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SHELLFISH
BEDS REOPEN IN SANDY HOOK BAY
(04/19) TRENTON - New
Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner
Bradley Campbell today announced the reopening for shellfish
harvesting of part of southeastern Sandy Hook Bay. The area
is part of a larger area closed last year in March due to
a broken sewage main in Middlesex County.
The sewage main has since been repaired
and subsequent sample monitoring results show that these
waters are now safe for harvesting. The partial revocation
returns the beds to their classifications prior to the closure
and is effective March 13, 2004.
A copy of the Notice of Partial Revocation
appears below.
James E. McGreevey
Governor |
Department of Environmental Protection |
Bradley
M. Campbell
Commissioner |
PARTIAL REVOCATION OF
SHELLFISH BED CLOSURE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
LAND USE MANAGEMENT
Public Notice of Partial Revocation
of Condemnation of Shellfish Beds
Pursuant to statutory authority granted
the Department of Environmental Protection appearing at
N.J.S.A. 13:1B-4 and 58:24-1 et. seq.
and because of degraded water quality resulting from the
release of sewage in 2003 from a broken main into the waters
of the Raritan River in Middlesex County and the resulting
impact on the waters of Raritan Bay, Sandy Hook Bay, Navesink
River and Shrewsbury River in Monmouth County, the Department
ordered the condemnation and prohibition of all shellfish
harvesting from previously classified Special Restricted
and/or Seasonally Approved waters of Raritan Bay, Sandy
Hook Bay, Navesink River and Shrewsbury River. As a precautionary
measure prior to reopening the waters, shellfish tissue
samples were collected for heavy metals analysis and elevated
lead levels were detected in one sample from Sandy Hook
Bay. That portion of Sandy Hook Bay (described below) has
remained condemned while further studies of lead levels
in shellfish were performed.
Those studies have been completed and,
as provided for in the aforementioned prohibition, having
determined through extensive follow-up monitoring that the
waters of Sandy Hook Bay (specified below) that were previously
classified as Special Restricted are safe for the harvesting
of shellfish under New Jersey’s Special Permit Program,
I revoke the prohibition on these waters and return them
to their prior classification effective March 13, 2004.
Specifically, this revocation applies to those waters in
Sandy Hook Bay that have the following section designations
under New Jersey’s Special Permit Program:
Sections 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B, 10E and that
portion of 10D that is south and east of a line from the
easternmost extent of the breakwater of the Atlantic Highlands
Marina, where it is marked by the navigation marker designated
as 'Flashing light 4sec 29ft 7M' (Fl 4sec 29ft 7M) bearing
73 degrees T through the cupola on Sandy Hook that is
due east of Spermaceti Cove (see attached map).
| DATE:__________________ |
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Bradley M. Campbell
Commissioner
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