For Immediate Release
April 19, 2013 Contact: Jeff Tittel, Director, NJ Sierra Club, 609-558-9100
Fertilizer Bill Goes into Effect
Today the DEP issued a press release on the implementation of the fertilizer bill.Jeff Tittel, Director, NJ Sierra Club, issued the following statement in response:
"We are glad the fertilizer bill is going into effect.It was a legislative achievement.This is important legislation that will help reduce pollution in our waterways througout the state. Gov. Christie signed the fertilizer bill but he is taking too much credit for a law written by Senator Smith and Assemblyman McKeon.The law would have been much stronger had the administration not opposed early versions of the bill."
"Since the bill has been signed the DEP has been trying to weaken implementation and delay certain parts of the legislation from going forward.They were also trying to waive parts of the bill."
"While the Governor takes credit saying this is part of his Barnegat Bay plan he vetoed three bills that would have done a lot more to clean up the Bay: the TMDL bill, the stormwater planning bill, and the stormwater utility bill.He also weakened the Water Quality Management Plans and opened up 17,000 acres in Ocean County to more development.The administration refuses to address land use issues or overdevelopment of Barnegat Bay."
"When it comes to protecting Barnegat Bay the administration is spreading a little too much fertilizer and needs to do more to protect the Bay."
-- Kate Millsaps Conservation Program Coordinator NJ Chapter of the Sierra Club 609-656-7612