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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) today announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will resume and improve a 30-year offshore water sampling program it abruptly discontinued in May.
The day after learning that the EPA had discontinued the program, Sen. Lautenberg and Rep. Pallone urged EPA Region 2 Administrator Alan Steinberg to immediately reinstate the program. At a meeting with Steinberg today in Sen. Lautenberg’s office, the Administrator agreed to resume sampling with a new, more comprehensive testing program
“EPA listened to our concerns and reached a solution that protects our coastline,” said Sen. Lautenberg. “New Jersey’s coastal waters are vital to the economic and environmental health of our state. By working with advocates, the EPA and local communities, we were able to ensure that this important sampling continues and that the health of our ocean remains a top priority.”
"EPA should be commended for developing a stronger and more comprehensive testing program for the future," Pallone said. "I am encouraged by EPA's decision to reinstate the dissolved oxygen testing program in July, and am optimistic that their new plans will ensure that our beach water remains safe and clean."
For 30 years, EPA sampled ocean waters for dissolved oxygen and nutrient levels as a way to test water quality. These tests helped indicate to EPA whether the water was polluted. The lawmakers said without this critical monitoring in place, New Jersey and New York would lose the first alert system for signs of water quality problems.
Sen. Lautenberg and Rep. Pallone said the offshore water sampling program would resume in July with vessels that are equipped to collect data on ocean water and marine life. Onboard laboratories allow scientists to process, analyze and store samples.
“We’re encouraged and delighted that EPA has responded so swiftly by initiating a new monitoring program that is more comprehensive and innovative,” said Cynthia Zipf, Executive Director of Clean Ocean Action. “In addition, they made a long-term commitment to this monitoring program and reducing pollution sources.”
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