State Audit Reveals Internal Flaws at Department of Environmental Protection

Those were among the recurring problems that the State Auditor in the Office of Legislative Services uncovered in the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Land Use Management and other programs.

The audit heightened criticism from Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club, who had already taken the agency to task after reviewing its enforcement records earlier this month. The records show that even as the DEP stepped up inspections for potential violations of environmental laws, the number of enforcement actions fell by more than half since 2008.

“People who violate our environmental laws and regulations have seen a drop in enforcement actions, and now they realize that even if they are assessed a penalty, they do not have to pay it,’’ said Tittel, one of the most vocal critics of the Christie administration.

DEP officials disputed that view.

“We have a new model at the DEP,’’ Larry Ragonese, a spokesman for the agency told NJ Spotlight last week. “The goal is to achieve more compliance to resolve environmental problems quicker. It’s not the number of violations and fines that are an indicator of environmental improvement.’’

Read more at NJSpotlight.com

NJ Spotlight is an issue-driven news website that provides critical insight to New Jersey’s communities and businesses. It is non-partisan, independent, policy-centered and community-minded.