County Environmental Health Act (CEHA)
DIVISION: Local Environmental Management
GENERAL PHONE NUMBER: (609) 292-1305
FAX NUMBER: (609) 984-9658
WEB SITE
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:
Through the Office of Local Environmental Management (OLEM), under CEHA, the department certifies county health agencies to act on its behalf and delegates inspection, investigative, and enforcement authority to them in the following environmental areas: solid waste, air pollution and water pollution control; noise control, and hazardous materials emergency response.
In addition, many counties perform special or pilot projects such as school lab chemical compliance assistance, ambient surface water sampling, pesticides, underground storage tank inspections, Right-to-Know, coastal and freshwater bathing beach monitoring, and migrant farm well water sampling.
Each certified local health agency conducts inspections to determine compliance with delegated environmental statutes and regulations; investigates citizen complaints; provides public information and citizen education services in all matters concerning environmental health; gathers evidence of violations as required; takes enforcement actions; assists the department in developing enforcement cases; negotiates compliance schedules and penalty settlements; and provides witnesses for any resultant court action as needed.
OLEM provides assistance to the counties to fulfill their CEHA obligations by executing annual grant agreements to help support delegated activities, reviewing performance reports, performing annual audits, and serving as a liaison between county health departments and a variety of programs within the department.
MONETARY ASSISTANCE PROVIDED:
There is an annual state appropriation available in the form of grant money for the purpose of supporting environmental health services undertaken by certified local health agencies on behalf of the department. The OLEM administers the CEHA program and awards grant funds on an annual basis to the 21 certified county health agencies.
PERMITTING RESPONSIBILITIES:
None
PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE:
County Environmental Health Act N.J.S.A. 26:3A2-21 et seq.
County Environmental Health Act regulations N.J.A.C. 7:1H-1 et seq. |
