History in the Making
A Name Change, a New Direction, and "SAMP is Dead!"
By Hugh M. Carola
On October 31, 2001 a historic meeting was held at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morristown. Hosted by the New Jersey Field Office of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the "Stakeholders Work Session for the Conservation of the Hackensack Meadowlands" brought together representatives from every group that is concerned with the future of the Hackensack Meadowlands. In a scenario that was literally unthinkable just six months ago, representatives of the federal and state governments, the environmental community and the region's premier charitable foundations sat together to chart the preservation of the 8,500-acre ecosystem. Captain Bill Sheehan, volunteer Ivan Kossak and myself attended on behalf of Hackensack Riverkeeper.
The meeting was part of a growing dialogue presided over by the USFWS since the late 1990s and a follow-up to the Meadowlands "summit meeting" called last Spring by Representative Steve Rothman (D-9th). The Congressman unequivocally supports the preservation of all the remaining open space wetlands in the Meadowlands and often refers to "drawing a thick black line" of preservation around the Meadowlands. Rep. Rothman was unable to attend because of the Afghanistan situation. During his videotaped keynote address, Rothman announced the appropriation of one million dollars to fund an US Army Corps of Engineers study (with USFWS assistance) to find potential restoration sites in the Meadowlands.
"Trust is earned and I am here to say that we want to earn the trust of everyone in this room," said NJMC Deputy Executive Director Robert Ceberio to the amazement of all. You may recall that in September of this year, Acting Governor Donald DiFrancesco signed a bill changing the name of the HMDC to the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC). The change, approved by unanimous votes in both the State Senate and Assembly, has provided the impetus for the Commission to revisit its Mission. As you read this, they are rewriting their Master Plan to reflect conservation, not development. And they are doing so with the counsel of Hackensack Riverkeeper!
Lest you think the meeting was just a love-fest, reality checks were provided by representatives of government agencies and regulatory authorities including the Corps, The US Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Highway Administration, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, and the NJ Dept. of Transportation. In the past, all of these agencies have acted in roles supportive of development in the Meadowlands but they now appear willing to assume new ones.
Also in attendance was Robert McDowell, Director of the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife who referred to the Meadowlands as a "globally important ecosystem" and said, "It is imperative that we save it." Now that the Meadowlands Commission is changing its focus, Fish and Wildlife has the opportunity to assume a greater role in the Meadowlands, especially since it already administers the 900-acre Sawmill Creek Wildlife Management Area on the Lyndhurst/Kearny border. Representatives from the Garden State Preservation Trust and NJ Green Acres Program also attended, offering their expertise and knowledge of funding mechanisms.
Perhaps the biggest announcement of the day came form Mr. Ceberio who declared, "SAMP is dead!" referring to the controversial Special Area Management Plan which had been the cause of twelve years of conflict between the then-HMDC (Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission) and the environmental community. Despite the SAMP's demise, however, a certain nasty problem is still kicking: the proposed Meadowlands Mills mega-mall (See Action Alert on Page 15). Despite their admission that the Continental Arena site would be acceptable, Mills has not withdrawn its application for a wetlands fill permit from the Army Corps. We do, however, fully expect that the Corps will deny Mills' application. If not, it will be rendered moot when a deal is struck to build a new sports arena in Newark.
It became apparent by the end of the day that a partnership was being formed; a partnership with the ability to acquire and manage the Meadowlands for what it is: priceless wildlife habitat. It is certain that this process will not have an overnight effect. The government too often moves at a glacial pace (which is not always a bad thing) and there are many issues to contend with before we can all attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony. But attend we will.
This is what we believe the final product will look like: The "Meadowlands Wildlife Refuge" will comprise 8,500 acres of open water, mudflats, vegetated wetlands and upland buffers. Some of those acres may be owned by the USFWS or a nonprofit organization like NJ Audubon or Hackensack Riverkeeper but the vast majority will be owned by the State of New Jersey. Refuge management will be a shared responsibility between Fish and Wildlife personnel, the Meadowlands Conservation Trust and a cadre of volunteers brought together by Hacken-sack Riverkeeper and NY/NJ Baykeeper. The Refuge will be governed by the same USFWS rules employed in the National Wildlife Refuge System; rules that balance wildlife habitat requirements and the need for public access. And it will be saved forever.
In a scenario that was literally unthinkable just six months ago, representatives of the federal and state governments, the environmental community and the region's premier charitable foundations sat together to chart the preservation of the 8,500-acre ecosystem.