The New Jersey Climate Change Resource Center is leading an innovative project, supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and in collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), to explore new approaches for reducing exposure to pollutants from facilities that use or generate hazardous substances that are at risk to flooding and extreme heat due to climate change in areas of disadvantaged communities.

The project will conduct a statewide spatial analysis to assist both the NJDEP and communities in identifying where different facility types are most at risk of climate hazards such as flooding and heat and to help identify their intersection with overburdened communities that may be disproportionately impacted by these exposed facilities. The NJDEP will utilize this data to assist with targeted outreach to facilities to reduce the amount or type of hazardous substances at their source prior to recycling of discarded material, treatment or disposal, and in doing so reduce the hazard to public health and the environment. Technical assistance will be provided to community-based organizations and environmental collaboratives to utilize the information developed by the project team and NJDEP to empower community-led efforts for pollution prevention.

In addition to the technical assistance provided, case studies for these community-based approaches will be documented to provide outcomes, challenges, opportunities, and recommendations for similar future efforts and replicability in other areas. A Project Advisory Group comprising environmental justice leaders and pollution prevention professionals will guide the project and its efforts to engage community-based organizations.