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A New Approach to Protect
Our Waterways Special
Announcement from the DEP Communications Office To help ensure New Jersey residents have cleaner, safer waterways, the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has launched a new approach to protect our waterways and enable environmental inspectors to travel the state’s rivers and bays by boat and identify pollution problems at the source. The DEP initiative known as WET – Waterway Enforcement Teams – includes two groups of experienced environmental inspectors who will organize boat surveillances along major water bodies looking for water and land-use violations. “These enforcement teams will have greater access to inspect our major waterways and will strengthen our efforts to protect our water resources statewide,” said DEP Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell. WET was initiated after Bill Sheehan, executive director of the Hackensack Riverkeeper, invited Commissioner Campbell and other DEP officials to tour the Hackensack River and discuss new ways to enforce water protection laws more effectively. The goal of WET enforcement efforts is threefold. Working in cooperation with local citizens and organizations like New Jersey’s Riverkeepers and Baykeepers, DEP inspectors will follow-up on tips of harmful activities occurring along the state’s waterways. In addition to facility inspections, enforcement officers also will conduct routine boat surveys and offer assistance programs to improve environmental compliance for businesses. WET inspectors also will serve as points of contact for future DEP watershed multi-media inspections. The Northern and Southern Waterway Enforcement teams are being led by DEP’s inspector John Zuzeck, an enforcement officer in the Northern Region Office of the Water Compliance Bureau. Zuzeck is a recent recipient of a Hackensack Riverkeeper award, which recognizes individuals who have worked with the advocacy group in their efforts to protect the Hackensack River. Ten DEP inspectors with backgrounds in water compliance, land-use and solid waste enforcement are assigned to WETs. The boats used during the inspections are being supplied by the state Attorney General’s office. Riverkeeper
Helps Establish Catholic Environmental Initiative New coalition seeks to increase involvement, plans April conference Since January of this year, Hugh Carola, Hackensack
Riverkeeper’s Program Director, has been working with representatives of the
five Roman Catholic dioceses in New Jersey to establish the New Jersey Catholic
Coalition for Environmental Justice. “It’s has a big name but it has a simple
mission,” said Hugh. “Simply put, the Coalition was formed to help Catholics
and all people of faith to hear the call of Scripture, tradition and their own
hearts with regards to our responsibility towards the rest of Creation.” Meeting at the Archdiocesan Center in Newark, Hugh,
other environmental leaders, diocesan officials, lay parishioners and others
have put together the first statewide, Catholic-sponsored conference on faith
and ecology ever to be held in New Jersey. Scheduled for April 25-27, 2003 at
Princeton University, the conference will feature a workshop on the Public
Trust Doctrine given by Capt. Bill and Baykeeper Andy Willner, a keynote
address by Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th) and many other activities. “This isn’t just another environmental conference,”
said Hugh, “Our goal is to help people bring and their religious convictions
together with their concerns for our planet.” For more information, contact
Hugh at Hackensack Riverkeeper or Kay Furlani at the Archdiocese of Newark at
973-497-4341 or furlanca@rcan.org. Please help
float the Laurel Hill. Laurel Hill is a 16 ft. “Jersey Skiff” from the early 1950’s. She is made of Honduran mahogany and White oak. Like her larger commercial cousins, the “Sea Bright” skiffs, she has a flat bottom and a half dory design, though Laurel Hill’s shape is sleeker and her lines more elegant. These craft once common, are all but gone – she is one of two Terry Skiffs known to exist. To completely restore and refit her, it will require a lot of volunteer help. When operational, working in conjunction with other environmental organizations, she will be available for eco-tours and other public environmental educational programs, involving the preservation of the natural ecology of the Hackensack, Passaic and Hudson Rivers, as well as Newark Bay. Help make her restoration an actuality. Contact the North Jersey Friends of Clearwater: PO Box 330, Rochelle Park, NJ 07662 * 201-487-3748 * tutti2@bellatlantic.net |