| DEP FINES
OCEAN BEACH & BAY CLUB III $12,500 FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE
PUBLIC ACCESS TO DOVER TOWNSHIP BEACHES
(05/110) TRENTON -- Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell today
announced that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
fined Ocean Beach & Bay Club III of Dover Township $12,500
for refusing public access to the beach area adjacent to its property.
The club is required, under its state permit, to allow members
of the public access to the beach after charging a reasonable
fee for services provided such as trash removal, lifeguard services
and bathroom facilities.
"DEP's enforcement action against Ocean Beach & Bay
Club III highlights the public's right to enjoy New Jersey's beaches,"
said Commissioner Campbell. "DEP has initiated aggressive
permitting and enforcement efforts to make private entities aware
of their responsibility to provide New Jersey citizens full access
to one of the state's most treasured resources, its beaches."
DEP received a complaint from a person to whom the Ocean Beach
& Bay Club III refused to sell a beach badge on the basis
that the person was not a club member or renter. DEP responded
to the complaint by investigating the beach badge sales process.
A DEP investigator on June 9 attempted to purchase a beach badge
at the Ocean Beach & Bay Club III. Club personnel refused
to provide the badge because the investigator indicated that she
was not a club member or renter.
Ocean Beach & Bay Club III violated its Coastal Area Facilities
Review Act (CAFRA) permit by refusing to sell a beach badge to
DEP's investigator. DEP on July 28 ordered Ocean Beach & Bay
Club III to pay the $12,500 penalty and immediately comply with
its CAFRA permit by allowing public access to the beach through
the club.
Ocean Beach & Bay Club III may request an adminsitrative
hearing to contest the penalty issued by DEP.
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