Want to help? Contact Paul E. Pogorzelski at [email protected] or by calling 737-0605, ext. 664
Environmental Commission
The Hopewell Township Environmental Commission, with a grant from the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC), has begun the preparation of an Environmental Resource Inventory (ERI) for Hopewell Township.
This effort is necessary to advance the township’s wastewater management plan to a status that will permit New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) approvals, and will also provide an updated inventory of environmental assets located within Hopewell Township.
The township has contracted with the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) to prepare the ERI. A subcommittee of the township’s Environmental Commission will work together with DVRPC to gather information for this report, which will take approximately one year to complete. The status of the inventory and any working drafts will be made available on Hopewell Township’s Web site (www.hopewelltwp.org).
An ERI is simply a notebook of the accumulated information about an area, containing an index of the area’s natural resource characteristics and environmental features. The index combines both text and visual information and provides a baseline to measure and evaluate resource protection issues. An ERI is a “living” document, which grows as more knowledge and data become available over time. It is an invaluable resource tool that may be used by township planners and administrators, and also by residents to better understand the local environment. Much of the basic information needed for the inventory is available through updated resources at local, county, state and federal agencies. Additional information may be obtained from private environmental interest groups and from individual “experts” living within our community.
The ability to identify and accurately locate significant environmental resources is the first step in protecting and preserving them into the future. Therefore, the Environmental Commission seeks participation by residents who can assist by providing information, or guidance, which will add to the completeness and the uniqueness of this ERI report. For instance, do you have an unusually large or old tree on your property? Or have you spotted a rarely seen bird or animal nearby? Did Gen. George Washington pass through your yard?
The commission hopes that as the community becomes more aware of the project some residents will come forward to share their knowledge and join the group’s efforts where possible. Anyone wishing to assist should contact Paul E. Pogorzelski, P.E., township administrator/engineer, at [email protected] or by calling 737-0605, ext. 664.
Learn more about this project at the Hopewell Township Environmental Commission booth at the Hopewell Harvest Fair on Oct 4 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

