DEP Delays OPRA Public Records Request For Critical Data, Then Issues A Self Congratulatory Diversionary Press Release
DEP issued another absurd and insulting “award” today and another self congratulatory press release regarding the work of the NJ Drinking Water Quality Institute (DWQI), see (link forthcoming, not yet posted by DEP):
- DEP PRESENTS OUR WATER’S WORTH IT AWARD TO THE NEW JERSEY DRINKING WATER QUALITY INSTITUTE
The award was presented during a ceremony held at the DEP headquarters in Trenton. It is part of the DEP’s Our Water’s Worth It campaign, launched earlier this year to highlight the importance of the state’s water supplies. The campaign recognizes individuals and organizations that excel in safeguarding water resources and enhancing drinking water quality for New Jersey residents.
The irony and hypocrisy of the award are incredible.
The award was given for the DWQI’s stellar work on developing regulatory standards (MCLs) for “forever chemicals”, PFAS, PFOS, PFNA, etc.
Before the DWQI did this work and DEP adopted MCLs based on that work, “forever chemicals” were just one of HUNDREDS of unregulated chemicals that DEP has found in drinking water supplies.
These unregulated chemicals include things like endocrine disruptors, pharmaceuticals, and carcinogens.
Because there were so many unregulated chemicals – with unknown health effects and little of the data that is required to develop regulatory MCLs – over 15 years ago, the DWQI recommended a fundamental change in drinking water protection strategy called a “Treatment Based Approach”.
Under that new Treatment Based Approach (TBA), instead of conducting expensive and lengthy “risk assessments” and MCLs for individual unregulated chemicals (an impossible job for over 500 known chemicals), DWQI recommended that treatment systems to remove 99.999% of those chemicals be installed by drinking water treatment plants.
DEP and the DWQI found that those treatment systems are technologically available, they work, and they are cost effective. But the politically powerful drinking water purveyors – like NJ American Water – balked and blocked the TBA.
I’ve petitioned DEP to adopt new regulations based on the DWQI recommended TBA, but the Murphy DEP denied that petition. I asked the DWQI on December 10 what the status of their recommended TBA was.
The timing of the award is also quite revealing of a very cynical attempt at news management by DEP Commissioner LaTourette.
Three weeks ago, I wrote to pose questions to the DWQI about “unregulated chemicals”, including water quality data during the drought and how DEP Commissioner LaTourette’s drought Order was being implemented. I requested this information so I could testify before the DWQI at their December 10 meeting, see:
After being stonewalled by the DWQI on December 10, I filed an OPRA public records request. But DEP failed to provide the documents within the timeframe mandated under law and instead delayed response, see:
I’m still waiting for that DEP OPRA response data.
At the December 10 meeting, in response to my questions, the Chair of the DWQI suggested that I raise these issues before the DEP’s Water Supply Advisory Council (WSAC).
It just so happens that the DEP WSAC is meeting this Friday, December 20 (you can request credentials to participate – email watersupplyplan@dep.nj.gov ).
So, with today’s award and press release, DEP Commissioner LaTourette is seeking to get out in front of any bad news I might write about, as well as divert the NJ media and shape the coverage of the issues.
I fired off this note to LaTourette, because I know exactly what he’s doing here:
Commissioner – I see the games you are playing here.
You’ve delayed responding to my OPRA request for data and documents regarding water quality, DWQI, and implementation of your drought Order, and then spun the issue with a get out in front press release, see:
I once worked for DEP Commissioner Campbell, who was a master at such news management. Disgraceful.
Wolfe
We’ll keep you posted on the DEP OPRA reply and the Friday WSAC meeting.