NJDEP Listens to Camden Community’s Concerns

Public Comment Period Extended and Public Hearing Scheduled for GP Gypsum’s Clean Air Act Permit

March 9, 2021

The Center for Environmental Transformation (CFET) applauds the New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) decision, announced today, to extend the public
comment period and schedule a public hearing in consideration of Georgia-Pacific (GP) Gypsum’s
Title V Operating Permit.

GP Gypsum’s facility is located in the Waterfront South neighborhood of Camden, New Jersey. This
neighborhood, already designated an Overburdened Community according to DEP, falls in the 90th
percentile nationally for high levels of air toxics cancer risk and for PM2.5 exposure, among other
high rates of pollutant exposures.¹ And over 80% of the residents in the Waterfront South community
identify as a member of a minority group, while 35% of these residents live below the federal
poverty level.

The DEP has made the right decision to broaden the opportunity for community
participation in this permitting process. Environmental justice requires that those most affected
by pollutants, too often communities of color and low-income communities, have the opportunity to
voice their concerns. The difficulties that the COVID-19 pandemic has created for transparent
government operations and meaningful community participation is further reason to provide
additional time and means by which the impacted residents can make their voices heard. CFET
celebrates the DEP decision and looks forward to continuing to advocate with the Waterfront
South Community.