Washington, D.C. --- Several weeks after garbage washed up on beaches in Monmouth County and U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) requested federal agencies investigate a likely breakdown in the "Floatables Action Plan," the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today informed the New Jersey congressman that a review has now been taken and several improvements have been made to the program.
In a letter sent to Pallone today, EPA Regional Administrator Jane M. Kenny and U.S. Army District Engineer Colonel Richard J. Polo, Jr. informed the congressman that in response to his request an inter-agency meeting was held on July 14 to review the Floatables Action Plan. According to the letter, four specific actions have been taken by the federal agencies:
"I'm pleased both the EPA and Army Corps conducted such a quick review of their actions over the Fourth of July weekend," Pallone said. "Most importantly, the agencies have agreed helicopter surveillance will be available everyday. If the EPA's helicopter can't fly, the Coast Guard will fill the void. It's also going to be extremely beneficial having the Army Corps skimmer vessels operating everyday, including holidays."
Earlier this month, after garbage began washing up on the beaches in northeastern Monmouth County, Pallone sent a letter to both EPA and the Army Corps asking them why the Floatables Action Plan didn't work. In 1989, the Army Corps and the EPA Region 2 designed the plan to remove garbage from the New York/New Jersey Harbor to prevent beach closures, adverse impacts on coastal species and commercial and recreational boating.
"The debris slick which formed off the New Jersey coast was an unfortunate incident," Kenny and Polo wrote in their letter. "Factors include combined sewer overflow discharges from points in New York and New Jersey as a result of heavy rains which occurred on Monday, July 5 and debris from increased recreational boating in the area over the 4th of July weekend. Tide and wind conditions may have also helped contribute to the formation of the slick from debris already in ocean waters."
Pallone believes the primary reason garbage washed up on some beaches was that neither the proper air coverage nor skimmer vessel coverage occurred over the Independence Day holiday. The New Jersey congressman hopes future beach pollution will be prevented with the pledge from the agencies that air monitoring will now occur on a daily basis and skimmer vessel coverage will occur on all holidays. He also looks forward to a comprehensive review of the program in the fall.
