By Debra Coyle McFadden
This week marks the 7th anniversary of Hurricane Sandy. We all remember the fear and anxiety that gripped communities as we faced winds up to 90 miles an hour and sea levels 14 feet higher than normal. The storm claimed hundreds of lives and cost tens of billions of dollars in New Jersey, New York and in other states along the East Coast. Health-related costs in New York and New Jersey alone were more than $3 billion.
So, is New Jersey ready for the next Sandy?
Due to ongoing climate change, our state faces an increased risk of hurricanes and other extreme weather events. Storms that used to happen once a century will become commonplace, and we also face dangers from inland flooding, coastal flooding and high temperatures.
New Jersey is one of the fastest-warming states, according to a recent analysis in the Washington Post. Temperatures here have increased by 2 degrees Celsius over the past century. That’s more than twice the average in the lower 48 states – and the tipping point at which scientists say the impact of climate change becomes irreversible.
What does this mean for the safety of our state and our citizens? As the Star-Ledger has reported, Congress is considering a reauthorization of the federal flood insurance program. We agree with the New Jersey mayors – Ras Baraka of Newark, Ravinder Bhalla of Hoboken and J. Christian Bollwage of Elizabeth – who recently wrote in these pages calling for major flood insurance reforms, to make our communities more resilient and to prepare in advance for future extreme weather events that are sure to come our way.
We must also recognize New Jersey’s unique position as a major center of production, storage and distribution of petroleum and chemical products. If we’re not ready before disaster strikes, New Jersey residents and businesses may face catastrophic risks. These include:
-- Toxic releases: Anyone who operates a business with potentially hazardous materials in New Jersey – such as chemical plants, oil refineries, sewage and water treatment plants, bulk chemical handling and storage terminals, and food processing facilities, and small businesses like auto repair shops and dry cleaners – needs a plan on how to prevent toxic releases during high winds, a flood or storm surge. Essential steps include substituting safer, less toxic chemicals for hazardous substances; reducing inventory of hazardous materials stored on-site; and securing and storing chemicals safely above expected flood levels (or base flood elevation).
-- Chemical spills and other emergencies: New Jersey’s multi-billion chemical industry includes more than 5,000 facilities that use, manufacture or store more than 10,000 pounds of hazardous substances. Are we ready for what happens if a superstorm like Sandy or some other extreme weather event causes a chemical spill, fire or explosion?
The simple, scary answer: We don’t know. Federal law requires counties and municipalities where facilities covered by the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act are located to have an Emergency Response Plan to address the dangers of an unplanned chemical release. In 2016, The Work Environment Council surveyed the 59 municipalities and 19 counties that host the 95 most potentially hazardous facilities. The Council requested to review the emergency plans. The results were 58% of municipalities and 84% of counties refused our request.
Without essential information, we can’t protect ourselves against chemical hazards that can cost lives, destroy property and cause environmental damage. That’s why the Work Environment Council and Teamsters Local 877 – representing workers at the Phillips 66 Bayway refinery – have filed a federal lawsuit to enforce our right to know.
-- Oil trains crossing old bridges: Our state is a key hub for U.S. petroleum distribution. Every week, thousands of trains carrying millions of gallons of crude oil, including highly flammable Bakken Crude oil, pass through New Jersey communities in at least 11 counties, crossing bridges that in some cases are more than 100 years old. WEC and our allies are advocating for an Oil Train Safety Bill, which has already passed the state Senate.
The legislation requires rail companies or high hazard operators to develop emergency response and cleanup plans, as well as public disclosure of routes and the volumes of oil on trains moving through the state. The bill also requires training for first responders and for mandatory railroad bridge inspection reports to be submitted to the state Department of Transportation.
Last month, 19 labor, environmental and community organizations asked bill sponsor Assemblywoman Nancy Pinkin (D-Edison) and Transportation Committee Chair Dan Benson (D-Hamilton) to take action on this vital measure before the end of the year.
The oil and chemical industries are important to the New Jersey economy. But we must not lose sight of the health and safety of workers in those industries, or the well-being of residents in surrounding communities. No one knows when the next storm might hit, when flood waters might rise, or when extreme heat might cause a disaster we can’t foresee. That’s why it’s more important than ever that industries that handle hazardous substances operate with full transparency and take steps to prepare for emergencies.
Debra Coyle McFadden is executive director of the New Jersey Work Environment Council, an alliance of labor, community, and environmental organizations.
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