Lisa Jackson pics Judith Enck as EPA’s new region 2 administrator

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Lisa Jackson, federal EPA chief and former head of New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection, recently appointed Judith Enck as the EPA’s new Regional Administrator for Region 2, which includes New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Enck was New York State’s Deputy Secretary of the Environment under NY Governors Eliot Spitzer and David Patterson. She replaces former Region 2 administrator Alan Steinberg. Enck is one of Jackson’s five new Regional Administrator pics. (Regions 1, 3, 6 and 9 got new top dogs too.) Three of the five, including Enck, wrote Alan Steinberg recently in PolitickerNJ.com, ” have deep roots in the environmental advocacy community.” Amen to that. Back in May 2007 The New York Times referred to Enck as “tart-tongued.” No doubt Jackson had Enck’s tart tongue in mind when she picked her as the person who will trade barbs with the corporations responsible for polluting and now cleaning up the Passaic.

Couple paddles Passaic and Rockaway rivers

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Check out the latest post on Larry and Kathy’s Kayak Adventures blog. The intrepid pair put into the Rockaway from the Essex County Environmental Center in Eagle Rock on a recent Sunday and paddled downstream to its confluence with the Passaic. (The Rockaway is one of the Passaic’s major tributaries.) It’s a nicely written paddle log with lots of great photos.

Summit, Berkeley Heights residents join forces to improve their Passaic

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A group of concerned folks from Summit and Berkeley Heights is leading a volunteer effort to clean up their stretch of the Passaic. Their focus is conservation and recreation. The group’s first meeting will be held on Monday, November 30 at 7:30pm at the Summit City Hall (512 Springfield Avenue). Residents and Passaic River lovers welcome. The nonprofit Passaic River Coalition, the oldest Passaic River advocacy group, is offering professional guidance for the project, which is supported by the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions and the New Jersey-based Geraldine Dodge Foundation.