S2191

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Jeff Van Drew which would increase civil penalties for medical waste and water and ocean pollution was approved by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today by a vote of 14-0, with one abstention.

“New Jersey’s pristine beaches are more than just a beautiful natural resource and source of State pride,” said Senator Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic and Vice Chairman of the Senate Environment Committee. “For communities along the Jersey Shore, beaches are the lifeblood of the economy, and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in tourism revenue for the State. We need to take a hard-line approach in dealing with those inconsiderate few who would spoil our beaches through illegal ocean dumping.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Jeff Van Drew which would increase civil penalties for medical waste and water and ocean pollution was unanimously approved by the Senate Environment Committee today.

“New Jersey depends on clean and pristine oceans as the engine which drives tourism along the Jersey Shore,” said Senator Van Drew, D-Cape May and Cumberland and Vice Chairman of the Environment Committee. “When someone knowingly and intentionally harms our ocean waters, the resulting beach closures can cost our communities millions of dollars in lost revenue. We need penalties in place which reflect the seriousness of ocean dumping and improper disposal of medical waste, and make people think twice before they shortcut existing disposal policies.”