On Thursday, June 20, the State Senate voted on a critical bill (SCR138) to provide sustainable funding for continued preservation. The bill passed 36 to 2. If you contacted your state senator, then your voice was heard.
Now, the Legislature must take final action on the bill by the end of June to send the measure to the November ballot for voter approval. SCR138 amends the NJ Constitution to dedicate, for 30 years, 1/5 of a cent for each dollar subject to sales tax for preservation of open space, including flood prone areas and lands that protect water supplies, farmland, and historic properties.
Next week, this will go before the Assembly, so please contact your assemblyperson and ask him or her to vote YES on SCR138 and ALLOW VOTERS TO DECIDE on Green Acres, Blue Acres, farmland preservation and historic preservation.
To find your Assemblyman, click here
Friday, June 21, 2013
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Preservation New Jersey’s Ten Most Endangered Historic Places 2013
Each year, Preservation New Jersey releases a list of their "Ten Most Endangered Historic Places"in our state as a way to build awareness for landmarks and historic resources that are in danger of disappearing.
As with animal and plant species, sometimes the average person will look at items on the list and wonder why they are worth saving. So, educating the people of that area and in NJ is an important part of this preservation and conservation process.
Places listed as "most endangered" have architectural and historic integrity coupled with an identified threat to their existence.
In my own Essex County, the 18th century Collins House in Bloomfield is one site that is historically and architecturally significant. It is one of the earliest houses built in Bloomfield and the only one that survives in its original open space landscape.
Very few of these "East Jersey Cottages" are left and it also has ties to local transportation and industrial history by way of the Morris Canal and the adjacent paper mill.
The Morris Canal Rockaway River Aqueduct, in Denville, also made the list because of the threat of demolition.
Collins House has been vacant since 2005 and is in poor condition and the Township of Bloomfield considers the house beyond restoration. But The Friends of the Collins House was formed to protect and raise awareness about the house.
It's a situation that is typical of historical preservation projects. The biggest problems are often not the actual physical preservation process itself, but the lack of public awareness about the significance of the place, a lack of support from the municipality, county or state and a lack of funding.
The Morris Canal Rockaway River Aqueduct is located on Diamond Spring Road, in Denville Township, Morris County. It is already part of the Morris Canal Historic District and is listed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places.
What remains of the components of the canal structure (masonry piers and abutments) are threatened with demolition by Denville Township in an attempt to alleviate flooding along the Rockaway River. It's not even clear about the ownership of the aqueduct site.
Groups like Preservation New Jersey acknowledge that consideration has to be given to serious flooding, but wants options that do not require a loss of historically significant elements. They point to similar structures, such as the Mule Bridge Pier in Boonton, that were saved and restored, and enrich the community's history.
As with animal and plant species, sometimes the average person will look at items on the list and wonder why they are worth saving. So, educating the people of that area and in NJ is an important part of this preservation and conservation process.
Places listed as "most endangered" have architectural and historic integrity coupled with an identified threat to their existence.
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| Illustration of Inclined Plane 11 East in Bloomfield from Scientific American, May 20, 1882. The house in the upper-left represents the Collins House, but is not an accurate depiction of the house’s location. via Collins House photo gallery |
In my own Essex County, the 18th century Collins House in Bloomfield is one site that is historically and architecturally significant. It is one of the earliest houses built in Bloomfield and the only one that survives in its original open space landscape.
Very few of these "East Jersey Cottages" are left and it also has ties to local transportation and industrial history by way of the Morris Canal and the adjacent paper mill.
The Morris Canal Rockaway River Aqueduct, in Denville, also made the list because of the threat of demolition.
Collins House has been vacant since 2005 and is in poor condition and the Township of Bloomfield considers the house beyond restoration. But The Friends of the Collins House was formed to protect and raise awareness about the house.
 |
| image via www.preservationnj.org |
The Morris Canal Rockaway River Aqueduct is located on Diamond Spring Road, in Denville Township, Morris County. It is already part of the Morris Canal Historic District and is listed on the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places.
What remains of the components of the canal structure (masonry piers and abutments) are threatened with demolition by Denville Township in an attempt to alleviate flooding along the Rockaway River. It's not even clear about the ownership of the aqueduct site.
Groups like Preservation New Jersey acknowledge that consideration has to be given to serious flooding, but wants options that do not require a loss of historically significant elements. They point to similar structures, such as the Mule Bridge Pier in Boonton, that were saved and restored, and enrich the community's history.
Monday, June 17, 2013
Partial Settlement in Passaic River Contamination Litigation
Excerpted from NJDEP Press Release http://www.nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2013/13_0062.htm
Acting Attorney General John Hoffman and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Martin announced today that several principal defendants in the Passaic River litigation have agreed to pay the state $130 million to resolve a portion of the state’s claims related to contamination of the Passaic River.
The settling defendants are Spain-based oil and gas conglomerate Repsol, S.A, Argentina-based energy conglomerate YPF, S.A., YPF Holdings, Inc. and YPF International, as well as CLH Holdings, Inc., Maxus Energy Corporation, Maxus International Energy Company and Tierra Solutions, Inc. The agreement follows a recently-announced $35.4 million proposed settlement with 258 third-party defendants and, if approved by the court, will allow the state to immediately proceed with its claims against the principal defendant, Occidental Chemical Corporation (OCC), for the bulk of the state’s damages and future costs.
Going forward, the state intends to pursue its liability claims against the one remaining non-settling principal defendant, Occidental Chemical Corporation, for all future clean-up and removal costs related to contamination of the Passaic River. It also will pursue OCC for damages resulting from the intentional discharge of Agent Orange, dioxins and other hazardous substances by the former Diamond Shamrock plant. These costs and damages are separate from, and in addition to, the $130 Million received from the settling defendants.
Last summer Judge Lombardi entered a judgment against Occidental Chemical Corporation, holding it liable for all of the state’s clean-up and removal costs because Occidental is the legal successor to Diamond Shamrock. In previous litigation, New Jersey’s Appellate Division determined that Diamond Shamrock intentionally dumped hazardous pollutants into the Passaic River for decades.
Under terms of the agreement announced today, the settling defendants’ total exposure to all claims for Passaic River cleanup and removal costs and damages could go as high as $530 million, subject to certain conditions and exceptions.
The Passaic River Litigation was launched by the state more than seven years ago against Occidental Chemical Corporation and other companies associated with the former Diamond Shamrock Chemicals Company plant in Newark.
Diamond Shamrock manufactured pesticides and herbicides from the 1940s through the 1960s, including the infamous defoliating chemical Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Over a period of many years, the Diamond Shamrock plant discharged the known carcinogen dioxin, as well as other hazardous substances, into the Passaic River.
The EPA is currently finalizing a detailed plan for the cleanup of the lower eight miles of the Passaic River.
The DEP reminds residents that harvesting blue claw crabs from the waters of the lower river and Newark Bay is prohibited because of the contamination. The DEP continues to engage in coordinated multi-language education efforts reinforcing the ban with the help of community groups and municipalities in the lower Passaic River and Newark Bay region.
Acting Attorney General John Hoffman and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Martin announced today that several principal defendants in the Passaic River litigation have agreed to pay the state $130 million to resolve a portion of the state’s claims related to contamination of the Passaic River.
The settling defendants are Spain-based oil and gas conglomerate Repsol, S.A, Argentina-based energy conglomerate YPF, S.A., YPF Holdings, Inc. and YPF International, as well as CLH Holdings, Inc., Maxus Energy Corporation, Maxus International Energy Company and Tierra Solutions, Inc. The agreement follows a recently-announced $35.4 million proposed settlement with 258 third-party defendants and, if approved by the court, will allow the state to immediately proceed with its claims against the principal defendant, Occidental Chemical Corporation (OCC), for the bulk of the state’s damages and future costs.
Going forward, the state intends to pursue its liability claims against the one remaining non-settling principal defendant, Occidental Chemical Corporation, for all future clean-up and removal costs related to contamination of the Passaic River. It also will pursue OCC for damages resulting from the intentional discharge of Agent Orange, dioxins and other hazardous substances by the former Diamond Shamrock plant. These costs and damages are separate from, and in addition to, the $130 Million received from the settling defendants.
Last summer Judge Lombardi entered a judgment against Occidental Chemical Corporation, holding it liable for all of the state’s clean-up and removal costs because Occidental is the legal successor to Diamond Shamrock. In previous litigation, New Jersey’s Appellate Division determined that Diamond Shamrock intentionally dumped hazardous pollutants into the Passaic River for decades.
Under terms of the agreement announced today, the settling defendants’ total exposure to all claims for Passaic River cleanup and removal costs and damages could go as high as $530 million, subject to certain conditions and exceptions.
The Passaic River Litigation was launched by the state more than seven years ago against Occidental Chemical Corporation and other companies associated with the former Diamond Shamrock Chemicals Company plant in Newark.
Diamond Shamrock manufactured pesticides and herbicides from the 1940s through the 1960s, including the infamous defoliating chemical Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Over a period of many years, the Diamond Shamrock plant discharged the known carcinogen dioxin, as well as other hazardous substances, into the Passaic River.
The EPA is currently finalizing a detailed plan for the cleanup of the lower eight miles of the Passaic River.
The DEP reminds residents that harvesting blue claw crabs from the waters of the lower river and Newark Bay is prohibited because of the contamination. The DEP continues to engage in coordinated multi-language education efforts reinforcing the ban with the help of community groups and municipalities in the lower Passaic River and Newark Bay region.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
This Weekend Are Free Fishing Days in NJ
New Jersey's Free Fishing Days
June 15 and 16, 2013
New Jersey’s two Free Fishing Days are a no-risk investment for an introduction to freshwater fishing in the Garden State and the perfect time for families to enjoy two days of outdoor fun for free. Though youngsters under the age of 16 don’t need a license, these days provide a special benefit to adults who can join in the fun without having to purchase a license. That is, until they get hooked on a sport that just might become a lifetime of fun for the whole family. Free Fishing Days also provide a great opportunity for out-of-state visitors to sample some of the finest freshwater fishing opportunities in the Northeast.
For those who may not be aware, freshwater fishing in New Jersey has never been better. There are more kinds of fish and more places for people to catch them than ever before. Thanks to the Hackettstown and Pequest State Fish Hatcheries, anglers can try their luck for stocked muskellunge, northern pike, walleye, striped bass hybrids, channel catfish and lake trout in New Jersey’s larger lakes as well as brook, brown and rainbow trout released into the state’s smaller streams and waterways. Wild populations of fish (not hatchery raised) can also be found in abundance and anglers should pay close attention to regulations affecting them as these conservation measures are frequently more strict than for their stocked brethren. Either way, there is excellent fishing to be found statewide.
For those just starting out, the Division of Fish and Wildlife offers many programs and classes to advance from beginner to expert. The Pequest State Trout Hatchery in Oxford, Warren County offers free fishing programs. Pequest offers a Natural Resource Education Center with a variety of exhibits and displays on wildlife, a butterfly garden, picnic areas and hiking trails. There is also a handicapped-accessible fishing site along the Pequest River.
For those in search of the perfect fishing hole, the Division offers a publication entitled Places to Fish, available at select Division offices and online. This handy booklet lists only those waters with ample populations of desirable species in worthwhile sizes as well as areas that guarantee public access.
- Freshwater Fishing Page - Lots of helpful links!
- Places to Fish - Ponds, Lakes and Reservoirs
- Places to Fish - Rivers and Streams
- Accessible Sites for People with Disabilities
- Fishing Access to NJ Trout Waters - Alphabetical Listing
- Fishing Access to NJ Trout Waters - Listed by County
Friday, June 14, 2013
Wildlife Without Borders
In an interesting story about the way the endangered and threatened listings work, I saw that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has called for the protection of chimpanzees. It is interesting and unusual because we don't think of chimps and apes as species from the United States. So, why would we need to protect them with a listing? And what impact could this possibly have on New Jersey?
The FWS is currently monitoring the population wherever it is found in the wild as "endangered" and wherever it is found in captivity as "theatened." This what is considered to be a "split listing."
The greatest impact would be that it would require a special permit to use chimps in medical research or to sell them interstate. Currently, about 2,000 chimps are held in captivity in the United States. Half of those are used for research.
In a wider world context, primatologist Jane Goodall and her Jane Goodall Institute have been calling for protections like this for many years. Outside the U.S., chimps are threatened by habitat loss and disease. Unfortunately, poaching of animals for sale has increased since they were listed as endangered in 1990. The Jane Goodall Institute applauded the USFWS announcement which could greatly expand protection of chimpanzees, including the thousands of chimpanzees currently held captive in the United States.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Division of International Conservation works with partners worldwide to conserve fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats, and maintain the integrity of ecological processes beyond our borders, for present and future generations.
In 2000, the U.S. Congress passed the Great Ape Conservation Act and since then Wildlife Without Borders has been building the capacity of governments and private organizations to address the threats to great apes through the Great Ape Conservation Fund.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is supporting efforts to fight poaching and illegal trafficking in great apes; to increase habitat protection by creating national parks and protected areas; and engaging the community through local initiatives to conserve the most threatened great ape species.
The FWS is currently monitoring the population wherever it is found in the wild as "endangered" and wherever it is found in captivity as "theatened." This what is considered to be a "split listing."
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| Image via ecos.fws.gov |
The greatest impact would be that it would require a special permit to use chimps in medical research or to sell them interstate. Currently, about 2,000 chimps are held in captivity in the United States. Half of those are used for research.
In a wider world context, primatologist Jane Goodall and her Jane Goodall Institute have been calling for protections like this for many years. Outside the U.S., chimps are threatened by habitat loss and disease. Unfortunately, poaching of animals for sale has increased since they were listed as endangered in 1990. The Jane Goodall Institute applauded the USFWS announcement which could greatly expand protection of chimpanzees, including the thousands of chimpanzees currently held captive in the United States.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Division of International Conservation works with partners worldwide to conserve fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats, and maintain the integrity of ecological processes beyond our borders, for present and future generations.
In 2000, the U.S. Congress passed the Great Ape Conservation Act and since then Wildlife Without Borders has been building the capacity of governments and private organizations to address the threats to great apes through the Great Ape Conservation Fund.
Wildlife, fish, and plants do not recognize national boundaries. Conservation of wildlife is a global responsibility, with the survival of species largely dependent on habitats extending beyond national boundaries. With human populations growing – and corresponding increases in development, pollution and consumption of natural resources – the need for international collaboration has never been greater.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is supporting efforts to fight poaching and illegal trafficking in great apes; to increase habitat protection by creating national parks and protected areas; and engaging the community through local initiatives to conserve the most threatened great ape species.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Gray Whales and New Jersey
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| A spyhopping Gray Whale |
The North Atlantic Gray whale became extirpated in New Jersey waters back in the whaling industry days of the early 1700s. That means they no longer exist in these waters, but are not extinct because they exist in other locations. They were once found off the coasts of the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada as well as on the other side of the Atlantic, along the coast of Europe.
This is the same species that is found along the Pacific coast of the U.S. as well as the northern Pacific coast of Asia. The North Atlantic name indicates its geographic location, not a distinct species. These whales probably were extirpated from Atlantic waters off Europe first and, as the New World was settled, began to disappear from the Atlantic coast of North America.
Gray whales off the Pacific coast of North America were also hunted and were critically endangered in the 20th century, but protective measures have allowed the gray whale population in the eastern Pacific Ocean to rebound. They were removed from the U.S. List of Endangered and Threatened Species in 1994. But, Gray whales in the western Pacific Ocean, along the coasts of Russia and Korea, remain endangered. Estimates are that this population has no more than 100 individuals remaining.
Like gray whales in the Pacific Ocean, North Atlantic gray whales were primarily a coastal whale. Since they did not travel as far from shore, they became an easy species for whalers. Whalers also targeted young whales which stay close to the mother. In earlier times, they would migrate between winter breeding and calving grounds in the southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states, including NJ, to summer foraging grounds in New England.
Gray whales are benthic filter feeders which means that they will scoop up large mouthfuls of fine sediment and then use the baleen strips within their mouth and their tongue to squeeze out the sand and water from their mouth while trapping small invertebrates inside to feed on.
Gray whales can grow to a length of 50 feet and a weight of 80,000 pounds, with females being slightly larger than males. They are mottled gray in color with small bumps along their back, and no fin. They have a double blowhole. They are often covered by barnacles. Their only natural predators are large sharks and killer whales, which usually target young whales or calves.
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| Close-up of a Gray Whale's double blow hole and encrusted barnacles. Photo in San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California, by Philkon Phil Konstantin |
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Horeshoe Crab Bandits Busted
After a 30-minute nighttime helicopter chase in pursuit of a fleeing boat, the New York Police Department busted two poachers in Jamaica Bay on Memorial Day for possession of 200 illicitly obtained horseshoe crabs.
The arthropods, which come ashore in May and June to lay their eggs along the East Coast, can be sold as bait for up to $5 a piece.
While New Jersey banned harvest of the species in 2008, it’s still legal in New York waters within limits and with proper permits. The poachers, however, lacked the appropriate documentation and could face a $500 fine or up to six months in federal prison.
The arthropods, which come ashore in May and June to lay their eggs along the East Coast, can be sold as bait for up to $5 a piece.
While New Jersey banned harvest of the species in 2008, it’s still legal in New York waters within limits and with proper permits. The poachers, however, lacked the appropriate documentation and could face a $500 fine or up to six months in federal prison.
Sunday, June 2, 2013
More Suburban Black Bear Sightings
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| Two female black bear cubs that are safe to observe up close in the new Black Bear Exhibit at Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange. |
Of course, as curious as we are about them, you are cautioned to stay clear bears even though they are generally not aggressive and have moved through towns without incident. Never feed or approach a bear! Still, it is worth reposting some safety tips.
- If a bear enters your home, provide it with an escape route by propping all doors open. Even in outdoor spaces, make sure the bear has an escape route.
- Avoid direct eye contact.
- Never run from a bear. Instead, slowly back away.
- To scare the bear away, make loud noises by yelling, banging pots and pans or using an air horn.
- Make yourself look as big as possible by waving your arms. If you are with someone else, stand close together with your arms raised above your head.
- The bear may utter a series of huffs, make popping jaw sounds by snapping its jaws and swat the ground. These are warning signs that you are too close. Slowly back away, avoid direct eye contact and do not run.
- If a bear stands on its hind legs or moves closer, it may be trying to get a better view or detect scents in the air. It is usually not a threatening behavior.
- Black bears will sometimes “bluff charge” when cornered, threatened or attempting to steal food. Stand your ground, avoid direct eye contact, then slowly back away and do not run.
- If the bear does not leave, move to a secure area.
- Make the bear aware of your presence by speaking in an assertive voice, singing, clapping your hands, or making other noises.
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