What Do Environmental Commissions Do?

Environmental commissions use a wide range of information and approaches to inform local government and residents on environmental issues, laws and programs; Reach local citizens through educational programs, publications and meetings; Promote regional and long-range environmental planning; Reach local citizens through educational programs, publications and meetings; Work with neighboring commissions and other organizations to address regional and state-wide environmental problems; and play a coordinating role among the diverse actors in environmental protection: the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Soil Conservation Districts, local planning boards, boards of health and utilities authorities. The environmental commission is able to also acquire property in the name of the township if land is to be donated or if there is funding for such acquisition for available lands.