FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2005

Contact: Alescia Marie Teel
(609) 984-1795

DEP Offers Workshops About Public Access Issues Along New Jersey's Shoreline

(05/37) TRENTON - Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell today announced the first in a series of workshops being offered to local and county officials to explain public access issues along the shorelines of New Jersey's oceans, bays and coastal rivers. The workshops will focus on the Public Trust Doctrine and provide practical steps to promote access to the state's coastal resources.

"These workshops will strengthen protection of and access to New Jersey's waters and shoreline for residents and visitors alike," said Commissioner Campbell. "The people of New Jersey will continue to have adequate access to New Jersey's natural treasures as a basic right afforded to all under the Public Trust Doctrine."

The first workshop will be held tomorrow Thursday, April 14 at the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission in the conference room from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Guest speakers include representatives from the NY/NJ Baykeeper and representatives from the DEP Coastal Management Office.

The workshops will enhance knowledge of public access issues including the Public Trust Doctrine. Participants will get expert information about public access to New Jersey's waters for navigation, commerce, fishing and recreational uses including swimming and sunbathing along the coastline. The workshop will present practical methods local governments can use to enhance coastal public access such as inventories of all known access points and establishing local ordinances or laws to protect such access points.

The Public Trust Doctrine establishes the right of the public to fully use land, water, air and the natural resources for a variety of public uses. The scope of the Public Trust Doctrine has been expanded to include environmental protection and recreational uses.

New Jersey has 127 miles of Atlantic coastline and 83 miles of shoreline along the Delaware and Raritan Bays (in addition to tidal waters). The entire population of New Jersey is living within 50 miles of the coastline, yet traditional access ways are being restricted and lost while public demand steadily increases with New Jersey's population density at more than 1,100 people per square mile.

For more information on New Jersey's coasts visit nj.gov/dep/cmp

County and municipal officials, environmental commissions, municipal planners and engineers are encouraged to attend the free workshops. All workshops will run from 10 a.m.- 2:20 p.m.

The schedule of future workshops follows:

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