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GARDEN STATE ENVIRONEWS 000110
From: mail...@gsenet.org (Phil Reynolds)
Subject: GARDEN STATE ENVIRONEWS 000110
Date: 2000/01/10
Message-ID: <MPG.12e47d1eaf2b205f9896a6@news.nac.net>
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Organization: Garden State EnviroNet
Newsgroups: nj.general
000110
GARDEN STATE ENVIRONEWS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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<*> HISTORIC PLEDGE FOR PORT OF NEW YORK & NEW JERSEY SIGNED
<*> MOBILIZING THE REGION #251
<*> NJ SAVES 1,000 ACRES IN THE DELAWARE BAY WATERSHED
<*> HIGHLANDS PRIORITY AREAS INFORMATION REQUESTED - JAN 18
<*> CLEAN OCEAN ACTION NEWS - JAN 23
<*> WORKSHOP: PASSAIC COUNTY HAZARD PREVENTION LAW - JAN 26
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HISTORIC PLEDGE FOR PORT OF NEW YORK & NEW JERSEY SIGNED
Date: 10 Jan 2000
From: KAREN DELLY {DELLY.KA...@epamail.epa.gov}
Historic Pledge for a Greener and Economically Strong Future at the
Port of New York and New Jersey
Signed by Key Government and Port Agencies
January 10, 2000
New York, NY -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Maritime Administration, the U.S.
Coast Guard and several other state and local agencies have signed a
historic agreement, setting the course for a greener and economically
vital future for the Port of New York and New Jersey. Several key
resource and regulatory agencies, including the Port Authority of New
York and New Jersey, New Jersey Maritime Resources, the Empire State
Development Corporation and the New York City Economic Development
Corporation signed the agreement, formalized in a Memorandum of
Understanding, which calls for the development of a Comprehensive Port
Improvement Plan (CPIP), and an accompanying environmental impact
statement (CPIP-EIS). The CPIP will act as a master plan for the
expansion of the Port in an environmentally protective manner. This
agreement is also the first in the country to bring together this many
federal, state and local agencies to prepare a long-term port
improvement plan that puts environmental protection at the forefront.
One major goal of the CPIP will be to apply "green port" planning
principles to the Port, focusing on limiting potential environmental
impacts, such as runoff and air pollution from truck traffic, as well
as protecting the harbor's aquatic resources.
"The CPIP will lay out a course for preserving the Harbor as a vital
natural resource, while keeping the Port economy healthy," said
William J. Muszynski, EPA Deputy Regional Administrator. "It will
ensure that the Port's surrounding communities will enjoy the benefits
of clean air, water and a healthy environment in the future. Working
together we can assure that our Harbor continues to be recognized
internationally as both a world class port and a rich, productive
ecosystem."
Army Corps of Engineers New York District Engineer Col. William H.
Pearce said, "The purpose of the process set up by the CPIP Memorandum
of Understanding is to ensure that investigation of the environmental
impacts of one terminal's development does not take place without
consideration of the plans for developing other terminals. The CPIP
also ensures that coordination and sharing of information amongst the
various regulatory agencies takes place so that the long-term economic
and environmental aspects of the Port are effectively addressed."
Another central goal of the CPIP will be to coordinate the many
ongoing Port-related studies and plans that have been or are currently
being prepared by the agencies that are part of this new cooperative
process. These ongoing projects include the New York/New Jersey Harbor
Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, developed through
EPA's National Estuary Program; the New York and New Jersey Harbor
Navigation Study, which is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' analysis
of the future need for deeper channels to accommodate the larger
container vessels joining the international fleet; the Strategic Port
Investment Analysis, a study undertaken by the Port Authority, in
cooperation with the states of New York and New Jersey, to determine
what investments are needed in marine terminals and related
infrastructure to maintain and expand the Port's future share of the
international cargo shipping market; and the Strategic Plan for
Redevelopment of the Port of New York, prepared by the New York City
Economic Development Corporation to identify a series of target
investments to develop cargo terminals, as well as improve highway and
rail access and public open space facilities. The CPIP will be the
mechanism through which these and other Port-related plans will be
comprehensively addressed.
As a result of past industrial activities, the Port has suffered
environmental degradation. Using the "green ports" approach, all
potential environmental impacts from future port and nearby
development will be considered, including brownfields redevelopment,
minimizing truck traffic and idling, waterfront aesthetics and dredged
material management.
The plan will be developed over the next three to five years, with
public participation as an integral part of the process. A Stakeholder
Committee will be formed to provide all interested parties an
opportunity to provide input to and share information with the
Steering and Management Committees overseeing the CPIP and CPIP-EIS.
Sixteen additional federal, state and local signatories have been
listed on the agreement and encouraged to sign on as committed
partners to this cooperative effort. The additional agencies are: the
Federal Highway Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, U.S.
Surface Transportation Board, Federal Transit Administration, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection, New Jersey Department of
Transportation, New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation, New York State Department of State, New York State
Department of Transportation, New York City Department of
Environmental Protection, New York City Department of City Planning,
North Jersey Transportation Planning Agency and the New York City
Metropolitan Transportation Council.
# # #
Contact: Mary Helen Cervantes-Gross, (212) 637-3675
Peter Shugert, (212) 264-9114
(#00009)
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
290 Broadway - Region 2
New York, NY 10007-1866
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
New York District
26 Federal Plaza
New York, NY 10278-0090
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MOBILIZING THE REGION #251
Date: 10 Jan 2000
From: Kristen Fountain {t...@tstc.org}
[Excerpt: Full text at http://www.gsenet.org/newsstnd/mobil.htm]
A Weekly Bulletin from the Tri-State Transportation Campaign
Electronic Edition Number 251 anuary 7, 2000
* * *
CITIZENS SOUR ON NJ STATE PLAN
- Doesn't Check the Speed of Sprawl
In results released by the Star-Ledger/Eagleton-Rutgers Poll last
month, New Jerseyans expressed deep disappointment over the the State
Development and Redevelopment Plan. Over 39 percent of respondents
said the Plan, which has been billed as a means to protect remaining
natural areas and boost urban centers, was "not successful," while
just 14 percent called it successful. The State Plan appraisal was the
most negative appraisal of any topic.
Eight years since its formal adoption, faith in the Plan has been
further undermined by new federal statistics showing NJ's farms and
forests are vanishing faster than ever. From 1992-1997, the annual
rate of land lost to development was double the 1982- 1992 rate,
jumping to about 57,000 acres per year. Census figures show that, with
the exception of Jersey City, cities in NJ are losing people: Newark,
Trenton, and East Orange led the state in population loss from
1990-1996. The trends stem from the Plan's lack of means to enforce
more sensible town planning. The State Administration has not even
insisted on strong compliance from state agencies.
The State Plan says state agency investment decisions will be based
on provisions of the State Plan. Transportation spending makes up
about 75 percent of the State's capital budget, and directly
influences land use, so NJ DOT compliance would seem critical to Plan
success. But Plan compliance is considered minimally in DOT capital
program decisions. A proposal to widen Route 1 to accommodate new
office parks was justified as "linking the Centers" of Trenton and New
Brunswick. But the office parks are in open space in South and North
Brunswick townships, not in either city.
As legislators consider a bill to renew the Transportation Trust
Fund, they should fight sprawl more aggressively by mandating adequate
funds up front for infrastructure repair, new transit projects, and
bicycle and pedestrian projects, allowing the State Plan to drive
investments rather than serve as a box to check.
The poll respondents also looked poorly on efforts to move travelers
from cars to mass transit, with only a quarter calling it a success.
Meanwhile, NJ Transit bus and train fleets struggle to keep pace with
steady ridership growth.
* * *
1999 HIGH PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLIST DEATH TOLL
- NJ Safer for Cars, People on Foot Still Die
According to preliminary statistics from 1999, you are now less
likely to die on New Jersey roads - if you're in a car. Overall road
crash deaths were down to 713 last year, a twenty-year record low. But
for people without a capsule of metal and glass around them, New
Jersey remains a dangerous place. Bicycle and pedestrian deaths
dropped by two last year, to 172 - a statistically insignificant
decrease of 1% - that followed an increase of 4% in 1998.
The bike/pedestrian share of total New Jersey traffic deaths grew to
24%.
The news will be unwelcome to Governor Whitman, who has placed road
safety on the front burner of her transportation agenda. In 1998, she
pledged to cut pedestrian deaths in half by 2010, but the state still
has yet to start toward that goal.
Hopefully, the steady pedestrian/bike toll will spur NJDOT to scale
up its popular funding programs for local pedestrian and bicycle
projects. Last year towns overwhelmed the agency by asking for over
$30 million in applications for local pedestrian projects; only $4.7
million was available. Similarly, applications for bicycle projects
totaled 18$ million to be met by a $6.7 million pot. As the
legislature starts debating ways to fund and spend a new
Transportation Trust Fund this spring, it should pay attention to this
clamor for funds.
# # #
MTR#250 Contributing: Charlie Komonoff, Greg Meyer
Editors: Kristen Fountain, Jon Orcutt
Executive Director, Janine Bauer
Tri-State Transportation Campaign
240 West 35th Street #801, New York, NY 10001
tel. (212) 268-7474 fax (212) 268-7333
t...@tstc.org www.tstc.org
Kristen Fountain
Communications Coordinator
Tri-State Transportation Campaign
v: (212) 268 - 7474
f: (212) 268 - 7333
fount...@tstc.org
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NJ SAVES 1,000 ACRES IN THE DELAWARE BAY WATERSHED
Date: 10 Jan 2000
From: J...@njconservation.org (NJCF-Jason Biskup)
THE STATE WE'RE IN
Column by Michele S. Byers, Executive Director
New Jersey Conservation Foundation
January 12, 2000 - Vol. XXX, No. 2
It isn't easy to save a million acres in New Jersey, but the State's
recent purchase of over 1,000 acres in Gloucester and Salem Counties
is a great start!
This is the largest single farmland acquisition in the State's
history. It's also in one of New Jersey's most unique and interesting
areas: the Delaware Bay Watershed (or the "Bayshore").
New Jersey's Delaware Bayshore rivals the eastern shore of Maryland
for its gently rolling and fertile farmlands, small historic
crossroads villages, abundant wildlife and wooded streams, all flowing
into the Delaware Bay.
The Bayshore is also home to the picturesque East Point Lighthouse,
some of the most pristine waters in New Jersey, and a pageant of
shorebird migration seen nowhere else in the world. It's also the
"vegetable bin" of New Jersey' s farm production. All together, this
wonderful region has been called New Jersey's last frontier.
My colleague Don Kirchhoffer, manager of New Jersey Conservation
Foundation' s (NJCF's) Delaware Bay Watershed Project, commented on
the State's recent land purchase in the New York Times: "This
industrial and residential sprawl is going on like a lava flow down
Gloucester County, and this farmland preservation is one way to stop
it."
The State's acquisition of 1,064 acres is mostly in Elk and Franklin
Townships in the southeastern Gloucester County, as well as in Upper
Pittsgrove Township in Salem County. Of New Jersey's 800,000-plus
acres of farmland, only about 60,000 have been preserved so far.
Gloucester County itself has nearly 60,000 acres of farmland, which is
predominantly unprotected. Gloucester is also one of the fastest
growing counties in the state, in part due to new highways like Route
55 (which goes through this area), and expansions of existing highways
like Routes 295 and 322.
Fortunately, New Jersey has targeted farmland preservation as the
single largest component of its million-acre land preservation goal.
New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Art Brown, a staunch advocate of
saving New Jersey farms, was also quoted in the New York Times, saying
"You've got to remember that New Jersey is the most densely populated
state in the nation, so open space is extremely important. They call
it the Garden State and we're going to keep it that way."
While many groups and agencies are working to protect the coastline
of the Delaware Bayshore, NJCF's Delaware Bay Watershed project
targets the region' s inland forests and farms. Experience elsewhere
in New Jersey has shown us that development of these inland areas will
also impair the beauty of the coast, water quality, and the quality of
life for its residents.
In 1998 we published Charting a Course for the Delaware Bay Watershed
(available from NJCF). It serves as a "greenprint" for conservation
work in the Bayshore.
Several nonprofit groups have received monies from the Garden State
Preservation Trust - which could total up to $1 million - to save
lands in the "Burden Hill" area of Salem County, which is just
Southeast of this State purchase.
All of us will be working hard to save lands in the Delaware
Bayshore. It takes a village to save one million acres!
If you, your group or your municipal government would like to join
efforts to save lands in the Delaware Bay Watershed, or to book our
inspiring slide show about land preservation in the region, you can
contact Don Kirchhoffer at 609-268-2226, or d...@njconservation.org
{mailto:d...@njconservation.org}.
# # #
This column is for use in nondaily newspapers only. Please credit
Michele S. Byers and the New Jersey Conservation Foundation.
New Jersey Conservation Foundation
Bamboo Brook
170 Longview Road
Far Hills, NJ 07931
(908)234-1225
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HIGHLANDS PRIORITY AREAS INFORMATION REQUESTED - JAN 18
Date: 10 Jan 2000
From: wi...@njconservation.org (NJCF-Wilma)
I am collecting information for our listing of acquisition and
priority areas in the Highlands for our Coalition meeting next
Tuesday, Jan. 18. Please sent me stuff - via fax, mail or email - ASAP
!!
We would like to know priorities and target areas or parcels you may
have as an organizational priority, or know of. Please try to provide
maps or graphic materials if possible.
Here is a list of the categories on the list:
Starred items are perhaps most important for the initial list, but we
will want to have information on important features or resources
values as well.
*PROJECT NAME (project may consist of a number of parcels)
*CRITICAL TREASURE IN WHICH IT IS LOCATED (Current Treasures include:
Ramapo Mountains, Wyanokie Highlands, Pequannock Watershed,
Pochuk/Wallkill Area, Farny Highlands, Sparta Mountain Greenway,
Pequest Valley/Jenny Jump, Scott's Mountain, Musconetcong Valley and
Ridges (watershed), South Branch of the Raritan River Watershed,
Morris Canal, Upper Passaic Watershed, North Branch Watershed/Black
River Greenway.)
*MUNICIPALITY *COUNTY NAME OF TRACT *LOCATION (roads) *BLOCK AND LOT
*ACREAGE *COST
Description of Area:
WATER RESOURCES
LAND COVER TYPE
BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
GEOLOGICAL/SOIL RESOURCES
RECREATIONAL RESOURCES
HISTORIC/CULTURAL
SCENIC RESOURCES
PLANNING STATUS
DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE
*ADJACENT CONSERVATION LANDS
CONSERVATION STATUS
MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
LANDOWNER INFORMATION
*CONTACT PERSONS
*PROJECT PARTNERS
COMMENTS
My fax number is (908) 234-1189
Phone Number is (908) 234 -1225
My mailing address is Highlands Coalition, Bamboo Brook, 170 Longview
Road, Far Hills, NJ 07931.
Thanks for your help and cooperation. (And thanks to those who have
already provided information.) Wilma Frey
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CLEAN OCEAN ACTION NEWS - JAN 23
Date: 10 Jan 2000
From: Savthe...@aol.com
[Excerpt: Full text at http://www.gsenet.org/newsstnd/savebay.htm]
GETTING IT CLEAN, KEEPING IT GREEN
# # #
COA NEWS
Hi Folks--sorry about this brief request, but I'm fighting the flu
and working to get out of the office ASAP.
Surfrider Foundation, NJ Chapter, will be holding a protest
paddle-out on Sunday, Jan. 23 at 1 pm. A couple members would like to
join protest near the beach by paddling from the HARS to the beach (4
miles approximately). Those members need boat support. Could anyone
(and their boat) help out on this day to provide safety support for
these paddlers? If so, please contact George Browne at
Geobro...@email.msn.com or call 269-7679.
Thanks.
Kristen Milligan, COA
* * *
Clean Ocean Action has an instructors packet on how to use the
January 24th Public Hearing on ocean dumping as a teaching tool. Call
732-872-0111, e-mail: milli...@monmouth.com or get info from the COA
website at www.cleanoceanaction.org
Definite table locations for our "Don't Dump on NJ" Public Outcry day
on Jan. 22. So far, we have: . PathMark, Route 35 at Allaire Rd, Wall
Twp. (Clearwater) . Foodtown, Route 36, West Long Branch (Clearwater)
. Jenkinson's Aquarium, Boardwalk, Point Pleasant Beach (NJ Garden
Clubs) Call COA if you have time to volunteer, or would like to set up
a table of your own.
# # #
You have received this message because you expressed an interest, or
someone sent us your e-mail address to the GETTING IT GREEN, KEEPING
IT GREEN list, and our efforts to keep bay's, rivers and waterways
"clean, and alive." Of course, being on this list is FREE and
CONFIDENTIAL - we even send "blind copies" to hide all the names. You
can remove yourself from it or join it at any time by sending a
SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE message to {savthe...@aol.com}.
Save the Bay
50 Washington Ave.
Keansburg NJ 07734
Fax 732-787-5591
Savthe...@aol.com
732-787-5591
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WORKSHOP: PASSAIC COUNTY HAZARD PREVENTION LAW - JAN 26
Date: 10 Jan 2000
From: "Dennis W. Schvejda" {dschve...@igc.org}
[forward]
HELP PREVENT TOXIC HAZARDS IN THE WORKPLACE & COMMUNITY!
From:
Rick Engler, Director
NJ Work Environment Council
[rickeng...@aol.com]
COME TO A WORKSHOP ON PASSAIC COUNTY'S NEW HAZARD PREVENTION LAW
When: Wednesday, January 26, 6:30 pm
Where: Paterson Museum - 2 Market St. Paterson, NJ
Toxic chemical releases in the last two years at Heterene, Morton,
Brown, CCP, Daicolor-Pope, PF Labs, and other area companies have
exposed workers, school children, and entire neighborhoods to
potential health and safety hazards.
Now, a new county law gives citizens a tool to help them prevent
toxic hazards. If there is a concern about a particular facility,
citizens can petition the County Health Office to arrange a meeting
with facility management and neighbors to discuss hazards. And, in
some circumstances, petitioners can go with the County Health Officer
on worksite surveys.
This workshop will inform you of your rights to prevent toxic hazards
and how to use the law. We'll also discuss concerns about specific
facilities. Come -- and bring neighbors and co-workers!
Sponsored By:
* Paterson Task Force for Community Action
* Warren Street Block Association
* Passaic County Labor Council, AFL-CIO
* NJ Work Environment Council Hazards Watch Committee
To Register or For More Information, call
Ted Carrington at (973) 279-2333
Preliminary Agenda
6:00 - Light Refreshments
6:30 - Welcome & Introductions
Rev. Ronald Tuff, Executive Director, Paterson Task Force for
Community Action
Mike Kinsora, President, Passaic County Labor Council, AFL-CIO
6:40 - The New Passaic County Neighborhood Hazard Prevention Law
Ted Carrington, Field Organizer, Passaic County Hazards Watch, a
Chapter of the NJ Work Environment Council
6:50 - Speak-Out!
Speak to your concerns about toxic or other environmental or job
hazards in your neighborhood or workplace.
7:30 - Panel Discussion & Questions
John Ferraioli, Passaic County Health Officer (invited)
Rick Engler, Director, NJ Work Environment Council
8:10 - Lets Take Action!
Ted Carrington
8:30 - Adjourn
Directions to the Paterson Museum
From the East: Route 80 West to Exit 57 B-A. Follow signs to downtown
Paterson to 2nd traffic light. Make left onto Cianci St. At next
light, make left onto Market St. The Museum is the last building on
the left side.
From the West: Route 80 East to Exit 57B - Route 19 "Downtown
Paterson." Follow signs to Grand Street, make left off exit onto Grand
Street. At first light, make right onto Spruce St. At next light make
right onto Market St and make first right into parking lot.
From the North: Garden State Pkway to Exit 160. Follow to Rt. 80 West.
Follow directions From East above.
From the South: Garden State Parkway North to Exit 155 P (a left lane
exit). Exit to Route 19 North, which takes you to the "Downtown
Paterson, Grand St. Exit. Then follow same directions as from the
West.
Pull into parking lot with locomotives out front.
Thanks to the Educational Foundation of America, Paterson Task Force
for Community Action, Passaic County Labor Council-AFL-CIO, & the
Warren St. Block Association for making this program possible.
# # #
Dennis W. Schvejda
Conservation Chair
NJ Chapter Sierra Club
Visit our web site... http://sierraactivist.org
Subscribe to our mailing list...
http://SierraActivistUpdate.listbot.com/
or send a message to: SierraActivistUpdate-subscr...@listbot.com
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Back issues of the Garden State EnviroNews are available at
http://www.gsenet.org/library/11gsn/11gsn.htm
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