| DEP KEEPS AN EYE ON NEW
JERSEY BEACHES
(04/59) TRENTON - Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) Deputy Commissioner Joanna
Dunn Samson announced DEP's annual Cooperative Coastal Monitoring
Program is now under way and will continue through Sept.
6. During the summer, DEP and local environmental health
agencies routinely monitor recreational beach water quality
at ocean and bay stations along the New Jersey coast.
"Summertime is a perfect time to enjoy New Jersey's
famous shore. As millions of residents already know, the
best vacations are those spent 'down the shore.' If you
aren't lucky enough to live here, we invite you to visit
our beautiful beaches and find out why the Jersey shore
is one of the best-loved places in the world," Samson
said.
Under the Cooperative Coastal Monitoring Program, DEP and
local health agencies assess beach water quality by collecting
and analyzing samples each week from 186 ocean and 139 bay
monitoring stations.
As part of the monitoring program, the DEP performs aerial
surveillance of New Jersey's coast, nearshore coastal waters
and the Hudson-Raritan estuaries six days a week. The program
is administered by the DEP, the New Jersey Department of
Health and Senior Services and local environmental health
agencies.
Supported by federal funding, the monitoring program also
receives $200,000 annually from sales of the popular "Shore
to Please" motor vehicle license plates.
Earlier this year, New Jersey demonstrated Governor James
E. McGreevey's commitment to cleaner water and a healthier
ocean by adopting comprehensive stormwater regulations that
represent the nation's strongest water-quality standards.
This summer, New Jersey is using a new bacterial indicator
to test the quality of New Jersey's marine waters. The switch
to enterococcus from fecal coliform became effective in
April, as mandated by the BEACH Act of 2000. The law required
New Jersey and other states with coastal recreational beaches
to adopt revised ocean water-quality standards.
The revised standard (104 enterococci per 100 milliliters
of water) is based on scientific studies that showed enterococci
are best suited for predicting the presence of pathogens
that can cause illness. Because enterococci are more persistent
in the environment than fecal coliform, low enterococci
counts signify cleaner water.
The DEP and local environmental agencies use coastal monitoring
information to determine the water quality of ocean and
bay recreational beaches. Local health and enforcement agencies
may close beaches at any time to protect the public's health
and safety.
"Protecting water quality and public health and ensuring
public access to New Jersey's beaches are among the DEP's
highest priorities," Samson said.
In a May 20 ruling, the New Jersey Appellate Division of
the Superior Court upheld the DEP's decision to protect
the public's right to access beach areas. The ruling determined
that Lower Township (Cape May County) residents have the
right to walk on sand owned by a private beach club to gain
access to the ocean. The justices in this case also authorized
DEP to determine appropriate fees for beach access at the
site.
Further, the ruling affirmed the Public Trust Doctrine,
which provides that public lands, waters, and living resources
are held in trust by the government for the benefit of its
citizens. As owners of the state's natural resources, citizens
have the right of access to these waters and lands, and
polluters and developers cannot legally deny access either
through environmental degradation or by asserting private
property rights.
The public can get the latest, most accurate information
on beach water quality by calling (800) 648-SAND or by visiting
njbeaches.org
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