykeeper.org The Rutgers Environmental Law Clinic has defended and defined
environmental rights in New Jersey through its representation of environmental
and citizens groups since 1985. The Clinic
assists such groups in seeking redress under Federal and State environmental
laws and challenges governmental actions that threaten to harm the environment.
http://law.newark.rutgers.edu/clinics
environment.html |