With the long, hot days of summer before us, the unhealthful levels of outdoor ozone, also called smog, are set to return. Ozone, a pollutant formed in the outside air from other pollutants, is a problem for New Jersey and the entire northeastern United States. A strong respiratory irritant, it can bring on asthma attacks and be potentially deadly to sensitive members of the population.

If you or a loved one suffer from asthma or other breathing issues, a free and easy service is available to you so that you can know when unhealthy air quality is forecasted in the county or State where you live or work. Knowing when the air quality will be bad in your area can help you to limit your daily activities to avoid unnecessary activities that will expose you to high levels of ozone, particulate, or other air pollutants. The completely free service from the USEPA, called Enviroflash, will send a daily e-mail message to your computer or smart-phone so you can instantly know the forecasted air quality in your area and take appropriate precautions.

You and your loved ones can easily sign up for EnviroFlash so that they can make informed decisions about your outdoor activities and reduce your exposure to air pollution.

Sign up now to receive local air forecasts at http://www.enviroflash.info/signup.cfm.

For detailed information on New Jersey's air quality, please visit http://www.njaqinow.net.

To obtain information on air quality nationwide, please visit http://www.airnow.gov/.

CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION ENCOURAGES PUBLIC TO ENJOY OUTDOORS IN CELEBRATION OF GREAT OUTDOORS MONTH AND NATIONAL TRAILS DAY
DEP COORDINATING TRAIL CLEANUPS AND MANY OTHER EVENTS TO HIGHLIGHT IMPORTANCE OF PARKS AND FORESTS AFTER SANDY

The Christie Administration is encouraging the public to connect with the outdoors in June by visiting a state park, participating in a free fishing day or hitting the trail as part of New Jersey's dual celebration of Great Outdoors Month and National Trails Day, celebrations made even more important this year because of Superstorm Sandy.

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is coordinating post-Sandy trail cleanup projects and family hikes this Saturday as part of National Trails Day, and has planned numerous other events at state parks, forests and historic sites throughout June in conjunction with Great Outdoors Month. The events highlight the importance of the outdoors to the public after Superstorm Sandy.

"Our state parks and forests have been entertaining record numbers of visitors for years. We worked very hard to restore and reopen all of New Jersey's parks, forests and historic sites as quickly as possible following this historic storm," said DEP Commissioner Bob Martin. "We still have some work to do, but all are now open and ready for your enjoyment. Now is a great time to get out and enjoy these natural resources that are so important to all of us and appreciate them even more after all our state has been through these past seven months."

The DEP's Division of Parks and Forestry and Division of Fish and Wildlife are coordinating diverse family-friendly outdoors events and programs throughout the month, including nature and history programs, kayak eco-tours, scouting badge programs, hikes, guided tours of historic sites, bird walks, post-Sandy volunteer trail maintenance programs, astronomy programs and much more.

In conjunction with Great Outdoors Month, the DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife will also host Free Fishing Days statewide on June 15 and 16. No license or trout stamp will be needed for freshwater fishing on these days. Licenses are normally required for those ages 16 or older. For a complete day-by-day listing, visit: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/calendar/june.html#one

For additional information on Free Fishing Days visit: http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/

National Trails Day on Saturday features trail events throughout the state, including cleanup projects on some trails that were impacted by downed trees and limbs during the storm.

After Superstorm Sandy, many state parks in the north and coastal regions - including Stokes State Forest in Branchville, Kittatinny Valley State Park in Andover, Hacklebarney State Park in Long Valley, Cheesequake State Park in Matawan and Double Trouble State Park in Berkeley - sustained damage to trail areas due to downed trees.

While some trails remain closed or required re-routing, most have been cleared by park staff and contractors for safe and enjoyable hiking, walking, jogging, cycling, horseback riding or nature observation. For advisories on parks and forest that remain impacted by Sandy, visit: www.njparksandforests.org/

"We have worked very hard to get our trails back to where they were before Superstorm Sandy, and continue to make progress in those parks that remain affected," said Richard Boornazian, DEP Assistant Commissioner for Natural and Historic Resources. "We're anticipating a great hiking season in our parks this year."

National Trails Day highlights include:
o Post-Sandy trail cleanup and maintenance at Cheesequake State Park in Middlesex County.
o A 12-mile horseback riding trip through High Point State Park in Sussex County.
o A volunteer clean-up project at the State Line Lookout in Bergen County.
o A ground-breaking for a new trail at Scott's Corner Conservation Area in Middlesex County.
o A 6-mile mountain bike adventure in Wharton State Forest in Burlington County.
o A volunteer service project at Bass River State Forest in Ocean County
o Trail education and improvements at Croft Farm in Cherry Hill in Camden County.

For a complete list of National Trails Day activities and events, visit: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/natural/trail_day.htm

As an initiative of the American Hiking Society, National Trails Day was first celebrated in 1993 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the National Trails System Act. It is now an annual event that recognizes and promotes the many benefits of trails, whether they provide health and fitness opportunities, nature study or links to our historic paths.

The yearly celebration is also designed to give the public an understanding of the importance of trails and what's needed to establish, preserve and maintain them throughout the year.

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Award Honors Schools and Districts for Reducing Environmental Impact and Costs; Improving Health; and Offering Environmental Education

Chair of White House Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley and Acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Bob Persiacepe joined U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today to announce the second annual U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools award honorees. 

 Sixty-four schools were honored for their exemplary efforts to reduce environmental impact and utility costs, promote better health, and ensure effective environmental education, including civics and green career pathways. In addition, 14 districts were honored for the first-ever District Sustainability Award.  Duncan, Persiacepe, and Sutley made the announcement at Mundo Verde Bilingual Public Charter School, in Washington, DC, one of the 2013 honored schools.

The schools were confirmed from a pool of candidates voluntarily nominated by 32 state education agencies.   The list of selectees includes 54 public schools and 10 private schools. The public schools include seven charter, five magnet and four career and technical schools. The schools serve various grade levels, including 40 elementary, 23 middle and 19 high schools are among them, with several schools having various K-12 configurations, from 29 states and the District of Columbia.  Over half of the 2013 honorees serve a student body more than 40 percent of which is eligible for free and reduced price lunch.  The list of all selected schools and districts, as well as their nomination packages, can be found here.  A report with highlights on the 78 honorees can be found here.

“Today’s honorees are modeling a comprehensive approach to being green,” said Secretary Duncan. “They are demonstrating ways schools can simultaneously cut costs; improve health, performance and equity; and provide an education geared toward the jobs of the future. In fact, the selected districts are saving millions of dollars as a result of their greening efforts. And the great thing is that the resources these honorees are using are available for free to all schools."

“Preparing students for success in the 21st century economy begins in our schools. The schools and districts being honored today are modeling the best practices in reducing environmental impact and cutting costs, creating a healthier learning environment, and providing students with an education geared toward the jobs of the future,” said Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley.

"EPA is proud to join the Department of Education in recognizing our nation's U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools for their remarkable efforts to create healthier learning spaces and educate students on the importance of environmental protection," said EPA Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe. "U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools are not only cutting costs thanks to energy-saving practices and use of more efficient technology, but they're also reducing instances of pollution-related illnesses like asthma, a leading cause of student absence. The students who attend these schools are better prepared than ever to become the next generation of environmental stewards and bring about a healthier, more sustainable future."

The Department is looking forward to a third year of award, and will be publishing updated competition criteria this summer, once again working closely with participating states, collaborating organizations and partner agencies.  State education agencies are encouraged to indicate intent to nominate schools in 2014 by August 1, 2013.

More information on the federal recognition award can be found here.  Resources for all schools to move toward the three Pillars in which the 2013 honorees are exemplary can be found here.

New Jersey

• Bedwell Elementary School, Bernardsville, NJ

• Summerfield Elementary School, Neptune, NJ

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Full season of fun, educational, active programming is ready to roll

Hackensack Riverkeeper is happy to announce the release of its 2013 Eco-Programs schedule. Once again the clean water advocacy group is poised to provide thousands of people with an up-close and personal experience of the river, its watershed and wildlife. Eco-Cruises, Guided Paddles, River Cleanups and Bird-Walks combine hands-on environmental education with public service and fun – and have since 1997. The 2013 Eco-Program season runs from Earth Day weekend (April 20-21) through the end of October.

“We were very fortunate in that Hurricane Sandy caused us very little damage,” said Captain Bill Sheehan. “We hauled and secured our pontoon boats before the storm hit; and our Paddling Center made it through alright. Captain Hugh and I are very anxious to get out on the water and see what changes – if any – there are on the river and in the Meadowlands.”

Hackensack Riverkeeper offers four unique and distinct Eco-Programs:

Eco-Cruises  This is Hackensack Riverkeeper’s signature environmental education program. Thirty-eight Open Eco-Cruises are scheduled from May 4 through October 13 aboard the pontoon cruisers Edward Abbey and Robert H. Boyle. Open trips are great for individuals, couples and families and can be had for a donation of $25 per person for adults / $10 for kids 4-12. Three distinct Eco-Cruise itineraries are offered: Meadowlands Discovery, which explores the wetlands & creeks of the river’s estuary; Boating through Bergen, which runs upriver to the center of Hackensack and the museum ship USS Ling; and Excursion Around the Bay, a maritime history tour to Staten Island and back past the port facilities of Newark and Elizabeth.

Charter Eco-Cruises can be arranged for groups of up to 26 people for any available date/time May 1 through October 28. Hackensack Riverkeeper asks a donation of $300 per boat for Adult Charter Eco-Cruises and $250 for Youth Charters. Half-day Combo Programs are also available for schools. Those interested can call Program Director Captain Hugh Carola at 201-968-0808 for more info or to book a trip. Open Eco-Cruise dates/times are not available for charters.

Paddling Center  Hackensack Riverkeeper’s Paddling Center, located on the river at Laurel Hill County Park in Secaucus, NJ will be open weekends April 20 through October 28 weather permitting. The Center offers canoe & kayak rentals ($25 per paddler w/ a 2-paddler minimum) as well as Guided Paddles conducted by manager John Sailer and his team. Twenty-two tours are scheduled including five popular Full Moon paddles. Costs: $30 per paddler / $15 per paddler for those their own boat(s). Private Group Paddle tours at reasonable rates can be arranged by calling Capt. Hugh at 201-968-0808 or e-mailing hugh@hackensackriverkeeper.org. 

In addition to Paddling Center events, Hackensack Riverkeeper’s 5^th Annual Reservoir Challenge takes place Saturday, June 1 at Oradell Reservoir; the 3^rd Annual Lake Tappan Paddle Day is set for Saturday, August 10; and the 3^rd Annual SPLASH event takes to the water at Overpeck Park in Teaneck on September 7. Call 201-968-0808 for details or go to: www.hackensackriverkeeper.org.

River Cleanups These active conservation events, which give people the opportunity to give back to the environment, take on additional meaning this year in our post-Sandy world. River Cleanups are scheduled at eight different waterside locations within the Hackensack River Watershed from April 13 through October 20. Hackensack Riverkeeper provides cleanup tools and supplies as well as refreshments for all volunteers. All they ask is that everyone pitch in and help rid local waterways of litter and other debris. For more information about River Cleanups including group participation and the organization’s Corporate River Stewardship Program, call Events and Outreach Coordinator Sarah Menchise at 201-968-0808 or e-mail her at Sarah@HackensackRiverkeeper.org.

Bird-Walks For groups interested in birding and bird study, Captain Hugh Carola is available to lead Bird-Walks or hawk watches at local birding hotspots within the Hackensack River Watershed region. For more information, including itinerary options, call 201-968-0808. Costs: $150-$200 depending on location and duration of trip; for up to 12 people.

Indoor Presentations  Captains Bill Sheehan and Hugh Carola are available to conduct multimedia presentations to groups of any size at any date and time. They have a wealth of materials including PowerPoint slideshows and video screenings that are appropriate for all age groups. Presenters will be sure to bring informational literature for all attendees. Costs: $150 if presented within the Bergen, Hudson, southern Rockland, eastern Passaic or greater Newark areas; $200 - $300 if presented further afield. Call 201-968-0808 for more information.

“All of us at Hackensack Riverkeeper are looking forward to a great new season on and about the water,” said Program Director Captain Hugh Carola. “You can do, you can learn, you can work out, or you can just sit back and let the boat and your captain do all the work; but whatever you prefer, we know that you’ll go home with a new appreciation of your Hackensack River.”

All Hackensack Riverkeeper Eco-Program info including schedules is available at www.hackensackriverkeeper.org.

Founded in 1997 by Captain Bill Sheehan, Hackensack Riverkeeper is the leading environmental organization working on Hackensack River issues. A founding member of the internationalWaterkeeper Alliance, the group engages in a four-point clean water strategy (Action, Advocacy, Education and Litigation) in its ongoing work to protect, preserve and restore the Hackensack River. Eco-Programs focus on environmental action and education.

CHRISTIE ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHES ONLINE AND CENTRALIZED CALL-IN RESERVATION SYSTEM FOR CAMPING AND CABINS IN STATE PARKS AND FORESTS

(13/P19) TRENTON - As part of its commitment to improving services for visitors, the State Park Service within the Department of Environmental Protection has launched a new centralized online and telephone reservation system for campsites and cabins in New Jersey's state parks and forests.

"You can now search for campsites and cabins and make reservations 24 hours a day, every day of the year," said Richard Boornazian, DEP Assistant Commissioner for Natural and Historic Resources. "This new system makes it much easier than ever for residents and visitors to plan that perfect outdoor getaway and make the most of their vacation."

The new system is being operated through ReserveAmerica, a leading provider of campground reservations for state and federal park systems across the nation.

Reservations can be made by visiting http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/ and clicking on the green Reservations tab on the top left of the page.

You may also call the reservation call center at 855-607-3075. From April 1 through Oct. 31, the call center will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Beginning Nov. 1 through March 31, 2014, the call center will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and will be closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

The New Jersey State Park System encompasses 440,000 acres in all 21 counties, and includes more than 50 historic sites, historic battlefields and villages, and 39 active recreation areas with year-round operations. The park system also boasts more than 500 miles of hiking and riding trails and 10 miles of ocean beaches. Many of the parks offer camping and cabin-rental opportunities in areas with stunning scenery.

All State Parks and Forests are now reopened or partially reopened following Superstorm Sandy and most camping and cabin services have been restored, with the exception of all camping areas at Round Valley Recreation Area and Cheesequake State Park and one of the camping areas at Allaire State Park. The goal is to reopen these camping areas by early summer.

Hosted on ReserveAmerica.com, a media property of Active Network, the new reservation system eliminates the paper-based camping reservation system and the need to call individual parks to make a reservation. This will create significant efficiencies for park staff and is consistent with the Governor's Park Sustainability Plan, which is working to make the park system more self-sustaining.

"Visitors can be assured that they will still get the same top-notch camping experience and service from park staff when they arrive at their destination," State Park Service Director Mark Texel said. "Our staff is dedicated to providing you with an enjoyable and safe visit."

In addition to the convenience of searching for sites with the click of a mouse or swipe of a touchscreen, users can use photos and maps to find the perfect destination.

To get even more out of your getaway planning, the DEP offers Pocket Ranger, a free mobile phone application that provides a wealth of useful information about the state's parks, forests, historic sites and wildlife management areas. The application is available for both Apple and Android mobile devices. Visit www.StateParkApps.com for more information.

Pocket Ranger has social networking capabilities and provides an advanced map-caching feature that allows users to continue to navigate even if mobile service is lost. In addition, advanced GPS technology allows hikers to keep track of where they are and how far they've hiked. The same technology enables hunters and anglers to mark favorite hunting spots and fishing holes.

If you are a frequent visitor to the parks, you can purchase an Annual State Park Pass. The park allows frequent visitors to enjoy all that New Jersey's parks and forest have to offer at what can amount to a significant savings. The cost is $50 for state residents and $75 if you live outside of New Jersey.

The Annual State Park Pass can be purchased at any New Jersey State Park or Forest office or by mail through the Trenton Central Office. For information, visit: http://www.njparksandforests.org/parks/feeschedule.htm#pass

To connect with New Jersey's parks on Facebook, visit: https://www.facebook.com/NewJerseyStateParks

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Web-based Resource to Exchange Reusable Items, Reduce Waste, Capture Value and Save Money for Businesses and Institutions in the State

In conjunction with six other northeastern states, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection announced New Jersey's participation in the newly launched Reuse Marketplace, a web-based resource aimed at exchanging reusable items, reducing waste, saving money and capturing value of excess or unwanted items by finding new owners for these products, equipment or materials.

Reuse Marketplace (www.ReuseMarketplace.org) is a free regional website that can be tapped by businesses, municipalities, school districts and other institutions and non-profit organizations for posting or obtaining reusable, surplus or barely used materials.

"Reuse is an environmental and economic tool that keeps goods and materials out of the waste stream,'' said Jane Kozinski, DEP Assistant Commissioner of Environmental Management. "It can be effective in reducing air and water pollution, and reducing the strain on valuable resources, such as fuel, forests and water supplies, which helps safeguard wildlife habitats. It also can help reduce the amount of trash disposed of annually and cut disposal costs.''

Participating states include New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. Participating businesses include All American Waste, Casella Waste Systems, Global Plastics Recycling, GreenCycle, Harvest Power, Wheelabrator Technologies, and Willimantic Waste Paper Company.

Reuse members create free accounts and post listings for available items. They also may post detailed wanted listings, specifying the type(s) of items they need. While anyone can browse and access posted items, only members can post items to offer. Actual exchange transactions are carried out directly between interested parties.

The Marketplace includes more than 30 categories of items ranging from agricultural to textiles, plus some 60 related subcategories. Items currently on offer at the site -- to buy, sell, trade or give away -- include slate roofing tiles, overhead garage doors, televisions, office supplies, clean fill, and even a modular medical building, among many others.

The Reuse Marketplace site administrator is the Northeast Recycling Council (www.nerc.org), a regional non-profit group dedicated to an environmentally sustainable economy through source reduction, reuse, recycling and green purchasing. The Council is responsible for reviewing site membership requests and all listings prior to having them posted.

For more information or to participate in the program call 609-984-3438 or 802-254-3636, or email to steven.rinaldi@dep.state.nj.us or lynn@nerc.org.

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Click HERE and apparently, even biodiesel produced black carbon: HERE.

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US Dept of Ed blog
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It's official! The Barnegat Bay Partnership office has moved to its new location on more than forty acres of preserved land along the Toms River and Long Swamp Creek. We are excited about the many opportunities for expanding our program at the new location.

Our new physical location is 117 Haines Rd., Toms River, NJ 08753. For now, our mailing address will remain the same: Barnegat Bay Partnership, Ocean County College, College Drive, P.O. Box 2001, Toms River, NJ 08753.

Our new phone numbers are listed below. Ocean County College will continue to forward calls from our 732-255-0472 number to our new phones.

732 914-8100 (main telephone number)
732 914-8101 (Stan Hales)
732 914-8102 (Mary Judge)
732 914-8107 (Jim Vasslides)
732 914-8108 (Martha Doyle)
732 914-8109 (Betsy Hyle)
732 914-8110 (Karen Walzer)
732 914-8116 (Joanna Marino/Watershed Ambassador)

Thank you to Ocean County College for all it has done to facilitate the move to our new location!

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