| OCEAN
COUNTY SHELLFISH BEDS RE-OPENED AFTER NOVEMBER CLOSURE
(05/59) TRENTON -- Department of Environmental Protection
(DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell signed an order today re-opening
1,358 acres of Barnegat Bay shellfish beds that were closed November
29, 2004 due to a discharge while repairs were underway to a broken
sewage main.
The Ocean County Utilities Authority completed repairs to the
line April 6th. A follow-up inspection was performed on April
7, which confirmed that there was no longer any effluent leaking
into Barnegat Bay. The DEP allowed the bay waters and shellfish
to purge pollutants for 30 days. Test results indicate that levels
of bacteria in the water are at normal, acceptable levels and
the waters are now safe for harvest. The re-opening takes effect
Thursday, May 12th.
A copy of the Commissioner's revocation order and a map are below.
REVOCATION OF SHELLFISH
BED CLOSURE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
LAND USE MANAGEMENT
Public Notice of Revocation of Condemnation of Shellfish Beds
Pursuant to statutory authority granted the Department of Environmental
Protection appearing at N.J.S.A. 13:1B-4 and 58:24-1 et seq.,
and to assure that the public health is not imperiled by the consumption
of shellfish that may be subject to pollution or to any other
conditions which may render shellfish dangerous to health because
of degraded water quality resulting from the release of sewage
into the waters of Barnegat Bay in Ocean County during the repair
of a broken main, the Department ordered the condemnation and
prohibition of the harvesting of shellfish from those waters previously
classified as Approved and Seasonally Approved in the Barnegat
Bay area, specifically:
Those waters of Barnegat Bay east of a line starting at
the western end of the municipal pier off 5th Avenue in Seaside,
then bearing approximately 255° T to QR "38", then
bearing approximately 193°T to Fl G 4s "39" PA,
then bearing approximately 97° T to a cupola on Island Beach
and terminating.
As provided in the aforementioned prohibition, and having been
advised that the final repair to the effluent line was completed
on April 6, 2005, a follow-up inspection was performed on April
7th that confirmed that there was no longer any effluent leaking
into Barnegat Bay. Sampling results currently show normal levels
of microbial indicators and the Department has allowed sufficient
time for the dispersion of pollutants and purging of shellfish
tissue following the repair of the effluent line. These waters
are deemed safe for the harvesting of shellfish. Therefore, I
revoke the prohibition, returning these waters to their prior
classification effective sunrise, May 12, 2005.
| DATE: May 11,
2005 |
Bradley M. Campbell
Commissioner |
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