***MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE*** Barnes, Diegnan Bill Preserving Dismal Swamp in Edison Ceremonially Signed by Governor

***MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE***

BARNES/DIEGNAN BILL PRESERVING DISMAL SWAMP IN EDISON CEREMONIALLY SIGNED BY GOVERNOR

(EDISON) - Assemblymen Peter J. Barnes III and Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. today issued a multimedia package on legislation they sponsored to help preserve Dismal Swamp in northern Middlesex County.

The measure was ceremonially signed Thursday by Governor Jon S. Corzine during a public event at the Triple C Ranch, part of the Dismal Swamp Conservation Area.

The law (A-3072) authorizes the governing bodies of Edison Township, Metuchen Borough and South Plainfield Borough to adopt resolutions establishing a special commission to protect and preserve the Dismal Swamp.

Barnes and Diegnan (both D-Middlesex) noted the preserved area includes roughly 660 acres of freshwater wetlands, forested uplands and meadows with unique natural habitats that include federal priority wetlands, surrounded by highly developed urban and suburban communities.

The multimedia package consists of a video press release of the ceremony, audio of same, a transcript of comments from the legislators.
The video can be accessed directly via our Web site - www.assemblydems.com - or by clicking here.

The audio file is available upon request.

A transcript of comments from the sponsors is appended below:

Assemblyman Peter J. Barnes III (D-Middlesex):

"Dismal Swamp is an area, as you can see right now, it's an area of approximately 1,000 acres, which is the largest undeveloped tract of land in Northern Middlesex county."

Assemblyman Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. (D-Middlesex):

"The dismal swamp touches three municipalities, South Plainfield, Edison and Metuchen.  And this legislation really, through the cooperation of the three municipalities, creates a joint entity that will now control the Dismal Swamp in terms of development, a master plan and protection."

Barnes:

"Native American artifacts have been uncovered that are over 5,000 years old.  It's an area that has been declared an area of significance by New Jersey Audubon Society and the New Jersey Sierra Club."

"It's an area that has five separate ecosystems involving ponds and streams that is unlike any other area in Middlesex County.  So it's an area that is worthy of being protected."

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