>Critics contend new bill imperils water quality, encourages sprawl
Despite strong protests from virtually all of the state’s environmental organizations, a Senate committee yesterday easily approved a bill that would delay much contested water quality management rules, a step opponents said would weaken protections that safeguard drinking water and avert sprawl.
The near unanimous approval by the Senate Economic Growth Committee, with only its chairman abstaining, appears to put the measure (S-3156) on the fast track for approval in the lame duck legislative session that ends early in January. The latest version of bill only became available for review late last week.
If approved before a new legislature is sworn in, its passage would mark the latest twist in a long effort to allow sewer service expansions in the state, an issue that is critical not only to economic development, but also to preservation of open space and farmland in a state fast losing both. (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)