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[quote="The Record North Jersey"]Friday, June 13, 2008
BY SCOTT FALLON
STAFF WRITER
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A controversial bill that extends the life of construction permits in New Jersey undermines pollution and water quality laws, a top federal environmental official said Thursday.

Alan Steinberg, the regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency, said in a letter to state officials that the law could also "interfere" with the awarding of grant money from the agency to the state.

"I am concerned that if enacted, this law might be inconsistent with a number of federal environmental laws," Steinberg said.

At issue is whether the Permit Extension Act of 2008 would allow builders to skirt updates to federal environmental laws, such as the Clean Water Act, that are approved after a permit is issued.

Supporters said that none of the extensions would affect federal regulations. Building permits are being extended, they say, to help developers whose projects have been slowed or halted because of the economic downturn.

"This is a last-ditch effort by some in the environmental community who are trying to delay what our economy needs," said Jim Leonard, a lobbyist for the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce.

Business leaders say the measure would not make it easier for builders to get building approval. They say it would merely allow already approved projects to go ahead once the economy turns around and credit and property buyers are more plentiful.

A similar bill passed in 1992 following a recession at the turn of the decade.

The bill, which was being debated Thursday evening in the Assembly's Environment and Solid Waste Committee, has significant support in the State House, including 38 Assembly co-sponsors and 13 Senate co-sponsors.

The length of an extension would depend on what type of permit is issued. The bill would allow the extension of building approvals granted after Jan. 1, 2006. Some may last until two years after the economic slowdown ends — which the bill puts at Dec. 31, 2012.

Steinberg said many of the extensions would be for permits that are authorized under a number of federal laws like the Water Pollution Control Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act.

The bill would try to "override aspects of a number of state laws and regulations, some of which are elements of federally approved state environmental programs," Steinberg wrote to Senate President Richard Codey and Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts.

His letter was celebrated by environmental activists, who hoped it would convince legislators to vote against the bill.

"It's a tablet from Mount Sinai," said Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. "This comes from the final authority for environmental protection."

Tittel had asked the EPA this week to take over some of the state's federally designated environmental programs if the bill passes.

E-mail: fallon@northjersey.com