Growth and Agency Roles in the States

摘要

New Jersey's new commissioner of environmental protection, Bob Martin, is planning to appoint an assistant commissioner for economic development, which has stimulated discussion in the state about whether it is appropriate for DEP to have a high official focused on growth. Martin acknowledges that the "primary role of DEP is to protect the environment and natural resources in the state; that's our No. 1 role, and I see economic development as a secondary role. In the past, the DEP has hindered economic growth in a lot of cases and . . . everybody has a DEP story." His vision of the role of the department in promoting economic development is through green energy and issuing DEP permits as quickly as possible.