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Monmouth County Environmental Newsletter: April 2018
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The
Monmouth County Division of Planning recently introduced the first phase of the
Monmouth County Cultural & Heritage Virtual Tours which provide a
county-based network of interconnected historic, cultural, and arts assets
modeled similarly to state and federal scenic byway programs. Rather than
provide physical routes for travelers to follow throughout the County, the
program provides a series of virtual cultural and heritage tours that users can
explore online. The program is intended to elevate the public’s awareness
about the many natural, cultural, historic, scenic, architectural,
institutional, and commemorative sites that are an irreplaceable component of
our enhanced quality-of-life here in Monmouth County. These sites support our
tourism industry and ongoing efforts by the County to perpetuate our
agricultural legacy, celebrate our Jersey Shore lifestyle, safeguard our
history, and promote our indigenous arts and culture.
The
Cultural & Heritage Virtual Tours will consist of seven byways in total. Three tours are currently available and four are under development. This
program is considered a continual work-in-progress as more sites will be added
and routes may be altered based on new information. Anyone who would like to nominate
additional sites for consideration may do so by e-mailing the site name,
location, brief description and photo, if possible, to planning
@co.monmouth.nj.us. Sites for further consideration should be located on
a byway or within reasonable proximity to one or an existing grouping of sites
such as a downtown or historic district. Click below to access the tours.
On March 23,
2018, President Trump signed Congress’ final FY 2018 spending package which
refunded the National Sea Grant program, as recommended by Monmouth County
Freeholder Resolution 2018-0220, passed on March 8, 2018. However, the
proposed federal FY 2019 budget again calls for the elimination of the Sea
Grant Program. It is likely that during the Fall of 2018 efforts will
need to be renewed to keep this vital program funded.
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The Master Gardeners
of Monmouth County will award scholarships of up to $2,000 to two Monmouth County college students or high
school seniors who plan to study agriculture-related fields at a college or university. Some of these fields are horticulture, botany and
environmental sciences or engineering. The application, a high school
transcript and letter of recommendation are due on May 1 to the Master
Gardener’s office at 4000 Kozloski Road in Freehold. Master Gardeners of
Monmouth County are trained to provide education and support to the community
about all aspects of gardening.
The Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) is now accepting applications for their Lechner Scholarship. The scholarship will give $1200 of aid to a Junior or Senior student majoring in an environmental field at a New Jersey college. The Scholarship is named for Hermia Lechner, for her many years of service and contributions to the preservation of open space and natural resources in NJ. Eligibility, application guidelines, and further information can be found on the ANJEC webpage, linked below.
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On March 23rd, 2018,
the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the
proposed 23.4-mile, 26 inch diameter Williams Transco pipeline project (the
Northeast Supply Enhancement [NESE]) to
expand its existing transmission system to transport natural gas from the
Marcellus Shale region through Raritan Bay to New York was released and is being reviewed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). In 2016, the Monmouth County Environmental Council submitted letters to the NJDEP and FERC noting their concerns of the proposed route and resulting environmental impacts, and will consider commenting on the Draft EIS at their next meeting.
The FERC will host a public meeting concerning the project in Old Bridge on April 25. Public comments
will be accepted until May 14, 2018. For more information about the project and
public meeting schedule see the link below.
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The Howell Township Council passed a resolution on March 6 authorizing the installation of a solar energy collection facility at the site
of a former solid waste sanitary landfill on Lakewood-Allenwood Road in Howell. The landfill has been closed since the 1990s
and there was a consent decree agreement with the former land owner, Monmouth
County, and Howell, according to Deputy Mayor Robert Nicastro. The goal of establishing a solar energy
facility at the former landfill is to generate enough money to offset the cost
of pumping and treating discharged water from the site which would reduce sewer
rates for taxpayers.
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In a letter to the governors of nine
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) member states in the Mid-Atlantic and
New England regions, Governor Phil Murphy formally announced his
administration's commitment to rejoining the regional climate-change compact. The letter follows the Governor's January 29
executive order that directs the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
and Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to take all necessary regulatory and
administrative steps to rejoin RGGI, of which New Jersey was a founding member. The decision reverses New Jersey's withdrawal
in 2012. DEP is currently working to
negotiate New Jersey's re-entry into RGGI, develop the regulations needed, and
schedule public information meetings to gather input on state funding
priorities for proceeds generated by RGGI auctions.
RGGI is a multi-state, market-based
cap-and-trade program designed to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide from power
plants. Participants allocate, award and transfer carbon allowances through an
auction process as an annual carbon-dioxide cap declines. This encourages more
market efficiencies, development of renewable energy, and technological
improvements for power plants. Proceeds are disbursed to states for a variety
of programs including energy efficiency assistance for consumers, renewable
energy, greenhouse gas abatement and electricity bill assistance. The
Governor's executive order emphasizes allocation of auction proceeds to
projects that serve communities that are disproportionality impacted by the
effects of environmental degradation and climate change. Rejoining RGGI is another step toward the
Murphy administration goal to achieve 100 percent clean energy in New Jersey by
2050.
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Volunteers from the Bayshore Regional
Watershed Council participated in seal surveys of Sandy Hook Bay in February
and March. On February 24th, volunteers
counted 26 harbor seals and on March 10th, volunteers counted 126 harbor
seals. During the March 10th survey,
volunteers observed six seals with injuries which were reported to the Marine
Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, New Jersey. All seals, including the injured, were
observed foraging later in the day.
Please note, sick or injured marine mammals or sea turtles observed
anywhere along the Jersey Shore should be reported to the Marine Mammal
Stranding Center at 609-266-0538.
The Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Parks and Forestry is distributing 90,000 tree seedlings to residents of the State throughout April as part of their New Jersey Tree Recovery Campaign. New Jersey residents are eligible to receive bundles of five free seedlings. Click below for pick up dates and locations.
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On March 22,
Congress approved an omnibus spending bill that maintains funding for the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at 2017 levels, rejecting
earlier versions that would have slashed EPA’s budget. In addition, the budget includes increases for
water infrastructure projects and the Superfund program.
In a step towards achieving Neptune Township’s goal to acquire flood-prone
properties along the Shark River under the NJDEP's Blue Acres program, township officials recently approved the purchase of a 2.65-acre
tract on South Riverside Drive in the Shark River Hills section. This tract, now preserved as open space, was purchased by a $1.25 million bond ordinance and the NJDEP Blue Acres grant, among other funds. It is the biggest tract on the site that is scheduled to
become a park across from the Shark River.
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About This Newsletter
The purpose of the newsletter is to inform Monmouth County citizens on the health of their environment and list environmental outreach events in their community. The newsletter is produced by the Monmouth County Division of Planning Section of Environmental & Sustainability Planning in coordination with the Monmouth County Environmental Council. The County of Monmouth and the Board of Chosen Freeholders do not necessarily share the viewpoints of any environmental group mentioned in this newsletter.
If you have questions, comments, or wish to have an event listed in the newsletter, please contact: Kyle Clonan Kyle.Clonan@co.monmouth.nj.us
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