About

The Franklin Township Environmental Commission meets every fourth Monday of the month at 7:30 pm in the Municipal Building. The public is encouraged to attend and participate.

Franklin Township Municipal Building
1571 Delsea Drive
Franklinville, NJ 08322
856-694-1234

Structure and Purpose of the Environmental Commission
Franklin Township’s Environmental Commission was established by ordinance in 1976.  Appointed by the Mayor, the Commission is made up of seven members and two alternate members, all of whose terms are for three years.  All Commission members are unpaid volunteers.

The Commission is authorized by law to:

• Study and make recommendations concerning open space preservation, water resource management, air pollution control, solid waste management, noise control, soil and landscape protection, environmental appearance, marine resources, and protection of flora and fauna
• Conduct research and coordinate unofficial bodies organized for the purpose
•  Advertise, prepare, print, and distribute books, charts, maps, pamphlets, and plans
• Keep an index of all open areas held publicly or privately including marshlands, swamps and wetlands
• Recommend plans and programs for inclusion in the municipal Master Plan
• With governing body approval, acquire property or any lesser interest (such as a conservation easement) in the name of the municipality for the purpose of conserving and properly utilizing open space and other land and water areas in the municipality.

The primary reference document produced by the Environmental Commission is the Franklin Township Environmental Resource Inventory.  The most recent version was published in November 2012 and consists of descriptions, tables, and maps of Franklin’s natural resources including everything from soils to drinking water, to threatened and endangered species.  It also has information on water quality, known contaminated sites, and environmental issues, along with brief sections on the history of the community, historic sites and buildings, and protected open space, among other topics.

Accomplishments of the Environmental Commission

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION OF FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Issues & Projects Addressed/Completed/Ongoing

1977 to January 2013

RESEARCH & EDUCATION

• Environmental Resource Inventory (ERI) for Franklin Township – produced by Environmental Commission (EC) in 1977; new ERI by EC in 2001; new ERI in 2012 (new data collection and extensive editing by EC).
• Hazard Tree Survey of Franklin Township roads – EC developed protocol for this driving/foot checking survey of trees that are potential hazards, begun in Dec. 2012.  Also recruited volunteer who is completing the survey. Ongoing.
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report for Franklin Township – EC worked closely with Stockton College students who researched and wrote the report;  also edited final draft.
• Community Forestry Management Plan – Produced by EC in 2011
• Protecting Our Waters booklet about surface and ground water and pollution prevention, for residents.  Written and produced by EC.  Won an award from Assoc of NJ Environmental Commissions (ANJEC).
• Open Space and Recreation Plan of Franklin Township – Major participation in developing
• Farmland Preservation Plan of Franklin Township – Major participation in developing; preparation of annual report on farmland preservation for Township submission to State of NJ each December
• Marked Nature Trail at Malaga Lake Park with trail guide:  EC supervised the Eagle Scout project that created the nature trail and guide;  also edited final draft of trail guide.
• Franklin Township Community Day – EC participates annually with regular exhibits on plants and animals of Franklin and special exhibits and handouts on topics such as recycling, energy saving, water, backyard gardening for nature, composting, and land use.
• Native Tree Species list – Development of list for use by residents and Township
• Gloucester County BirdQuest – Annual participation in this county-wide event in May.  EC focuses on tracking Franklin Twp. Birds.  Ongoing.
• Breeding Bird Atlas of New Jersey – EC gathered data on two quadrants in Franklin.  Data included in Birds of New Jersey.
• Vernal Pool Survey project of South Jersey Land & Water Trust – Participation in project, focusing on Franklin.  Ongoing.
• Topographic map of Piney Hollow Natural Area – Development of map
• Photographic Images of Franklin project by M. Hogan – Supervision of  project
• Educational programs in Franklin Twp court room – EC arranged presentations on topics such as astronomy, light pollution, bluebirds, and local wildlife
• Watershed Association of Upper Maurice River – Major participation in forming organization (now part of South Jersey Land & Water Trust)

• Grant proposals – Writing successful proposals for several of the above projects, especially publications

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PROBLEMS/VIOLATIONS

• Known Contaminated Sites list website (on Township website) – Development of detailed descriptions, links to NJ Dept of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) website and regular updating. Ongoing.
• Suspected or possible contaminated sites list – Development of list of potentially contaminating facilities on sites that no longer exist, for internal use only.
• MART-CASIE air pollution affecting Franklin Twp – Research, written comments, appearance at hearings, meetings with political representatives, and contact with NJDEP enforcement about this soil remediation facility in Vineland Industrial Park and its air release violations.  Site now closed.
• Soil dumping – Alert to NJDEP, ultimately resulting in removal of the contaminated soil and Franklin Twp adopting an ordinance to prevent dumping
• Wetlands Violation Alerts to NJDEP and Pinelands Commission; notifications to Franklin Twp Zoning Officer. Ongoing.
• Winzinger Recycling facility- Efforts to mitigate impact of facility operations on adjacent neighbors including contacts with regulating agencies that limited some of the impact for a time
• Pioneer Metal Finishing – Investigated conditions in vicinity of facility, which is on NJDEP Known Contaminated Site list, and of facility’s remedial action workplan. Ongoing.

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PLANNING AND ORDINANCES

• Light pollution ordinance – Review of municipal ordinances and recommendations for a Franklin ordinance.  Not pursued by Township.
• Tree and Forestry Protection ordinance– Lengthy effort resulting in development of a draft ordinance, submitted to Twp Committee.  Not pursued by Township except for ordinance limiting unrestricted clear cutting over 5,000 sq. feet.
• 2004 Franklin Township Master Plan revision – Major participation in process

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APPLICATION REVIEW

• Planning Board and Zoning Board site plans and variance applications – Regular review of applications including providing recommendations re environmental issues. Ongoing.
• Land Use ordinance – Recommended various environmental improvements to ordinance
• Specific development proposals, such as asphalt plant, Fazzio – Public outreach efforts

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OTHER

• Arbor Day events – Development of fix-up/clean-up/plant up events in April.  First one held April 2012 at Malaga Lake Park. Ongoing.
• Township-owned parcel sales – Analysis of parcels for environmental value, so that Township could retain, conducted by EC
• Recycling – Presentation about and referral to Twp. Committee of Recycle Bank; acquisition of recycling containers for Community Day.  EC developed Township’s annual recycling calendar, managed its publication and its distribution to residents (now done by Administrator’s office).
• Clean-ups – Malaga Lake Park – Organized two clean-ups
• Public access point and parking lot for Piney Hollow Natural Area – Major participation
• Franklin Township Open space tax – Major participation in promoting successful ballot
• Land acquisition – Malaga Lake Park land and Piney Hollow Natural Area, via Stewart Trust – Major participation
• Response to issues brought to the EC including gypsy moth spraying, class D recycling facilities, biofuel conversion, groundwater contamination remediation method (DAS) – Research on issues and development of recommendations to Township Committee
• Workshops (e.g. ANJEC) and hearings (e.g. NJDOT on Route 55 planning and Malaga intersection; drinking water contamination from abandoned Williamstown Road dump and in Heritage Hills – NJDEP) – Attendance at sessions to ask questions, obtain information for township use
• Letters to agencies in response to proposals (e.g. NJDOT)
• Sustainability/Green Communities – Attendance at several state conferences and workshops to obtain information for township; also, assistance to Township in registering for SustainableJersey program
• Interaction with Emergency Management Officer – Ongoing.