Early EPA and DEP Career
Jackson had not grown up as an outdoors person, but became interested in environmental matters following the national and international coverage of the Love Canal Disaster. She worked for a year and a half at Clean Sites, a nonprofit that tried to accelerate cleanup of toxic sites.
Then Jackson joined the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., working as a staff-level engineer. She then moved to its regional office in New York City. During her tenure at EPA, Jackson worked in the federal Superfund site remediation program, developing numerous hazardous waste cleanup regulations, overseeing hazardous waste cleanup projects throughout central New Jersey, and directing multimillion-dollar cleanup operations. She later served as deputy director and acting director of the region’s enforcement division.
After 16 years with EPA, Jackson joined the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in March 2002 as assistant commissioner of compliance and enforcement. She served as the assistant commissioner for land use management during 2005. Jackson headed numerous programs, including land use regulation, water supply, geological survey, water monitoring and standards, and watershed management. She focused on developing a system of incentives for stimulating what was in her opinion the right growth in the right places. Under her leadership, the state Department of Environmental Protection developed regulatory standards for implementing the landmark Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act.
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