Federal
Yesterday, the US House of Representatives voted 317-101 to approve $19.4 billion to help upgrade crumbling wastewater facilities and deal with the ongoing problem of Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs). This is GREAT news for the Hackensack River where 27 CSO points STILL discharge untreated sewage during nearly every measureable rainfall. The legislation provides $13.8 billion in grants for the Clean Water State Revolving Funds, which provide low-interest loans to communities for wastewater infrastructure. The bill also includes $2.5 billion for CSO control grants – money that should soon be available for projects right here in our watershed. Nationally, it’s estimated that every day more than 100 Olympic-sized pools-worth of sewage find their way into America’s waterways.
Yesterday, the US House of Representatives voted 317-101 to approve $19.4 billion to help upgrade crumbling wastewater facilities and deal with the ongoing problem of Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs). This is GREAT news for the Hackensack River where 27 CSO points STILL discharge untreated sewage during nearly every measureable rainfall. The legislation provides $13.8 billion in grants for the Clean Water State Revolving Funds, which provide low-interest loans to communities for wastewater infrastructure. The bill also includes $2.5 billion for CSO control grants – money that should soon be available for projects right here in our watershed. Nationally, it’s estimated that every day more than 100 Olympic-sized pools-worth of sewage find their way into America’s waterways.
State
Help stop Off-road vehicles from running roughshod over New Jersey! Illegal off-road vehicle (ORV) riding damages 300,000+ acres of state park, forest and open space each year, and costs taxpayers almost a million dollars annually in damages because we lack the ability to make those responsible pay! Bills A823 and S2055 would establish registration and licensing of ORVs to help conservation officers, police and residents hold illegal riders responsible for their damaging activities. The bill also increases fines for illegal riders and creates stricter penalties for repeat offenders.
Call the State Senate Environment Committee and ask them to support S2055, sponsored by Bergen County’s own Senator Bob Gordon, when they vote this Monday, March 16! They are:
Sen. Jeff Van Drew - Vice-Chair - District 1 - Millville/Vineland - (609) 465-0700
Sen. James Beach - District 6 - Cherry Hill - (856) 489-3442Sen. Andrew R. Ciesla - District 10 - Brick - (732) 840-9028
Sen. Christopher Bateman - District 16 - Somerville - (908) 526-3600
Sen. Bob Smith - Chair - District 17 - Piscataway - (732) 752-0770Sen. Bob Gordon - District 38 - Fair Lawn - (201) 703-9779 / Call to THANK HIM!
Also, call your State Assembly representatives and urge them to vote for the Assembly version of the bill (A823) on Monday as well. If you aren’t sure who they are, go to: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp to find out.
Hackensack Riverkeeper, Inc.
231 Main Street
Hackensack, NJ 07601
201-968-0808
201-968-0336 (fax)
info@hackensackriverkeeper.org
www.hackensackriverkeeper.org
