Groups Urge Widening Of NJ Corruption Probe To Environment

"TRENTON - Environmental groups today called for new ethical controls in state government, saying recent arrests of two assemblymen involving land deals are only 'the tip of the iceberg' when it comes to the influence developers wield over the Department of Environmental Protection.

New Jersey Sierra Club Director Jeff Tittel said the arrests demonstrate a larger, systemic problem.

'In the state of New Jersey, the environment's for sale,' Tittel said.

The groups called for an inspector general to be implemented at the DEP with subpoena powers to investigate allegations of wrongdoing. They also want rules implemented on the types of communications legislators are permitted to have with DEP officials and for the disclosure of those communications, along with information on meetings held with lobbyists, lawyers, engineers and representatives of regulated industries."

Trish G. Graber reports for the Newark Star-Ledger August 3, 2009.