Final answer:
The lead state environmental agency in New Jersey is the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), which works in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect the environment and enforce laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
The lead state environmental agency in New Jersey is the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The NJDEP is responsible for managing energy conservation efforts and protecting the state's natural resources.
It does so in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the federal body that writes and enforces regulations aimed at protecting human health and the environment.
The EPA, established on December 2, 1970, by President Richard Nixon, has the overarching responsibility for maintaining and enforcing national environmental standards.
It partners with state agencies like the NJDEP, along with tribal and local governments, to ensure compliance with environmental laws. These agencies have the authority to implement fines, sanctions, and other enforcement measures to uphold these standards.