| DEP
CLOSES SALEM RIVER WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA TO WATERFOWL
HUNTING AND ISSUES WATERFOWL ADVISORY
(04/142) TRENTON -- The Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) announced today that the Salem River Wildlife
Management Area is closed to all waterfowl hunting to prevent
birds from being driven out of inland resting and roosting
areas into portions of the Delaware River that may be contaminated
with oil.
Today's closure will reduce the potential for birds to
be exposed to oil contamination as waterfowl activity increases
along the river due to winter migration.
DEP is currently working with the United States Coast Guard
and other federal and state agencies to contain and clean-up
a spill that occurred on November 26 when an oil tanker,
the ATHOS I, released an undetermined amount of
crude oil into the Delaware River while attempting to dock
at the Citgo Petroleum Corporation terminal in West Deptford
Township. The spill has now impacted more than 120 miles
of shoreline.
The closure will remain in effect until further notice.
In addition to the closure of Salem Wildlife Management
Area, New Jersey hunters are asked to refrain from hunting
in the area from the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge east on Route
74 to the junction with the New Jersey Turnpike. South on
the NJ Turnpike to the junction with Route 322. East on
Route 322 to Route 45. South on Route 45 to Route 581. South
on Route 581 to Route 49. East on Route 49 to Route 654.
Route 654 west to Route 651. Route 651 to Route 623. Left
on Route 623 to Route 658. Right on Route 658 straight onto
Alloway Creek Neck Road to the Salem Nuclear Power Plant.
To report areas affected by oil from the ATHOS I
incident, call 267-765-3439.
To report oiled animals affected by the spill, call the
John Heinz Wildlife Refuge at 215-365-1558
or contact Tri-State Bird Rescue at 302-737-9543.
Hunters should continue to be on the lookout for oiled
birds and report all observations to 215-365-1558.
To learn more about the oil spill, visit DEP's Web site
at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/oilspill.htm
or the United State Coast Guard's Web site at www.incidentinfo.com.
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