| DEP
COMMISSIONER ISSUES NOTICE OF CLOSURE
FOR CERTAIN OCEAN COUNTY SHELLFISH BEDS
Approximately 1,350
Acres Affected
(04/144) TRENTON -- New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley Campbell today announced
the immediate closure to harvesting of approximately 1,350
acres of shellfish beds in Barnegat Bay, Ocean County. The
closure is to guard against the potential for release of
sewage during the Ocean County Utilities Authority’s
(OCUA) scheduled repairs on the wastewater discharge line
from its treatment plant in Bayville. The wastewater discharge
pipe carries treated wastewater effluent into the ocean.
During one of OCUA’s integrity tests of its pressurized
wastewater lines earlier this year, the utility discovered
a leak in the outfall line that was immediately repaired
with a temporary plug. OCUA is now preparing to repair the
pipe permanently, necessitating the temporary closure of
the neighboring shellfish beds during the repairs.
The affected section of pipe is located approximately 1,400
feet west of South Seaside Park in Barnegat Bay. The waters
affected by the shellfish bed closure are south of Toms
River and Seaside Heights.
The DEP will be monitoring the surrounding shellfish waters
during the repair and will reopen the shellfish beds as
soon as water quality levels meet approved criteria.
A copy of the Notice of Closure is presented below.
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