U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone intends to launch investigations into the Trump administration's handling of Obama-era environmental initiatives when Democrats take control of the U.S. House next month.

Pallone, a Democrat who has been representing the Bayshore and central New Jersey in Congress for nearly 30 years, will ascend to the chair of a powerful U.S. House committee, one that could play a significant role in shaping U.S. climate change policy.

The congressman from Long Branch told the Asbury Park Press that he wants to open inquiries into what he sees as sweeping hostility from the Trump administration toward rules created by its predecessor that were meant to protect the environment and slow the accumulation of the greenhouse gases warming the planet.

AMAZON: Robbinsville warehouse slammed over dangers by labor protesters

Pallone mentioned the Clean Power Plan, which set the nation's first caps on carbon emissions from power plants, as well as vehicle fuel efficiency and emission standards and the overhauled Toxic Substances Control Act as some of Trump's targets.

"They are gradually changing the rules, putting in new regulations that will tear down these proposals, but I don't think we know exactly what they're doing," Pallone said. "In at least the last two years there hasn't been any hearings on the things I just discussed. Nobody's been hauled in to say 'What are you doing?'"

Pallone and environmental leaders from 10 statewide and regional environmental groups gathered around a table in Monmouth University's Wilson Hall on Tuesday to talk about priorities regarding climate change action.

President Trump rejected the findings of the Fourth National Climate Assessment, which his own administration released last month. Watch him deny key conclusions in the video above.

Pallone is set to become chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has a lot of latitude to craft legislation on environmental protection and climate change.

One of the bolder proposals gaining traction is the creation of a Green New Deal.

CORY BOOKER: NJ senator backs 'Green New Deal' on climate change in latest appeal to party's left wing

Championed by U.S. Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Bronx Democrat, the concept revolves around reducing carbon emissions through programs that also promote "economic and environmental justice and equality."

The blueprint, loosely modeled on President Franklin Roosevelt's programs that were meant to rouse the nation from the Great Depression, is more or less a stimulus package built around the objective of increasing energy efficiency and moving America to 100 percent renewable fuels by 2030.

Pallone talked about infrastructure at length on Tuesday, returning to the topic time and again as a possible area of bipartisan cooperation. However, he wouldn't commit to the Green New Deal.

"The goal of trying to reduce fossil fuels and get to a carbon neutral economy is important and something that I agree with. The question is how long it takes to do that," he said. "The Green New Deal says you can do it in 10 years. I don't know if that's technologically feasible. ... Beyond that it's probably not politically feasible."

SEA LEVEL RISE: The nightmare scenario in NJ

Russ Zimmer: 732-557-5748, razimmer@app.com, @russzimmer