TRENTON – Members of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee will meet Monday, February 4, 2013 to hear testimony on and consider several proposed options for funding open space preservation projects in New Jersey. The Committee will meet at 10 AM in Committee Room 10, 3rd Floor of the Statehouse Annex.
“As the most densely populated state in the country, open space is at a premium in New Jersey. It is our job as stewards of the environment to ensure that there are protected open parcels of land for the enjoyment of our children and our grandchildren. Maintaining our farmland and open spaces also will go a long way to help protect the quality of life in the Garden State for future generations,” said Senator Bob Smith, (D-Middlesex) Chairman of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee. “New Jersey has been the national standard for open space preservation, and since 1961, residents have overwhelming voted to dedicate funding towards protecting our open space. But now the pot has run dry. We must look at all the options to ensure continued funding of these important programs.”