030725 GARDEN STATE ENVIRONEWS ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::                            TABLE OF CONTENTS                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~       {*} TAKE ACTION! SHUT THE DOOR TO TOXICS ON FARMLANDS       {*} COALITION LOBBIES FOR HIGHLANDS PLAN       {*} DOVER TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS CRITICIZE $20M OPEN SPACE PLAN       {*} US PLAN A TACTIC TO DELAY ACTION ON GLOBAL WARMING       {*} NINE NE GOVERNORS FAVOR CAPPING POWER PLANT EMISSIONS       {*} NEW JERSEY AGENCIES EMBRACE MID-ATLANTIC WIND       {*} EMISSIONS TEST DELAYED       {*} CARS NAMED AS LARGEST REMAINING SOURCE OF LEAD POLLUTION       {*} REPORT FINDS SPRAWL HURTS POCKETBOOK AND ENVIRONMENT       {*} ECOLOGISTS URGE PREVENTIVE CONSERVATION OF COASTAL AREAS       {*} NEWARK SETS HEARINGS ON WATERSHED PLAN       {*} RINGWOOD: CLEAN WATER VS. A RIGHT TO SUE       {*} DRINKING WATER CONTAMINATED IN MONROE       {*} CLEANUP OF OLD ATLANTIC CITY LAUNDRY COSTING MILLIONS       {*} ENVIROS OPPOSE ROWAN UNIVERSITY HOUSING PLAN       {*} BIG PURCHASERS CAN SPARK SUSTAINABILITY SHIFT       {*} TWO NY/NJ BAYKEEPER JOBS AVAILABLE       {*} AQUATIC INSECTS AND MUSKRATS IN HAZLET       {*} SLUDGE HEARING - JUL 28       {*} HUNTERDON HAZARDOUS WASTE CLEAN UP DAY - SEP 13 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: The Garden State EnviroNet (GSE) gratefully acknowledges volunteers Gerald Cullins, Bambi Dingman, Jeff Hook and Paul Neuman for their contributions to today's issue. Thanks also to Peter Montague for his many contibutions to the EnviroNews, and his invaluable help as a member of our Board of Trustees. If interested in helping out, please send an email message to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: TAKE ACTION! SHUT THE DOOR TO TOXICS ON FARMLANDS Date: 24 Jul 2003 From: Jenny Vickers { This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it } TAKE ACTION! SHUT THE DOOR TO TOXICS ON YOUR FOOD, FARMS, AND PARKS! OPPOSE THE PROPOSAL TO PERMIT EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY SLUDGE ON FARMLANDS PROBLEM:  The NJ Agricultural Committee recently proposed to permit sludge on preserved farmlands. This so-called exceptional quality sludge contains heavy _meta_ls like lead, cadmium, and chromium, as well as contaminants such as dioxins, PCB's flame retardants, and pesticides. Currently, permitting this sludge on preserved farmlands is prohibited, and NJ DEP does not permit its use on Green Acres lands, nor is it permitted in the Pinelands with certain exceptions.  Giving sludge the Agricultural Management Practice status gives the green light for it to be used on state lands, even on food crops. It also confers right to farm protection to the practice, which means municipalities can't issue stricter guidelines, and neighbors of farms that use it have no recourse if it stinks to high heavens. Farmers are divided on their feelings about applying sludge. Many won't use it, and most food processing companies won't accept produce grown in it. TAKE ACTION:  Write TODAY to the State Agriculture Development Committee and say NO to the proposal to permit sludge application on New Jersey preserved farms! The hearing will be Monday, July 28th at 3:00 p.m. at the Health and Agricultural auditorium in Trenton. Call 609-984-2504 for directions or a copy of the proposal-the comment period closes on August 8th. Include the following points in your letter: *  Sludge regulations are inadequate to prevent human and    environmental harm from heavy _meta_ls, dioxins, PCB's,    radionuclides, flame retardants, and persistent pesticides. *  As a consumer, I won't buy food from farms who use sludge on their    crops. *  As a taxpayer, I _object_ to public lands, including preserved farms,    being used as a dumping ground for toxic sludge. *  I oppose the rule proposal for Biosolids Land Application    Agricultural Management Practice, NJA.C. 2:76-2A.10T  Please write TODAY to: State Agriculture Development Committee Gregory Romano, Executive Director PO Box 330 Trenton, NJ 08625-0330 Send a copy of your letter to DEP Commissioner Brad Campbell, who wants to permit sludge on Green Acres lands-parks, forests, and urban tree planting projects:  DEP Commissioner Brad Campbell  410 East State St., PO Box 402  Trenton, NJ 08625 - - - TIPS ON EFFECTIVE LETTER-WRITING:  Your letter is critical to our success. Each handwritten, personalized letter equates to 300-500 voters conveying your message. Elected officials assume there are many people who feel the same as you, who didn't take the time to write. Keep it short and simple and stay on message. Please let us know you've written this letter by simply emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Thanks! * * * New Jersey Environmental Federation 1002 Ocean Avenue Belmar, NJ 07719 PH: 732-280-8988 FAX: 732-280-0371 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it http://www.cleanwateraction.org/ :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: COALITION LOBBIES FOR HIGHLANDS PLAN Date: 030724 From: http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/morris/ OFFICIALS SUPPORT REGIONAL PANEL By Lawrence Ragonese, Star-Ledger Staff, July 24, 2003  A coalition of North Jersey government leaders is asking Gov. James E. McGreevey to create a Highlands Task Force to develop a regional plan to control growth in a vast section of North Jersey that yields much of the state's drinking water, officials said yesterday.  Officials from Morris, Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon and Somerset counties are backing a plan proposed to McGreevey six weeks ago by the Highlands Coalition, a group of some three-dozen environmental groups, who are concerned about the future of the region.  The task force would not make policy, but would have a strict ti_meta_ble - possibly one year - to study key issues and make recommendations to the state that could lead to regulations to control growth, said Morris County Freeholder Margaret Nordstrom, who attended a meeting of county officials on the subject this week.  The committee, as suggested by county officials, would include some 15 to 20 members, including representatives of county and local government, environmental organizations and the building/ development industry, said Nordstrom.   So many studies have been done on this but have led to nothing when it comes to long-term answers, said Nordstrom. I'm concerned that 10 years from now the momentum we now have will have died and we'll be worse off than ever.  The Highlands includes an expansive swath of green in northern New Jersey that contains countless streams and reservoirs but is under increasing development pressure. It includes parts of Bergen, Hunterdon, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties.  McGreevey announced plans earlier this year to spend at least $75 million over the next three years to preserve open space in the Highlands, saying, The opportunity to preserve our dwindling open space is swiftly passing us by.  Some of the governor's proposals would empower the state Department of Environmental Protection to condemn land endangered by development and to give tax breaks to people who sell or deed land to the state. At the same time, the federal legislators are working on a plan to allocate $25 million annually for preservation in the Highlands.  But exactly how massive preservation should be undertaken and who would oversee the effort, needs to be determined.   You find a lot of commonality among towns and counties in the Highlands. They see a need for regional planning, a need to protect water resources, but they realize it can't be done alone, said Michele Byers, executive director of the NJ Conservation Foundation.  A variety of tools and strategies are essential to safeguard the region, including regulatory protection and strengthening powers of counties and towns to control development, the environmental coalition contends. But developers have expressed concern that huge tracts of land could be excluded from building, leaving few places to create new housing in Northwest Jersey.  State officials said yesterday they are interested in the task force concept but need more information.   It would be inappropriate to comment on possible goals...or ti_meta_bles at this time, said E.J. Miranda, spokesman for the state Department of Community Affairs. * * * Lawrence Ragonese is a reporter in the Morris County bureau. He can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or at (973) 539-7910. Copyright 2003 The Star-Ledger. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: DOVER TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS CRITICIZE $20M OPEN SPACE PLAN Date: 030724 From: http://www.app.com/ By John Hazard, Staff Writer, Ocean County Observer, 07/24/03  Toms River - About 60 Dover Township residents turned out for a public hearing at the Township Committee meeting Tuesday, most to offer criticism of a Republican proposal to buy $20 million worth of open space with the help of the Toms River Regional Board of Education and Dover Municipal Utilities Authority.  Many in the audience demanded voters be allowed to decide such a large expenditure in a binding ballot referendum.  Supporters, including Dover Mayor John F. Russo Jr., defended the plan to partner the township, the Toms River Regional Board of Education and Dover Municipal Utilities Authority, to each bond for $6.6 million to provide $20 million to buy open space land as a means to limit residential development in Dover and its impact on rising school and municipal taxes and sewer rates.   I'm not against the idea, said Dan Polifroni, of Dover's Ortley Beach section. I just have a funny feeling when I'm asked to rush into things. What's the rush? I want the chance to vote for my decisions.  Polifroni asked why he was allowed to vote in 2000 to approve a 1.5- cent tax increase to provide $5.5 million for open space acquisitions, but not allowed to vote on this much larger proposal. The township has proposed using the money from that open space tax to pay debt service on the $6.6 million bond for its share.  Paul C. Brush, the Your Election Slate candidate for mayor, the first to propose the matter be brought to voters for approval, said the issues should be thoroughly flushed out over the next few months and approved by voters at the polls.   All (we) ask is that the residents of Dover Township be given the opportunity to decide, he said.  Russo said the township will hold future public hearings on the issue, but has argued against a ballot referendum.   If voters don't like the results they can vote me out in November, he said. That's the referendum. I'm willing to stake my reputation and my political career on it.   The land is disappearing in Dover Township. We need to act now, he said. We are in a race with the developers and we have to beat them to the finish line.  Of particular concern, Russo said, is the JAMM Realty property, on Hooper Avenue, where the township has blocked a developer's plans to construct a proposed 325-unit apartment complex. The suit is likely to be forced into settlement and the township will need money to purchase the property if they expect to keep the developer out, Russo said.   That's real houses that won't be built, real cars that won't be on our roads, Russo said. We will need to act quickly and we will need the money available right away.  Democratic Committeeman Richard M. Larsen said he agreed with many of the residents' concerns and said the committee had far too many questions remaining about the partnership before it could move ahead. Larsen and fellow Democratic Committeeman John M. Furey have questioned whether the DMUA can afford to pay its share of the proposal and whether the three can legally buy and own land together.   I want answers to so many questions before this plan is ready, he said.  Several citizens also criticized the school system's involvement, questioning whether it was legal or adviseable for the township to partner with the regional school for the purpose of land acquisition.  David F. Lipton, a Beachwood resident, questioned whether any school money could be spent on acquisitions without approval by voters in the four towns that make up the regional school district.   There pulling an end run on the normal procedure of getting voter approval, Lipton said. What is in this for residents in the other three towns and why should they support it?  Lipton told the committee that if they partnered with the school district, he would initiate a lawsuit to stop the measure.  James Ellis, who serves as deputy commissioner of the Township's Open Space Advisory Commission which identifies land to be purchased using funds from the special 1.5-cent open space tax, said partnering with the school board would place too many restrictions on the location and nature of land that can be purchased.   (The schools) are required by law to only purchase property that furthers their core mission. This automatically places restrictions on (the Township), Ellis said. This is not in the spirit of the township's open space program.  Such restrictions could include the right to eventually build on or use the property, said Willie deCamp, president of Save Barnegat Bay, an Ocean County _base_d environmental advocacy group.   It's a matter of truth in advertising, deCamp said. Are you really saving open space, in the spirit of the open space tax, if you are allowing the schools to build on it? * * * Copyright (c) 1997-2003 IN Jersey. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: US PLAN A TACTIC TO DELAY ACTION ON GLOBAL WARMING Date: 030724 From: http://panda.org/ WWF - The Conservation Organization, 24 Jul 2003 US RESEARCH PLAN ANOTHER TACTIC TO DELAY TAKING ACTION ON GLOBAL WARMING  Washington DC - The ten year research proposal for the US Climate Change Science Program announced today by the Bush Administration appears to be another attempt to focus attention on scientific uncertainties instead of taking action on the basis of science that already exists, according to WWF.   If we continue to delay action while the Administration reinvents climate science we will miss the window of opportunity to reduce future impacts on communities and wildlife, said Katherine Silverthorne, director of WWF's US Climate Change Program.   It is important to continue to build our knowledge of climate science, but the existing body of scientific literature on climate change makes clear that we must take steps to reduce emissions of heat-trapping emissions simultaneously while broadening our understanding, said Silverthorne. Existing reports by top experts- the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a White House commissioned report by the National Research Council, and a 2002 report by the US Department of State-project an array of potential harm if action is not taken to reduce emissions of the heat-trapping gases that cause climate change.  In its review of an earlier version of the proposal, the National Academies highlighted that the proposal itself recognized that uncertainty is inherent in science and decision making and therefore not in itself a basis for inaction, discounting the argument for delaying action _base_d on scientific uncertainty.   The Administration's irresponsible approach to global warming is putting us all at risk, said Silverthorne. The planet has been diagnosed with a life-threatening disease and rather than working on a cure, the Administration is looking around for a second opinion it likes.  This proposal comes close on the heels of the release of an US Environmental Protection Agency report where Administration officials censored references to well accepted climate science, as reported by the New York Times. * * * For further information: Kathleen Sullivan WWF-US Tel: +1 202-778-9576 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: NINE NE GOVERNORS FAVOR CAPPING POWER PLANT EMISSIONS Date: 24 Jul 2003 From: Peter Montague { This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it } GOVERNORS OF NINE NORTHEAST STATES COMMIT TO REGIONAL INITIATIVE TO REDUCE POWER PLANT EMISSIONS  Governor George E. Pataki today announced that he has received commitments from the Governors of nine northeast states to join New York State in a regional strategy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. The initiative proposed by the Governor would involve developing a market-_base_d emissions trading system to require power generators to reduce emissions.   By taking bold steps to control pollution and investing in the development of alternative and more efficient energy initiatives, New York State has led the nation in improving air quality, Governor Pataki said. I thank the leaders of northeast states who have joined New York in this historic initiative to build on those efforts by working together to develop an effective regional strategy to further reduce harmful emissions.  On April 25, 2003, Governor Pataki sent letters to 10 governors encouraging their participation in the regional strategy. The Governor directed Public Service Commission Chairman William M. Flynn and Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Erin M. Crotty to contact their counterparts and gauge their respective state's level of interest within 90 days. The two agency leaders provided an assessment of the progress made on the initiative.  To date, the governors of Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Delaware, Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island have sent letters expressing their interest in working with New York to develop a cap and trade program for carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. Maryland has indicated that they may participate in the discussions at a later date.  Ashok Gupta, Director of the Air and Energy Program for the Natural Resources Defense Council said, With such a positive bi-partisan response to address climate change pollution, the Northeast can now move expeditiously to establish a _frame_work for a multi-state cap and trade program for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. The debate in the Northeast is no longer about climate science but how best to use existing technologies to reduce emissions and minimize energy costs at the same time.  The Greenhouse Gas Task Force was formed by Governor Pataki in June 2001 to assist the state in developing policy recommendations and strategies to reduce New York's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A majority of the Task Force members agreed and recommended that the State pursue a regional approach to reducing emissions. An independent facilitator, the Center for Clean Air Policy, _base_d in Washington D.C., issued a report _base_d upon the Task Force process in April.  James T. B. Tripp, general counsel of Environmental Defense, a national environmental organization, and a member of Governor Pataki's Greenhouse Gas Task Force said, We strongly support the Governor's exciting, multi-state, regional power plant carbon cap initiative. Since the nine northeastern states that have joined this initiative have about 1/5 of the nation's population, this is not only a major regional initiative, but a critical national precedent as to how to deal with global warming. Environmental Defense helped to pioneer the use of cap and trade systems to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants as part of the federal Clean Air Act amendments of 1990. The tough challenge lies ahead as these states undertake discussions to set multi-state power plant carbon _base_lines, the basis for a cap and trade system, that are both fair and efficient. We are prepared to help these states with the best science and economics available to meet this challenge with the hopes that this system can be in place within two years.  Paul J. Elston, board member of the League of Conservation Voters and a member of the Greenhouse Gas Task Force, said, The positive response from almost all of the northeastern governors to work toward a regional carbon cap-and-trade program is great news for the environment. We thank Governor Pataki for outstanding leadership on the important national and international issue. This effort could define the roadmap and set the standard for a national program.  Gavin J. Donohue, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Power Producers of New York said, The New York power generating industry is pleased that New York and the other Northeast states recognize air pollution is a regional problem that needs a regional solution. I thank Governor Pataki for this initiative, and Chairman Flynn and Commissioner Crotty should be commended for bringing together such diverse interests to work toward a common plan of action.  DEC Commissioner Erin Crotty said, Governor Pataki's vision and leadership have made New York a national leader in improving air quality. With a collaborative approach among northeast states, we can make tremendous strides in taking pollutants out of our skies. The support we have witnessed in response to the Governor's proposal is an important first step as we foster partnerships that will work toward improving public health and the environment through reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.  New York State Public Service Commission Chairman William M. Flynn said, Governor Pataki's recognition that regional cooperation among states is a key to developing effective strategies for reducing carbon dioxide emissions has received broad support from our neighboring states. Just as electricity is being traded in larger, more regional markets, it makes sense to move forward with a regional cap and trade program for emissions, and I look forward to working with my counterparts on this important issue.  Leaders from the states participating in the regional initiative will next convene in September 2003 to begin detailed discussions on the development of the initiative. The overall goal of the group is to reach an agreement by April 2005 on a flexible, market-_base_d cap and trade program. - - - Contact: Press Office, 518-474-8418 # # # Rachel's Environment & Health News Environmental Research Foundation POB 160 New Brunswick NJ 08903-0160 Tel: 732-828-9995 Fax: 732-791-4603 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Web: http://www.rachel.org :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: NEW JERSEY AGENCIES EMBRACE MID-ATLANTIC WIND Date: 030723 From: http://ens-news.com/ Environment News Service, July 23, 2003  Wayne, Pennsylvania - A mid-Atlantic energy company today announced the largest single retail sale of wind power in the region's history. The deal calls for Pepco Energy Services to supply an aggregation of New Jersey state agencies with wind-generated electricity from Community Energy of Wayne, Pennsylvania.  Pepco Energy Services, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc., has agreed to a 33-month contract to supply more than 24 megawatts of electricity - 12 megawatts of which will consist of energy purchased from Community Energy and produced by wind farms located in the mid- Atlantic region.  More than 90 percent of the wind power will come from Community Energy's new Bear Creek wind farm near Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, less than 60 miles from northern New Jersey.  The renewable energy will supply 180 New Jersey accounts beginning this month, including Rutgers University, New Jersey Highway Administration, New Jersey Transit and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.  The public agencies joined together for the purpose of creating one electricity contract to obtain the lowest cost Green-E certified electricity. In addition, the agencies wanted to meet the 10- percent environmentally friendly green power goal established by New Jersey Governor James McGreevey.  Pepco Energy Services and Community Energy struck a longterm agreement in April 2003, a partnership that allows the energy provider to provide emissions-free wind power to our customers, said Dr. Ed Mayberry, president and chief executive officer of Pepco Energy Services.  Community Energy markets power from five of the seven wind farms in the mid-Atlantic, and two of three wind farms in New York.  Pepco Energy Services also supplies energy from wind farms to the U.S. General Services Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Transportation, World Bank and the International Finance Corporation. * * * Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2003. All Rights Reserved. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: EMISSIONS TEST DELAYED Date: 030724 From: http://www.nytimes.com/ By Stacy Albin , NY Times, July 24, 2003  Trenton - The state will postpone until January a requirement that the owners of about 640,000 automobiles take a new emissions test, Bradley M. Campbell, the state environmental protection commissioner, said yesterday. The state wants more time to educate drivers about the new test, he said. Previously set for Aug. 4, the test would have applied to the owners of cars in the 1996 and 1997 model years. The new test reads emission data from a computer in the automobile and will replace what is known as the tailpipe test, where actual emissions are measured. The state had planned to introduce the computer examination for automobiles dating from the 1996 model year to the present. Mr. Campbell said the postponement did not affect cars in the 1998 model year and later. * * * Copyright 2003 The New York Times Company :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: CARS NAMED AS LARGEST REMAINING SOURCE OF LEAD POLLUTION Date: 030723 From: http://ens-news.com/ Environment News Service, July 23, 2003  New York, NY - The use of lead in cars accounts for the largest remaining source of lead pollution, finds a new report released jointly today by Environmental Defense and the Ecology Center. The report Getting the Lead Out: Impacts of and Alternatives for Automotive Lead Uses details that the lead starter battery used in automobiles is responsible for the majority of current lead use in the world.  It finds that the North American automobile industry is responsible for the release or transfer each year of more than 300 million pounds (136,508 metric tons) of lead through mining, smelting, manufacturing, recycling and disposing of lead-containing automotive components - primarily batteries - and through normal vehicle use.   Automobiles are responsible for a majority of lead pollution in North America, or approximately 16 pounds of lead per vehicle over its lifetime, said Jeff Gearhart, report author and clean car campaign research director for the Ecology Center.  The report calls on the automotive industry to phase out lead use in cars, most notably in the starter battery, and to take responsibility for ensuring the recovery and proper management of lead used in cars.  There is increasing concern about the health effects of lead, in particular for pregnant women and children.   Research suggests there is no safe exposure to lead, said Jerome Nriagu, professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Michigan. Lead poisoning is one of the most serious environmental health problems in the United States and the world.  The report details that lead is used in a number of car components, including lead wheel weights, solder in electronics, and lead car batteries, even though lead-free alternatives are available.  For example, the report says that lead wheel weights can be replaced with tin or steel weights and that alternative battery technologies such as nickel-_meta_l hydride batteries are on the road today in gas- electric hybrid cars and can be further developed for use in conventional vehicles.   Investment in alternative technologies - much like FedEx is doing by introducing vehicles with lithium-ion batteries into its fleet - is critical, said Kevin Mills, coauthor of the report and director of the Clean Car Campaign at Environmental Defense. The automotive industry can safeguard children's health by improving vehicle design. * * * Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2003. All Rights Reserved. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: REPORT FINDS SPRAWL HURTS POCKETBOOK AND ENVIRONMENT Date: 030723 From: http://ens-news.com/ens/ Environment News Service, July 23, 2003  Washington, DC - Environmentalists often decry how the nation's transportation planning shortchanges the environment, but a new report released Tuesday finds that something else is being shortchanged - the budgets of American families. A report from the Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP) shows that America's families spend more than 19 cents out of every dollar earned on transportation - an expense second only to housing and greater than food and health care combined.  The report says that the nation's poorest families are in particular hard hit, spending more than 40 percent of their take home pay just to get around, an expenditure that that has risen 33 percent since 1992 and is making it all the more difficult for lower income families to afford housing, health care, and other critical services.  Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the report _title_d Transportation Costs and the American Dream: Why a Lack of Transportation Choices Strains the Family Budget and Hinders Homeownership, ranks metro areas according to the portion of household expenditures devoted to transportation.  STPP is a nonprofit organization with the goal of ensuring transportation policy and investments conserve energy, protect the environment, strengthen the economy and make communities more livable.  Its latest report details that transportation costs are highest in sprawling areas such as Tampa, Phoenix and Dallas, due to spread out development patterns, the lack of transportation choices and the absence of convenient neighborhoods within walking distance of shops and schools.  These development patterns force people into vehicles, the report says, with negative impacts on air and water quality, as well as wildlife and habitat.  The report finds that for many low and middle income families, the costs of owning and maintaining several vehicles may even be prohibiting their ability to own a home - considered one of the most reliable forms of wealth creation.   It makes no sense to build transportation systems that exacerbate income and wealth inequalities, said Rich Stolz, senior policy analyst at the Center for Community Change. It is time for Congress and state and local planners to make policies that place the needs of people ahead of automobiles.  The new findings come at a time when Congress is debating renewal of the massive federal transportation bill and beginning deliberations over the budget for the Transportation Department. * * * Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2003. All Rights Reserved. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ECOLOGISTS URGE PREVENTIVE CONSERVATION OF COASTAL AREAS Date: 030723 From: http://ens-news.com/ Environment News Service, July 23, 2003  Washington, DC - A new report published by the Ecological Society of America finds that marine conservation and management strategies need to address juveniles and their habitats and should shift from mitigation and restoration measures to more preventive conservation of key coastal areas such as seagrass meadows, marshes, oyster reefs and kelp and mangrove forests.  The concept of nursery habitat and strategies for protecting them have been poorly defined, according to the report, _title_d The Role of Nearshore Ecosystems as Fish and Shellfish Nurseries.   Most marine conservation and fisheries management strategies focus on adult populations, not on protecting juvenile habitats, which are probably the hardest hit by human activities, said lead author Michael Beck of The Nature Conservancy and the University of California-Santa Cruz. We have been talking about the importance of the nursery value of these near shore habitats for too long without focusing concerted effort on their management and conservation.  The report outlines clear guidelines on assessing which coastal areas actually serve as vital nurseries for animals such as clawed lobster, pink snapper, blue crab, flounder, and brown shrimp.  These guidelines include comparison of nursery value among different ecosystems, consideration of juvenile survival and growth, measurement of the movement of juveniles to adult habitats as well as measurement of the size and number of individuals added to adult populations.   Because our ability to restore ecosystems such as salt marshes and seagrass meadows is limited we believe more effort should go towards conservation efforts, Beck explained. More habitat needs to be protected, for example, from the impacts of dredging and coastal development.  The report also notes that nursery habitats are caught between the jurisdictions of multiple agencies and recommends that key U.S. federal agencies, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Fish and Wildlife Service and the US Geological Survey establish a jointly funded program focused on nursery ecosystem management.  But the government can not be expected to do it all, Beck said.   We should increase opportunities for private sector involvement for example through the conservation lease and ownership of coastal, intertidal and submerged lands, Beck added. * * * Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2003. All Rights Reserved. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: NEWARK SETS HEARINGS ON WATERSHED PLAN Date: 24 Jul 2003 From: http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/essex/ MAYOR HAS PROPOSED MERGING AGENCIES Newark Star-Ledger, July 24, 2003  The Newark City Council is conducting a series of hearings on Mayor Sharpe James' controversial plan to create a nonprofit agency to merge and then run the city's watershed and water utility operation.  Under James' Water Optimization plan, the new corporation would run the watershed and water and sewer utilities, which have a combined 225 employees and $79 million budget. The lease would last 40 years.  The new agency would float $129 million in bonds for operating expenses and bond repayment. It would provide the city with a $90 million concession fee over three years and take on $70 million in water and sewer bond debt from the city.  An additional $75 million payment to the city is also possible if certain conditions are met under amendments to the plan.  Under the plan, water rates would increase 6 percent, and sewer rates would rise 10.75 percent in the first year and 3 percent or more in each of the following years of the contract, depending on the amount of money required to pay the new agency's bond indebtedness.  A hearing in the West Ward was held Tuesday.  Here are the dates and locations for the four remaining hearings, which will begin at 7 p.m.: Central Ward: Tonight, council chambers, City Hall, 920 Broad St. East Ward: Tuesday, Portuguese Sports Club, 51-55 Prospect St. South Ward: July 31, Malcolm Shabazz High School, 80 Johnson Ave. North Ward: Aug. 5, council chambers, City Hall. * * * Copyright 2003 The Star-Ledger. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: RINGWOOD: CLEAN WATER VS. A RIGHT TO SUE Date: 030724 From: http://www.northjersey.com/ By Jan Barry, Staff Writer, July 24, 2003  Ringwood - Ken and Dianne Yurista built their dream home on a quiet cul de sac in a wooded glen.  Shortly after moving from Palisades Park with their two children into their $500,000 country place last year, they learned there had been a gasoline leak into the groundwater that supplies the residential area's wells.  Now the Yuristas, and their neighbors in four other expensive new homes on Deer Trail Court, face a dilemma.  Worried about health effects from low levels of methyl tertiary butyl ether, a gasoline additive that was found in some wells on their street and nearby streets, they and other area residents threatened lawsuits and pressed officials to provide water from the municipal system.  In response, Ringwood drew up a plan to install a municipal water line to serve 160 homes in the Forsgate neighborhood. In return, the homeowners are being asked to sign a release not to sue the borough or ConocoPhillips, the company that owns a nearby Mobil station where a state environmental investigation found a leak more than a year ago.   I want the water, but I'm not going to sign my rights away, said Ken Yurista, an electrician who works on construction projects.  Residents can refuse the water connection and stay on their own wells. But that would run the risk of contaminants invading their tap water in serious quantities.  Yurista is upset that, even if he goes with the hookup, it's a vexing deal: Besides having to surrender his right to sue if he agrees to a hookup, he would lose the $7,000 he spent to install his new well last year and would have to pay $500 a year in water fees.  He also worries his brand-new home might be damaged by blasting needed to put a water-line trench through the ledge of bedrock in his front yard. Standing amid his manicured lawn, he also points to the massive wall of hand-set fieldstones that he doesn't want ruined.   I don't want somebody tearing up my yard and not putting it back right, he said. As for his well, he said: Either reimburse me, or leave me my well for watering the lawn and washing my cars.  The five-page release the borough wants homeowners to sign outlines the deal Ringwood officials negotiated with ConocoPhillips to put up $4 million to help pay for the water line. Ringwood is proposing to bond about $2 million to cover the remainder of the project's estimated costs. The bond would be repaid through water usage fees charged to the new customers.  The release spells out conditions set by Ringwood and ConocoPhillips, which include not being held responsible for property damages arising from alleged releases of pollutants, installation of a water line, and closing and sealing homeowners' wells.  Adding to the family's dilemma, tests of the Yuristas' well have not turned up any MTBE. Levels of the contaminant in other wells in the new development have registered below one part per billion. What worries the Yuristas is that much higher levels have been recorded in some wells in the area and in test wells at the Mobil station and behind a nearby shopping center.  MTBE is used to reduce unhealthy vehicle emissions by helping gasoline burn cleaner. It has been _link_ed to cancer and neurological problems in animal studies, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency.  The Yuristas' neighbors on Deer Trail Court have similar concerns and have jointly hired a lawyer to represent them.   I wouldn't sign that without knowing what I'm getting into, Brian Papiernik, another of the new homeowners, said of the legal release. We need an educated opinion from our attorney.  At a recent community meeting, borough officials said they need nearly 100 percent agreement by owners of the 160 homes in the Forsgate neighborhood in order to put in the water line at no cost to homeowners. Several residents at that meeting said they felt Ringwood's plan to put in a water line was a good idea. Others, including Yurista and his new neighbors, wanted more information.  Mayor Jerry Holt said Wednesday that some signed releases have been returned to Borough Hall, which asked for responses by July 31. Holt said the borough plans to handle the water-line installation and restore landscaping after the work is done.  No provision was made, he said, to compensate homeowners who would lose new wells. Officials want the wells closed, he said, to prevent any possibility of contaminated water in a private well getting into the municipal water system.   They'll have to make the decision whether it is appropriate for them, Holt said of residents wary of the water-line deal. * * * Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Copyright (c) 2003 North Jersey Media Group Inc :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: DRINKING WATER CONTAMINATED IN MONROE Date: 24 Jul 2003 From: Peter Montague { This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it } MONROE NEIGHBORHOOD'S WATER OPTIONS WEIGHED By Gene Vernacchio, Courier-Post Staff, July 24, 2003  State environmental officials are weighing ways to provide clean water to Rex Avenue homes plagued by contaminated wells for nearly four years.  Since 1999, six homeowners along Rex Avenue, a rural street bordering Washington Township, have been relying mostly on bottled water and in- home filtration units after elevated levels of mercury were found.  In an analysis, state Department of Environmental Protection officials outline three possible solutions:  Install deeper wells.  Maintain the in-home filters.  Connect affected homes to municipal water lines.  State officials will not select an option until a public comment period concludes July 31.  Jo Stamper, a Rex Avenue resident whose water is contaminated with mercury, said she and others are lobbying for municipal water lines to be extended into her neighborhood. Most of the people on the block want to be hooked up to city water, Stamper said.  She said she is concerned about the possible expense of connecting to the Monroe Municipal Utilities Authority lines but still thinks it is the best option.  Stamper also said a new housing development is being proposed nearby and she thinks it makes the most sense to connect all homes to municipal water.  The well contamination on Rex Avenue was confirmed by the Gloucester County Health Department in 1998, which became aware of mercury contamination in other areas of the township earlier.  County officials tested 22 wells in and around Rex Avenue and found six with mercury levels that exceeded the state's Safe Drinking Water Maximum Contaminant Levels.  A test on one well showed mercury levels at 21 parts per billion. State officials consider less than 2 parts per billion safe in drinking water.  Risks of mercury, a toxic heavy _meta_l, include neurological and other health problems, particularly in developing fetuses and young children. Mercury accumulates in microorganisms and stays in the body once ingested or absorbed.  As part of its analysis, DEP officials also performed a cost estimate of each alternative. Drilling deeper wells is estimated at $127,220; maintaining in-home Point of Entry Treatment Systems is estimated at $51,310; and connecting to public water supplies is estimated at $471,600.  County health department officials are suggesting long-term use of the in-home systems as the most cost-effective solution.  Jacqueline Sickels, MUA executive director, said in cases of a small number of affected homes, maintaining in-home systems is a more cost- effective option.  Well contamination is nothing new in Monroe. The township has been plagued by water woes for years.  Sickels said the MUA has added 250 to 300 new residential hook-ups due to well contamination over the past few years. Primary areas added to public water lines include Crystal Lake, Winslow Road and the East Woods development. * * * Reach Gene Vernacchio at (856) 251-3343 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Copyright 2003 Courier-Post. # # # Rachel's Environment & Health News Environmental Research Foundation POB 160 New Brunswick NJ 08903-0160 Tel: 732-828-9995 Fax: 732-791-4603 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Web: http://www.rachel.org :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: CLEANUP OF OLD ATLANTIC CITY LAUNDRY COSTING MILLIONS Date: 24 Jul 2003 From: http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/ CRDA TAKEN TO CLEANER ON SITE CONTAMINATION By Donald Wittkowski, Staff Writer, (609) 272-7258 Press of Atlantic City, July 24, 2003  Atlantic City - It hasn't been declared a Superfund site, but the location of an old industrial laundry is turning into an environmental nightmare costing millions of dollars to clean up.  And no one can say for sure when the job will be completed or what the final price tag will be.  The state Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, or CRDA, which bought the century-old laundry from Atlantic City Linen Supply Inc. and demolished it to make room for a housing project, disclosed this week that contamination is much worse than first thought and will require even more money to eradicate.   This has been a major headache for us all, said Edward C. Einhaus, the CRDA's housing director.  Marking the sixth or seventh time it has increased funding for the project, the CRDA approved an extra $265,313 in cleanup costs on Tuesday, bringing the total price tag to nearly $3 million. More money will be needed before the work is done, authority officials warned.   There is no guarantee that this is the last time, CRDA Executive Director James B. Kennedy told the authority's board members while seeking their approval for additional funding.  The laundry site - on North Carolina Avenue between Caspian and Adriatic avenues - was supposed to provide new housing that would complement the CRDA's multimillion-dollar redevelopment plan for the surrounding neighborhood.  Soil contamination caused by dry-cleaning chemicals was discovered after the laundry was demolished in 2001. Since then, CRDA contractors have excavated several thousand tons of tainted soil and also have cleaned up contaminated groundwater.  Complicating matters, the state Department of Environmental Protection, or DEP, has ordered the CRDA to dig even deeper for soil contamination because the water table has dropped since cleanup efforts began, Kennedy said.  The cleanup process has become even more tedious and difficult after the recent discovery of oil pollution, presumably from old underground storage tanks.  To clean up the oil, work crews had to bring in new pumps, storage tanks and filtration equipment - adding even more costs.  It was originally thought that contamination was confined to the laundry property, but dry-cleaning chemicals have been discovered under the roadbed and there is no end in sight.   We're still chasing dry-cleaning chemicals under the roadbeds, and we're going to chase them until we find the end, Kennedy said.  Meanwhile, the CRDA has filed a lawsuit in state Superior Court in hopes of recovering cleanup costs from the laundry's former owners.  Among those named in the suit are Atlantic City Linen Supply and Harrah's Atlantic City. The casino company owned the laundry before it was purchased by Atlantic City Linen.  Former owners have denied responsibility for the contamination. Atlantic City Linen said it took great care to properly dispose of its cleaning chemicals.  Now courtroom adversaries, Atlantic City Linen and the CRDA formerly worked together to develop a new $14 million industrial laundry at Delaware and Arctic avenues to replace the demolished facility. The CRDA gave the company financial assistance to relocate. * * * To email Donald Wittkowski at The Press: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ENVIROS OPPOSE ROWAN UNIVERSITY HOUSING PLAN Date: 24 Jul 2003 From: Peter Montague { This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it } ROWAN FOREST REMOVAL FOUGHT THE UNIVERSITY IS CUTTING DOWN TREES ON A 7-ACRE TRACT OF LAND IN THE HEART OF CAMPUS IN ORDER TO BUILD MORE STUDENT HOUSING By Kaitlin Gurney, Philadelphia Inquirer, July 24, 2003  Glassboro - Rowan University tried to buy the apartment complex next door. Then it tried for the nursing home down the road.  Each time the growing university has tried to find new beds to house students' heads, something - whether it be mold or angry neighbors - has gotten in the way.  Rowan now has turned to its own campus to meet housing needs, planning to build townhouses on its last patch of forested land.  And it has met with opposition once again.  Representatives from four environmental groups gathered at the seven- acre tract yesterday, contending that the university's plans to cut down trees, some of which are 300 years old, for student housing amounts to ecological sabotage.   An untouched forest like this is a treasure, said Jane Nogaki of the New Jersey Environmental Federation. We call upon Rowan's leadership to promote smart growth, not to be purveyors of sprawl.  The environmentalists urged Rowan officials to spare the forest and build on off-campus land that the university owns closer to downtown Glassboro.  The land in the heart of campus is home to old-growth oaks, wetlands, and species such as red-tail hawks, said Fred Stine of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network. He compared the land to the MacArthur Tract, an old-growth forest of similar size in Haddon Township that officials earmarked for recreational fields to environmentalists' dismay.   We understand Rowan needs additional housing, just as Haddon Township needs athletic fields, said Stine, as Sierra Club and Newton Creek Watershed Association members shook their heads in agreement. But this is no way for Rowan to teach its students how to be land stewards.  Rowan officials said they shared the environmentalists' concerns about cutting down such ancient trees but said the project would not be halted. One-third of the nearly 3,000 students who live on campus each year are tripled up in dorm rooms designed for two.  The university is counting on the townhouses being ready to house 464 students by fall 2004, spokesman Joe Cardona said.   We're ready to build tomorrow, and the clock is ticking, Cardona said. We can fill those 464 beds on day one and still need to build beds for another 400.  More of the university's 10,000 students apply each year to live on campus, he said. Rowan's efforts to meet that demand were delayed after the discovery of mold foiled the purchase of the 400-unit Crossings apartment complex next to the campus, and after the protests of Washington Township residents blocked an alternative plan to purchase a nearby nursing home.  Cardona said the university planned to save as many of the tall oaks it could and would plant three trees for every one it cut down, in accordance with state law. That would mean more than 1,000 trees would be planted on a nearly treeless campus, he said.  But students will lose a tract of land used as an outdoor classroom for years, said biology professor Patricia Mosto.   We will compensate, of course, but anyone who does environmental work would be disappointed to see trees cut, Mosto said. Some of those oaks are 300 years old and have never been cut, and the basic fact is that it is a nice, attractive, healthy forest. * * * Contact staff writer Kaitlin Gurney at 856-779-3910 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it 2003 Philadelphia Inquirer # # # Rachel's Environment & Health News Environmental Research Foundation POB 160 New Brunswick NJ 08903-0160 Tel: 732-828-9995 Fax: 732-791-4603 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Web: http://www.rachel.org :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: BIG PURCHASERS CAN SPARK SUSTAINABILITY SHIFT Date: 030724 From: http://ens-news.com/ Environment News Service, July 24, 2003  Washington, DC - Mega-consumers such as government agencies, corporations, international organizations, and universities are critical to the effort to shift the world toward an environmentally sustainable future, finds a new study from the Worldwatch Institute.  Environmentalists often focus on changing the consumption patterns of individuals, but these large institutions spend billions of dollars annually on goods and services and hold considerable sway over the health and stability of many of the world's fragile ecological systems.  The enormous purchases of these large institutions from vehicle fleets to cleaning supplies, can have far greater consequences for the future of our planet than the buying habits of most individual households, said report author and Worldwatch Research Associate Lisa Mastny.   Green purchasing will never be a magic solution to the world's rampant resource consumption, but it does offer tremendous opportunities for lessening the impacts, says Mastny.  The study by the international research organization - _title_d Purchasing Power: Harnessing Institutional Procurement for People and the Planet - details how the large scale, systematic approach that most institutions take in their purchasing can have large ripple effects on which products are used by hundreds or even thousands of individuals.  Government purchasing, for example, accounts for as much as 25 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in some industrial countries.  Government procurement in the European Union alone totaled more than $1 trillion in 2001, or 14 percent of GDP, and in North America, it reached $2 trillion, or about 18 percent of GDP.  Worldwatch notes that universities spend billions of dollars each year on everything from campus buildings to cafeteria food.  In the United States, colleges bought some $25 billion in goods and services in 1999 - equivalent to nearly three percent of U.S. GDP.  International organizations are massive spenders as well, with the United Nations spending nearly $14 billion on goods and services in 2000.   Just one environmentally focused purchasing policy or guidance - if properly implemented and enforced - can bring widespread benefits to an institution, Mastny explained. By investing in everything from energy-efficient lighting to organic food, growing numbers of businesses, government agencies, hospitals, and other organizations are not only creating safer and healthier workplaces, but are also saving money.  Global consumption spending has increased six fold since 1950, according to the United Nations, with the wealthiest one-fifth of the world responsible for the vast majority of this spending. But Mastny reports that if enough demand for green products is generated, entire markets can shift.  For example, a 1993 directive by President Bill Clinton ordering the United States government to buy only computer equipment that met the higher energy efficiency standards of the government's Energy Star program helped set into motion a massive overhaul of the consumer market.  The U.S. government is the world's single largest computer buyer and Worldwatch finds that Clinton's directive helped change the market to its current state, where 95 percent of all monitors, 80 percent of computers, and 99 percent of printers sold in North America meet Energy Star standards.  The report says that government purchasing is credited with spurring the rise of recycled paper to the level of standard office supply in many European countries.  Large corporations have a critical role to play in the push for sustainability - the report details the impact of U.S. home improvement retailer Home Depot's 1999 adoption of a green purchasing policy.  Responding in part to pressure from the Rainforest Action Network, Home Depot's decision helped shift other retailers to phase out endangered wood products and favor wood coming from sustainably managed forests. Today retailers accounting for more than 20 percent of the wood sold for the U.S. home remodeling market have made adopted similar policies and two of the nation's biggest homebuilders also pledged not to buy endangered wood.  Although green purchasing initiatives are gaining favor in the industrialized world, Worldwatch acknowledges that the developing world is a different story. And rising consumer demand in development countries only adds to the challenge.  Mastny suggests that institutions can help spread green purchasing in developing countries is by using their own procurements to strengthen local green markets.  The United Nations, the World Bank and multinational corporations can stimulate green markets by seeking to buy a greater portion of their goods and services from local green suppliers - something that Mastny adds can help these institutions and companies combat mounting criticism about the environmental impacts of their activities.  As more institutions realize that green purchasing can improve employee health, the environment, and the bottom line, Mastny says, groups that disregard environmental factors risk being left behind. * * * Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2003. All Rights Reserved. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: TWO NY/NJ BAYKEEPER JOBS AVAILABLE Date: 24 Jul 2003 From: Aviva Zuller { This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it } JOB DE_script_ION RESTORATION PROJECT MANAGER, NY/NJ BAYKEEPER Full time position with benefits Location: Highlands, NJ POSITION SUMMARY  Manage community-_base_d oyster restoration program. Duties will include overseeing reef construction, field monitoring of subtidal oyster habitat, and extensive interaction with volunteers. Position involves significant field work along with presentations and reporting duties. RESPONSIBILITIES  Manage implementation of community-_base_d oyster habitat restoration projects involving volunteers and diverse partners. Conduct field sampling of subtidal oyster reefs on small boats and by diving. Collect and record biological and water quality data. Analyze data and create scientific reports. Coordinate and manage large numbers of volunteers in oyster aquacualture program Give public presentations to schools and other groups. QUALIFICATIONS Required education and experience: Bachelor's degree in Environmental science, biology, or related field and 2-3 years of experience in field. Experience with field surveys and/or ecological restoration projects. PREFERRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES  Applicant must be self-motivating and able to work independently. Must have excellent organizational skills. Speaking and writing communication skills are imperative. Must be able to lift 50 pounds.  Experience with shellfish aquaculture preferred. Experience operating, towing and deploying small boats desired. Certified scuba diver a plus. SALARY  Competitive Not for Profit Salary commensurate with experience. Benefits. TO APPLY  Send CV and cover letter to Aviva Zuller, Programs Manager, NY/NJ Baykeeper, Building 18, Sandy Hook, Highlands, NJ 07732, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it - - - PART-TIME RESEARCH POSITION AVAILABLE with Environmental Non-Profit Organization  NY/NJ Baykeeper is currently seeking Research Intern to work with the Baykeeper Conservation Program Staff to ensure the efficient operation of the Conservation Program and Baykeeper office. This position offers broad experience related to environmental advocacy and land preservation. A complete job de_script_ion with skills required follows.  NY/NJ Baykeeper is an affiliate of the American Littoral Society. The mission of the Baykeeper program is to protect, preserve and restore the ecological integrity and productivity of the Hudson/Raritan Estuary, its tributaries and watershed. As the citizen conservation advocate for the Estuary's waterways and shores, the Baykeeper stops polluters, champions public access, and influences land use decisions. Baykeeper pursues opportunities for direct land preservation and habitat restoration and helps advance the Estuary's environmental and biological importance as well as its value as a recreational and cultural resource.  The Of Research Intern is a part-time (15-20 hours) position, paying between $7.00 - $9.00 per hour, depending on education and experience. Holidays, sick days, and benefits are not included. DUTIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO Answering phones; Photocopying, and general office support; Organizing and managing filing system; Creating and maintaining mailing list and media data_base_; Researching and obtaining property specific information such as tax maps and resource inventories Assisting Program Staff with project specific tasks QUALIFICATIONS  At least 18 years of age. An interest in biology, education, communications, environmental science, history, non-profit organizations or related fields. The qualified applicant should possess good computer skills (knowledge of Word, Excel, and Access); good oral and written communication skills, enjoy diverse challenges and people, and function well with minimal supervision. The ideal candidate should be flexible, hard working and have a good sense of humor. Specific job training will be provided.  Positions run from early July through late September and will be open until filled.  For more information contact Aviva Zuller, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 732-291-0176. Apply by submitting a resume, cover letter and contact information for at least three references. * * * NY/NJ Baykeeper is a non-profit environmental advocacy and conservation organization whose mission is to protect and restore the natural resources of the Hudson-Raritan Estuary. Baykeeper is _base_d at the Sandy Hook Unit, Gateway National Recreation Area. Baykeeper is an Equal Opportunity Employer :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: AQUATIC INSECTS AND MUSKRATS IN HAZLET Date: 030724 From: http://www.ahherald.com/ OLD OAK TRAIL By Joe Reynolds, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Atlantic Highlands Herald, 24 July 2003  Water is one of the most important natural resources we have on Earth. Water allows plants to grow and allows animals to flourish. Water can also provide transportation, power, and pleasure to many people.  The Bayshore region in northern Monmouth County is a small area with unpretentious streams and creeks that drain into either Raritan Bay or Sandy Hook Bay. Unfortunately, government offici