GORDON STATEMENT ON JOINT HEARING ON BARNEGAT BAY AND THE SHORE

LACEY TOWNSHIP – Senator Bob Gordon, D-Bergen, and a member of the Senate Environment Committee, issued the following statement today regarding the joint hearing between the Environment Committee and the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee on the environmental conditions facing the Barnegat Bay and Little Egg Harbor estuaries and other important issues facing the Jersey Shore:

“I applaud everyone who came out today and testified on the need to control runoff contamination in the Barnegat Bay and elsewhere in New Jersey. This is not a regional problem or a Shore problem, but a Statewide problem, and unless we begin to adopt better pollution control legislation and more sensible land use regulations in New Jersey, we’re going to lose one of our State’s biggest economic assets.

Shore protection, EMT training and arts funding should never have been cut in the first place because the Legislature dedicated fees and taxes to these programs. Now the governor has the resources not to deplete these vital programs.

MILAM/ ALBANO/McKEON BILL TO TOUGHEN PENALTIES FOR BEACH-DUMPING CLEARS SENATE PANEL

Lawmakers Aim to Toughen Decade-Old Penalties;
Spurred to Action by Illegal Dumping that Closed Beaches Over Labor Day Weekend

Legislation Assemblymen Matt Milam, Nelson Albano and John F. McKeon sponsored to toughen the financial penalties against illegal ocean dumping today was released by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

The measure was crafted after several South Jersey beaches were forced to close around Labor Day weekend after illegally dumped medical waste washed ashore. As many as 225 syringes and other medical waste were found in Avalon – leading borough officials to close beaches four times. Syringes also washed ashore in Berkeley, Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Brigantine and Upper Township.

MEDIA ADVISORY - SENATE AND ASSEMBLY ENVIRONMENT PANELS TO HOLD HEARING ON SHORE ISSUES THURSDAY

Hearing Will Cover Off-Shore LNG Facilities, Public Access to Beaches

TOMS RIVER – The New Jersey Senate Environment Committee and the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee will hold a joint hearing on Thursday, August 7 in the LMH Room at the Toms River Township Municipal Building to discuss issues important to the vitality of the Jersey Shore.

“It’s essential that the people living at the Jersey Shore have a voice in their government,” said Senator Bob Smith, D-Middlesex, the Chair of the Senate panel. “Too often, decisions that affect the economic and environmental vitality of the Jersey Shore are made on the other side of the State in a Trenton committee room. We need to give Shore residents a forum to raise their concerns, and bring their ideas back with us as we go through the legislative process.”

DANGERS TO JERSEY SHORE FROM OFFSHORE DRILLING UNDERSCORED BY RECENT GULF SHORE OIL SPILL

Gusicora to Redouble Efforts to Protect Jersey Coastline
After Witnessing First-Hand Environmental Damage In New Orleans

(TRENTON) – Assemblyman Reed Gusciora today said that he is redoubling his efforts to protect New Jersey’s coastline from the imminent dangers of offshore drilling after touring areas along the 98-mile stretch of the Mississippi River which experienced serious environmental damage following a collision of a fuel barge and tanker which caused more than 400,000 gallons of fuel to spill.

WASHINGTON – Today, during the Senate debate on the nation’s budget, U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) helped beat back a threat to the environment and economy of the Jersey Shore. The New Jersey Senators helped lead the effort to defeat an amendment offered by Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) that would have paved the way for drilling off the coast of Virginia, which includes areas less than 100 miles from the Jersey Shore – close enough for spills to affect New Jersey beaches.

SMITH BILL TO INCLUDE PUBLIC VOICE IN BEACH REPLENISHMENT APPROVED

TRENTON - A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would require the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to hold a public hearing and allow for public comment on shore protection projects was approved today by the Senate by a vote of 39-0.

"This past summer, the Senate Environment Committee held a public hearing on beach replenishment in Toms River, and we were able to learn a lot by taking the hearing to the people of the Jersey Shore," said Senator Smith, the Chair of the Environment panel. "Those who testified let us know that, other than our hearing, they were never given a chance to have public input on shore protection projects, even when those projects were taking place in their own back yards. As a matter of fundamental fairness, we need to give property owners and beach advocates the chance to let their voices be heard before we begin major shore protection projects."

SMITH - 'WE MUST PROTECT THE NEW JERSEY SHORE'

DOVER TOWNSHIP - Senate Environment Committee Chairman, Bob Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, issued the following statement after the panel's hearing on beach erosion and fisheries management at the Dover Township Municipal Building today:

"The New Jersey Shore is one of our State's preeminent environmental resources, drawing in millions in tourism dollars each year to our communities, and serving as a point of pride for residents of the Garden State.

VAN DREW/ALBANO BILL RENAMING WILDWOOD CONTEST
'NEW JERSEY GOVERNOR'S CUP HYDROFEST SERIES' ADVANCES
Name Designation Would Draw Attention, Larger Crowd to Annual Sporting Event

(TRENTON) -- The Assembly Tourism and Gaming Committee today released legislation Assemblymen Jeff Van Drew and Nelson Albano sponsored to draw greater attention to a popular sporting event that is held annually in Wildwood Crest.

Forrester: No Drilling Off Jersey Shore
Reiterates oppositon to endangering environment or economy

Gubernatorial nominee Doug Forrester responded today to recent news reports indicating that U.S. Interior Secretary Gail Norton did not immediately reject proposals to resume drilling off the East Coast . Forrester said Norton was wrong to not maintain outright support for the current 25-year moratorium. Forrester also reiterated his categorical opposition to proposals now under consideration in Congress to end the moratorium and called on New Jersey ’s Legislature to enact legislation barring the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from ever issuing the necessary State permits to drill.