Assembly Agriculture and Environment Committees to Hold Joint Hearing on Threat of Wildfires in New Jersey

(TRENTON) – The Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Environment and Solid Waste Committees will conduct a joint legislative hearing Thursday to evaluate the future prospects of protecting New Jersey’s Pinelands, in order to prevent forest devastation seen along the West Coast as a result of wildfires.

The hearing will focus on examining how New Jersey can restore the health of the Pinelands and surrounding areas to ensure public safety and maximum ecological benefit to prevent and combat wildfires.

The committees will be meeting on Thursday, March 14 at 1:00 PM in Committee Room 11, 4^th floor of the Statehouse Annex. The hearing can be audio streamed at: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/live_audio.asp

Invited guests include: Bob Williams and Tom Hirshblond from the Pine Creek Forestry, Stephen Lee, III and Stephen Lee, IV from the New Jersey Cranberry Growers’ Association, John Cecil from the New Jersey Audubon Society, Bill Brash, Tony Petrongolo, Lynn Fleming and Lori Jenssen from the New Jersey Forestry Association, Inga Parker LaPuma and Nick Skowronski from the North Atlantic Fire Science Exchange, Mike Mangum and Freeholder and former Assemblywoman Virginia Haines from Ocean County Parks, Greg McLaughlin and John Sacco from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and Mike Gallagher from the United States Forest Service in the United States Department of Agriculture.