This is a recording of the March 23, 2021 Rutgers Environmental Steward class. The topic was Environmental Law and Policy in New Jersey and was facilitated by Margaret Waldock, Executive Director at Duke Farms. 

The class focused on a discussion with leading environmental law and policy experts from public agencies and nonprofit organizations. This panel provided an overview of environmental laws and how federal, state, and municipal authorities and agencies work to interpret, implement, and enforce environmental protection policy in our state.

Also covered was the role of nonprofit organizations, and the work of community advocates and activists organizing to ensure environmental protection and justice for communities of color and low-income communities.

Panelists:

Debbie Mans, Partner, twentytwenty public affairs. Ms. Mans was most recently the Deputy Commissioner at the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, providing  leadership and direction for many of the DEP’s climate change, renewable energy and environmental justice efforts. Previously, Ms. Mans served as Baykeeper of the NY/NJ Baykeeper and as an environmental and energy policy adviser to former Gov. Jon S. Corzine.  She is the former chair of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, former trustee of New Jersey Future, and currently serves as member of the Borough Council in Glen Ridge. Ms. Mans has a certification from the International Association for Public Participation in Foundations in Public Participation.

Melissa Miles, Executive Director, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance. Ms. Miles (she/her) is a grassroots activist and community organizer living in an Environmental Justice Community in Newark, New Jersey. “I wasn’t born, I was grown” is her personal tagline and speaks to her entry into environmental justice advocacy. She holds an MA in Anthropology from The New School, however, she is also adamant that when it comes to solutions to the world’s current environmental crises, the best and most relevant solutions come from communities and not from universities: “Those that are most affected, have the solutions” is the sentiment from which her advocacy stems. She is a part of several national coalitions including the Climate Justice Alliance, Moving Forward Network, The Coalition for Healthy Ports, and international coalitions such as The Movement of People Affected By Dams (MAB) and the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives. She is also part of the New Jersey Environmental Justice Advisory Council responsible for advising state agencies including the Department of Environmental Protection on issues of Environmental Justice. Her “expertise” is rooted in her lived experience and her commitment to making sure that people at the frontlines are the protagonists in the struggle for their future.

Kelly Mooij, Director of the Division of Clean Energy, NJ Board of Public Utilities.  As Director of the Division of Clean Energy at the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, Ms. Mooij leads the State’s efforts on advancing a variety of clean energy initiatives including offshore wind, solar, electric vehicles, microgrids, and energy storage among others; She also led the BPU’s year-long effort to complete a comprehensive, legislatively mandated, energy efficiency transition. Prior to joining the team at the Board, Ms. Mooij was the Vice President for Government Affairs for the New Jersey Audubon Society. Ms. Mooij has a JD and a master’s degree in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School.

Jennifer Coffey, Executive Director of the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions. Ms. Coffey joined the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) in July 2014 as Executive Director. Ms. Coffey serves as a member of several advisory councils and boards including the New Jersey State Water Supply Advisory Council, the New Jersey State Clean Water Council, the Hamilton Township (Mercer) Planning Board, the board of the NJ School of Conservation, and the New Jersey Society of Women Environmental Professionals; She has also been nominated by Governor Murphy to serve on the Pinelands Commission with Senatorial confirmation pending. For 10 years prior to ANJEC, Ms. Coffey served as the Policy Director for the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, re-named as the Watershed Institute. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Stockton University and dual master’s degrees in Environmental Policy and Environmental Science from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Kim Gaddy, Director and Founder, South Ward Environmental Alliance, Newark, NJ. As founder and Director of the South Ward Environmental Alliance (SWEA), Ms. Gaddy works to create healthy and vibrant neighborhoods, ensuring residents voices are heard and that they are active participants in decision making regarding polices that impact their neighborhood. Ms. Gaddy is the also the National Environmental Justice Director for Clean Water Action and worked in municipal government for the city of Newark for 12 years.  She is a former elected Newark School Board member and member of the city and Essex County’s Environmental Commissions. She was appointed by Governor Phil Murphy to serve as Vice-Chair of the NJDEP's Environmental Justice Advisory Council and currently serves as the New York/New Jersey Regional Representative for the Moving Forward Network. Ms. Gaddy has received numerous awards and recognition for her life-long environmental leadership including the NJDEP 2020 Richard J. Sullivan Award, the 2021 UUFaithActionNJ Distinguished Coalition Partner Award in Environmental Justice, and the 2007 Environmental Protection Agency Region 2 Environmental Community award. Kim Gaddy is the proud mom of Sonny, Frankie, Mo'Nay, and Julian.

Facilitator: Margaret Waldock, Executive Director of Duke Farms. As the executive director of Duke Farms, a 2,740-acre center for environmental stewardship in Hillsborough, New Jersey, Ms. Waldock (she/her) leads the strategic pursuit of environmental sustainability through conservation, research, and inclusive programming and educational activities aimed at inspiring and engaging diverse stakeholders. She served for more than 8 years as the director of the Environment Program at the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, where she oversaw an annual grant portfolio aimed at protecting and stewarding critical watersheds, improving environmental public policy, and supporting community-driven sustainability. Previously she was Executive Director of the Hunterdon Land Trust and also worked at the Trust for Public Land, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the American Farmland Trust. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology, from S.U.N.Y Brockport, and a JD and master’s degree in Environmental Law from the Vermont Law School.