Senator Carmen Amato, Jr., Assemblyman Brian Rumpf, and Assemblyman Gregory Myhre of New Jersey’s 9th District have formally requested a meeting with Governor Phil Murphy and Shawn M. LaTourette, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The legislators seek to discuss how funds from a $450 million settlement related to PFOS/PFOA contamination will be distributed.
The request follows a proposal by the Ocean County Board of Commissioners advocating for local control over the allocation of these settlement funds. In their letter, the 9th District Delegation stated:
“Our Delegation is writing to express our strong support for the Ocean County Board of Commissioners’ call for local control over the distribution of funds from the recent $450 million PFOS/PFOA settlement. To that end, we are requesting a meeting by the way of the Commissioners and pertinent state departments to discuss this important matter further, as it is vital to enhancing public health in New Jersey’s communities.
“Additionally, our Delegation intends to draft legislation to ensure impacted communities have greater autonomy to utilize such funds to address the specific needs of municipalities and their residents. The current process is proving to be exclusionary, raising serious concern as to the effectiveness of the funding, including the risk of it being used for purposes other than intended.
“In closing, thank you in advance for your consideration and attention to this communication sent on behalf of our mutual constituents.”
Copies of this letter were also sent to all members of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners.
