Licensed Site Professional bill a result of patience and persistence

Your Support of the Chamber is Helping to Forge Real Change

Licensed Site Professional bill a result of patience and persistence

Joan Verplanck, President, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce

Little did you realize almost three years ago when you were paying your annual dues and voluntarily contributed to the Chamber’s Enterprise Trust Fund that you were helping to fund a study that would result in some of the most significant legislation to come out of Trenton in years.

Your contributions to Enterprise in 2006 helped to fund the State Chamber’s Site Remediation Benchmarking Study, which recommended that the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) create a Licensed Site Professional (LSP) program for site remediation within the DEP. This study proposed that the DEP borrow aspects of a Massachusetts program to allow certified professionals to proceed through the investigation and remediation of selected sites with a minimum of DEP oversight.

Why is this important to all of us? It is because this legislation enables hundreds of contaminated properties throughout New Jersey to be remediated and put to good use for economic development or recreation purposes. The abandoned warehouse you pass on the way to work that has been dormant for years might finally be redeveloped thanks to this legislation. The same applies to the dilapidated building in that city you always visit and the factory along the rail lines near your home that ceased operating in the 1950s. The LSP legislation will allow DEP to break an 88-year backlog of site remediation cases by allowing outside professionals to get to work and help to turn blighted and often dangerous sites into thriving places once again.

Our Platform for Progress Environment Coalition members, along with others, worked tirelessly for two and a half years, presenting the LSP study to DEP officials and legislators, helping to draft legislation and working with stakeholders to meet the needs of many groups. Finally, after much sweat and hard work, the Senate and Assembly Environment Committees passed the LSP legislation, and it is expected to be passed by the full legislature and signed by the Governor.

I want to thank certain individuals who dedicated many hours and energy to this cause. The list includes Jorge Berkowitz and Nick DeRose of Langan Engineering, Dave Brogan of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, Tony Russo of the Chemistry Council of New Jersey, Steve Senior of Riker Danzig, Andy Robins and Dennis Toft of the New Jersey Builders Association, Mark Smith of the New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, Eric DeGesaro and John Donohue of the New Jersey Fuel Merchants, Kevil Duhon of the Senate Majority Office, Judy Horowitz of the Office of Legislative Services, and Michael Egenton from my staff. DEP Assistant Commissioner Irene Kropp also deserves special recognition for her dedication and perseverance.

I use the LSP legislation as an example of how your individual membership in the Chamber made a difference. It was through your contribution to Enterprise almost three years ago that we were able to secure the data and lay the groundwork for this important legislation. Because of you, properties that were destined to remain contaminated for many more decades will eventually see life again. The results of your participation are not always immediate. What we are trying to accomplish may take many years. For that reason, it is important for you to be patient and to continue your membership so that we can together change the status quo.

It might not always be apparent, but your support of the chamber is making a huge difference and forging real change in New Jersey. Thank you again for being a member of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce and for your continued support.

State Chamber President Joan Verplanck can be reached at joan@njchamber.com.