Hurricane Sandy

New Permit Rules to Aid Coastal Recovery

The rules will streamline rebuilding for homes and businesses along the shore.

New emergency rules filed by the Christie Administration with the Office of Administrative Law and the Department of Environmental Protection will help eliminate recovery red tape by easing permitting restrictions and encouraging coastal reconstruction following Hurricane Sandy, according to NJDEP.  The new rules will streamline state permits for various types of rebuilding projects, which will assist in the recovery and reconstruction of homes and businesses, as well as marinas and shellfish industries. The new rules will also expedite dredging of storm-impacted private lagoons and marinas, helping make coastal areas more resilient to future storms. The rebuilding activities that will benefit from the less intense permitting process are …

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Lacey Residents Call on Township to Address Erosion Along Forked River Beach

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, concerns of erosion have accelerated as the bay closes in on Forked River homes

During Hurricane Sandy, homes along the Forked River Beach were inundated with an ocean that had become one with the Barnegat Bay. Stones designed to prevent beach erosion were lifted and thrown. Concerns that residents had regarding the ever-changing shoreline had become a reality. “Of course in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, these concerns have been accelerated. But we emphasize to the community that even before Sandy, there was a need to better understand and address this issue,” Pat Doyle said during a presentation to the township Committee with Lacey resident Barry Bendar. More than 58 feet of beach have been lost in the last 15 years, said Doyle, who has watched the shoreline erode for years. Nearly 50 percent of the beach has …

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DEP Announces Postponement of Oyster Creek Safety Advisory Panel Meeting

The meeting will be rescheduled at a later date

The Department of Environmental Protection is postponing the Oyster Creek Safety Advisory Panel public meeting that was scheduled for Monday, Nov. 5 due to Hurricane Sandy. The meeting, which was to take place at the Ocean County Administration Building in Toms River, will be rescheduled. When the meeting is held, members of the Oyster Creek Safety Advisory Panel will be available to discuss plant-related matters. The panel was created to assist the DEP with the evaluation of the safe operation and cessation of operations at Oyster Creek, a news release said. The panel consists of DEP Commissioner Bob Martin, Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness Director Edward Dickson and independent consultant Adam Cohen. The closure of Oyster …

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Public Meeting to be Held on Operation and Closure of Oyster Creek

The Monday, Nov. 5 meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Ocean County Administrative Building in Toms River

A public meeting will be held on the safe operation and closure of Oyster Creek Generating Station on Monday, Nov. 5 in Toms River. The meeting, which was announced by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Ocean County Administration Building. Members of the Oyster Creek Safety Advisory Panel will be available to discuss plant-related matters. The panel was created to assist the DEP with the evaluation of the safe operation and cessation of operations at Oyster Creek, a news release said. The panel consists of DEP Commissioner Bob Martin, Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness Director Edward Dickson and independent consultant Adam Cohen. The closure of Oyster Creek was announced …

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NRC to Study Longterm Radioactive Waste Options

Decision comes nearly three months after a federal appeals court threw out a rule that would allow nuclear plants to store radioactive waste on site for up to 60 years after a plant closes

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will be re-evaluating its plan for spent fuel storage with a two-year environmental study after a federal appeals court threw out a rule that would allow nuclear plants, including Oyster Creek Generating Station, to store radioactive waste on site for up to 60 years after a plant shuts down. “Resolving this issue successfully is a Commission priority,” NRC Chairman Allison Macfarlane said in a news release. “Waste confidence plays a core role in many major licensing actions, such as new reactors and license renewals.” The NRC directed the agency’s staff today to develop an environmental impact statement (EIS) and a revised waste confidence decision and rule on the temporary storage of spent nuclear fuel. …

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DEP Investigating Trolley Tours Diesel Spill

Approximately 50 gallons of diesel fuel spilled at Trolley Tours after a bus operator allegedly walked away while pumping a bus

The Department of Environmental Protection is investigating an diesel fuel spill that occurred at Trolley Tours on Monday, spokesperson Larry Ragonese said. The Lacey Township Police Department received a report of a spill at Trolley Tours, located on Old Shore Road, which they confirmed and notified the DEP, he said. “Upon investigation, it was determined that while filling a bus with diesel fuel, the operator walked away and the fill nozzle came out, discharging diesel fuel to the ground,” Ragonese said. “The situation was complicated when personnel from Trolley Tours used a hose to wash the spill into a storm drain.” Trolley Tours, a company that operates tour buses, hired Atlantic Response to clean up the spill, Ragonese said. The …

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EPA Sets Sail on the Barnegat Bay to Measure Water's Health

State agency will continue its testing of the Barnegat Bay as part of Gov. Chris Christie's 10-point plan

Staff of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set out from Southwinds Marina in Forked River Monday to pull water samples from the Barnegat Bay as part of Gov. Chris Christie's 10-point plan to clean up the waterway.  “We are a part of the larger effect that is led by NJDEP,” said Randy Braun, chief of EPA Region 2's monitoring operation section. “The bay is being impacted by development on shore. There is a lot of runoff flowing into the Bay from fertilizer and other chemicals.” Three groups had 13 spots to pull samples from, and all had to be collected between 8 and 10 a.m. so they could see how the entire Bay looked during that time. Samples are tested from the waters surface, as well as along the bottom of the bay. The samples are…

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Letter: The Economic and Environmental Benefits of Recycling

Opinion letter submitted by New Jersey DEP Commissioner Bob Martin

The following letter to the editor was submitted by New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin, who writes about the challenges of recycling in the state. As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the state’s milestone Mandatory Recycling Act this year, it’s time to re-energize the recycling movement in New Jersey and go for the green. Recycling offers environmental benefits and dollars for municipal coffers — a real green win-win if there ever was one for our state. Over the past 25 years recycling has become second nature to many New Jersey residents and businesses. Containers bearing the familiar recycling logo filled with bottles and cans, and bundles of magazines, newspapers and cardboard, placed at …

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Popcorn Park Zoo: Don't Kill the Geese

Township to decide on methods to control geese population at committee meeting on Thursday, Feb. 23

Methods of controlling the township's rising geese population will be discussed before the Township Committee at its 7 p.m. Thursday meeting. Recreation Director James Wioland will present proposals that range from harassment, egg and nest elimination to euthanization, an option that nearby Popcorn Park Zoo hopes isn't realized. “[Killing geese is] really not a good thing to do,” said John Bergmann, general manager of Popcorn Park Zoo, a refuge for animals in need, including geese. “Public outcry is going to be pretty bad also.” Wioland has said he's seen the most success with egg and nest elimination as well as euthanization, where a vendor could capture goslings before they are able to fly and eliminate them. According to a non-…

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JOHNNY Done it

6:04 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Thats great although the lake will have a high bacteral count, & kills off other plants other living things. And the kids or the adults will get a nice rash...Back to square 1   more ›

Final Fish Kill Count Hits 1,800 At Oyster Creek

Power loss caused by offsite breaker failure led to fish kill

The preliminary final fish kill count at Oyster Creek is in, and 1,800 fish have died, said Suzanne D’Ambrosio, spokesperson for Oyster Creek Generating Station. Last week, 300 fish were reported dead after an offsite breaker faulted on Thursday, July 28, leading to a power loss at the dilution structure at the nuclear plant. “No number is usual because we don’t want it to happen,” D’Ambrosio said of the number of fish loss due to the incident. “No number is really acceptable.” The dilution system mixes cool water with clean, warm water, which is then discharged from the plant. The system lost power at about 8 p.m. on Thursday when a JCP&L breaker that feeds the system faulted, D'Ambrosio said. “I really want to emphasize that this was a …

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