(11/P93) TRENTON - As a result of water tests showing that bacteria levels in the Hudson River have fallen to within health safety standards and well below levels of concern, the Department of Environmental Protection today advised residents that boating, kayaking, fishing and other normal recreational uses of the river may now resume.

The DEP has been monitoring and sampling the Hudson River and Raritan Bay since the July 15 pump fire and effluent discharge from New York's North River Wastewater Treatment Plant, and has determined that the discharge has had no impact on New Jersey's ocean beaches, Raritan Bay beaches, or on shellfish beds in the region.

DEP testing of water samples from the Hudson River show that bacteria levels in the river have fallen to within the recreational bathing standard of 104 enterococci bacteria per 100 milliliters, resulting in the decision to lift the recreational use advisory. The DEP will continue monitoring the river.

The DEP has been in close contact with New York City officials who indicated this evening that they will reopen beaches and lift advisories for the Hudson and Upper New York Bay as the result of declining bacteria levels.

Since the incident, the DEP and New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services have been working closely with municipalities and counties, providing them with regular updates.
The DEP has also posted updates and an interactive map at www.nj.gov/dep/hudson.

Updates and information on water quality for all New Jersey beaches can be found at www.njbeaches.org