For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Anjuli.Ramos@sierraclub.org
The Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee released A1438(Coughlin). This bill would increase the maximum penalty for certain violations of P.L.1984, c.173 (C.34:5A-32 et seq.), unofficially known as the "Asbestos Control and Licensing Act," from $25,000 to $100,000. The bill would allocate any money in excess of $25,000 from a penalty assessed pursuant to P.L.1984, c.173 to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to fund asbestos control and licensure programs.
“It is critical to protect public health from asbestos. Asbestos is harmful to human health and even small amounts can cause significant health problems, including lung cancer. This legislation will increase the penalties associated with asbestos abatement to which will help hold polluters accountable. Even more importantly, it will allocate any money in excess of $25,000 per penalty for asbestos programs. Moving forward with increasing asbestos penalties and funding abatement programs is important for protecting public health,” said Anjuli Ramos- Busot, New Jersey Chapter Director of the Sierra Club.
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About the Sierra Club: The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information about our work in New Jersey, visit www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey.