Nicole Simmons, 732-872-0111, Policy@cleanoceanaction.org

***ATTENTION CITIZENS!***
Public Hearing on Oyster Creek’s Pollution Discharge Draft Permit

     Citizens are urged to act to help stop the destruction of marine life and the pollution of Barnegat Bay from Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant (OCNPP) in Lacey Twp., NJ.  The NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) granted an extension to the public comment period and scheduled an additional public hearing regarding the draft pollution discharge permit for OCNPP.

     The public hearing will be held on October 24, from 6-9pm at the Ocean County Administrative Building, 101 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, Ocean County, NJ.  Written comments may also be submitted by November 7 to: Howard Tompkins, Chief, Attention: Comments on Public Notice NJ0005550, Bureau of Point Source Permitting, Region 1, P.O. Box 029, Trenton, NJ 08625.

     OCNPP seeks to renew its pollution discharge permit that regulates the cooling water system.  The best alternative is NJDEP’s “preferred alternative”: a closed-cycle system. 

UPDATE: Shark River Dredged Material Plan

     The Shark River Environmental Planning Committee has rescheduled the date to present their Dredged Material Management Plan to NJDEP and DOT.  The final date is to be determined, but is expected to be sometime in mid-October.

Raritan Bay-Sandy Hook Bay Dredge Management Forum

     On November 10, the Bayshore Regional Watershed Council is hosting a forum to discuss regional dredged material management in the Raritan Bay-Sandy Hook Bay area at the Atlantic Highlands Harbor Senior Center at 7:30pm.  The public is welcome.  Marina owners and operators, boaters, environmental commission members, planning board members, and anyone interested in dredging and coastal water quality are invited to attend.

     Now, more than ever, there is a need to develop a comprehensive, regional dredged material management plan.  Speakers at the forum include: NJDEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell; Genevieve Boehm, NJDOT Office of Maritime Resources; Michael Sinnema of Birdsall Engineering; and COA’s Cindy Zipf.  Mike Danko, from NJ Sea Grant will discuss the Clean Marina Program.

Wreck Pond Permits Awarded

     The Wreck Pond Restoration Project recently received two permits from the NJDEP, paving the way to begin work as early as this month.  The Sand Dredging and Beach Placement Project received a Waterfront Development Permit on September 16.  The permit conditions addressed many of the concerns raised by COA in our comment letter dated August 4, including a significant reduction in the amount of mud/silt material that will be dredged and placed on the adjacent beaches, and a requirement for bacterial monitoring of the sand and water following placement.  Due to concerns for several endangered species at the site, dredging is restricted to November 31 through February 31. 

     In addition, the Outfall Pipe Extension project received its Waterfront Development Permit on September 14.  This permit was awarded without any consideration of the many concerns raised by COA in our August 17 comment letter.  COA is pursuing our concerns.  Please visit our website and follow links for “Issues and Campaigns” to review COA’s comment letters on Wreck Pond.