Clean Water Rollback Bill Comes Under Fire [AUDIO]

A coalition of New Jersey’s 13 leading environmental groups has released a report which finds pollution to waterways in the state would significantly increase under a bill pending in the legislature.The measure would open critical loopholes in one of the state’s principal clean water protection programs, known as the Water Quality Management Planning regulations. The move would open 300,000 acres of protected land to development.

“By developing these areas, we would see more storm water running over the land, picking up pollutants as it goes and depositing them into our waters,” said Dena Mottola Jaborska, Executive Director of Environment New Jersey. “We are talking about 339 million pounds of pollution into our waters each year.”

Cumberland, Atlantic, Burlington, Ocean, Sussex, Monmouth and Somerset Counties would be hardest hit by the increased pollution. All of them would face an increase of nitrogen pollution of nearly 100% or more with Cumberland facing a 144.6% increase, Burlington a 133.6% increase, Atlantic County a 114.5% increase and Ocean would face a 112.7% increase. Across the state, the increase of nitrogen to local waters would be 98.7%. The same counties top the list for increased phosphorus loads as well.

“We’re talking about the Delaware and Raritan rivers which would effect our drinking water. We’re talking about some of our most important recreational waters including the Barnegat Bay,” said Mottola Jaborska. “The report only details pollution from stormwater. There will be even more pollution coming from increased discharge from sewer plants and new septic systems.”