On Sept. 18, 2020, Gov. Murphy signed Senate No. 232, a bill designed to assure environmental justice (EJ) for overburdened communities that have experienced disproportionate environmental and public health impacts.

The governor's approval had never been in any doubt. He weighed in when the measure was pending: "[A]n aggressive environmental justice agenda has been a top priority of my administration …. By supporting this legislation, we are taking a momentous step forward in achieving that goal."

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Just What Is EJ?

EJ refers to the government's response to the disparate environmental and public health impacts of pollution on minority and economically disadvantaged communities. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and DEP agree that EJ's two major elements are "fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies":