On Wednesday, May 24, at 10:30 a.m., Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin provided updates on New Jersey’s water quality and beach projects during the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium’s State of the Shore event at Tim McLoone’s Pier House in Long Branch, known as the annual “State of the Shore” event. Links to updates: State of the Shore-2017; Youth Fishing Challenge; Fluke Season Update; Shinn Vessel Dedicated.
In addition to beach season, the recreational summer flounder season begins today, May 25. This year’s season keeps intact an 18-inch minimum length requirement for the fish. New Jersey’s Marine Fisheries Council adopted the state’s new regulations last week, which substantially achieve conservation equivalency requested by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service. For more information, please see the attached.
There are several upcoming hearings regarding Rule Making, including the Freshwater Wetlands Act Rule proposal on Thursday, June 1st, at 930am in DEP headquarters. At 2pm June 1st, in the same location, DEP will hold a public hearing about rule making for Underground Storage Tanks. Information about both these meetings can be found here: http://www.nj.gov/dep/rules/notices.html . In the future, to receive updates about Rule Making processes that may affect your town, please subscribe to the Rule Making List Serv here: http://www.nj.gov/dep/rules/subscribe.html .
During ceremonies last Friday at the Frank S. Farley State Marina in Atlantic City, the Department of Environmental Protection dedicated a new 32-foot water-quality research vessel to former Commissioner Robert C. Shinn Jr., who devoted much of his career in public service to protecting the environment. DEP Commissioner Bob Martin and former Governor Christie Whitman, who named Shinn commissioner of the DEP in 1994, keynoted the event. Please see the attached for more information.
The Christie Administration hopes to hook people on a favorite recreational pastime in New Jersey with free fishing and a statewide Youth Fishing Challenge on Saturday, June 10. A second free fishing day is planned for October. The 2nd Annual Hooked On Fishing – Not On Drugs Program’s statewide Youth Fishing Challenge, offered by the DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife, has a dual purpose: to introduce families to the state’s outstanding freshwater fishing, and to encourage youth to avoid the dangers of drugs, alcohol and tobacco by instead pursuing fun activities such as fishing. For more information about the June 10th event, please see the attached press release.
This week’s episode of the Discover DEP podcast is now live and on the DEP website and focuses on the role of the Division of Compliance and Enforcement (C&E). DEP’s overall mission is to protect New Jersey’s air, land, water, and natural and historic resources. In order to do that, we also need to be regulators, enforcing laws and rules. Assistant Commissioner Ray Bukowski sits down with Bob Bostock to discuss how DEP works with the regulated community to encourage compliance and resolve cases in order to improve the environment. To find out more about Compliance & Enforcement at DEP, please visit http://www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement/.
Please note that our offices will be closed Monday, May 29th, in observance of Memorial Day. I wish you all a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.
Regards,
Kerry Kirk Pflugh
