Barnegat Bay Package Passes 38-0

For Immediate Release
December 20, 2010 Contact Jeff Tittel, 609-558-9100

Barnegat Bay Package Passes 38-0 Jeff Tittel, Director of New Jersey Sierra Club Statement on Barnegat Bay Bills

"These bills are part of an important package to help protect our coast. Each one is part of the missing pieces of the puzzle to help restore the health of the Bay," Jeff Tittel, Director of New Jersey Sierra Club.

All three of these bills have passed the Assembly and will be heading to Governor Christie"s desk.

S2341(Smith)/ A3415 - Requires the DEP to adopt total maximum daily loads (TMDL) for nutrients in Barnegat Bay. Amendments made to the bill made the bill stronger by requiring DEP to develop a TMDL for nutrients to protect the Bay. This is one of the most important ways to help limit pollution in the Bay and to help bring the Bay back to health.

"The TMDLs is one of the most important tools to help limit nutrients in our waterways. This legislation will move the process forward so that instead of studying the Bay to death, we can actually take some action to clean the bay," said Jeff Tittel.

S2275(Smith)/A3606 - Directs the Department of Transportation to conduct studies on state-owned storm water basins in the Barnegat Bay Watershed and repair those that are malfunctioning. Roads are a major source of nonpoint pollution and we believe by ensuring that storm water basins are functioning properly it will help to minimize pollution in the Bay.

"DOT is one of the biggest causes of non point pollution in the Bay," said Jeff Tittel. "They have old outdated and failing storm water systems that first need to be inventoried and then fixed."

S1410(Smith)/A2501 " Develops standards for restoration of soil destroyed during construction activities, and to protect soils from excessive and unnecessary compaction, removal, and alteration. During construction soil is compacted and can become as hard as pavement. Compacted soils create more impervious cover, resulting in more runoff and less groundwater recharge. This bill applies statewide helps protect the environment throughout New Jersey.

"The soil compaction bill is very important because it helps recharge our aquifers not just in Barnegat Bay, but throughout our state," said Jeff Tittel. Received on 2010-12-20 14:15:39

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