Comments on: Cumberland Tire fire exposes another deficit at DEP

By: nohesitation

nohesitation — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 20:36:53 +0000

On the issue of the role of Governor Corzine and DEP budget and environmental deficits, please see this Report – I heard absolutely ZERO public opposition to the Corzine DEP budget last year from Commissioner Jackson, DEP staff leaks, or envrionmental advocates:
NEW JERSEY ENVIRONMENTAL BUDGET SHRINKS BUT TASKS GROW — New Corzine Initiatives Will Worsen Already Large State Environmental Deficits
http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=836

By: nohesitation

nohesitation — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 20:25:28 +0000

Dear inamirror:
1. Junkyards -
You should read the Ocean County Grand Jury Presentment on the issue of junkyards, pollution, and lack of DEP oversight. It is a virtual indictment of DEP failures.
DEP has legal responsibilities to regulate water pollution and enforce State water quality standards (surface and groundwater) – junkyards are dishcarging pollutants that violate water quality.
DEP also regualtes solid waste – junkyards are often illegal solid waste facilities.
Both soild waste adn cleamn water ar state – not local responsibilities adn are boith pre-empted by state law.
2. Where did the money go?
I don’t know – that’s why I urged press adn citizens to ask tyough qquestions. If it went to snow removal at DOT, then whoever made that deecsion should talk to the folks in Cumberland County adn all the pother communities with illegal tire pile threats that are ignored.
3. Enforcement is free
Where is the enforcement? Where are the lawsuits? Wher are the liens? How much Spill Act money jhas been spent cleaning up these sites?
This does not take state money to do.

By: inamirror

inamirror — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 20:14:02 +0000

nohesitation, in 2004 and 2005, those monies were going to the NJDOT for the costs of snow removal on State highways.

By: inamirror

inamirror — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 20:12:14 +0000

Mr. Wolfe, the DEP has no regulations regarding junkyards. Thus, enforcement is left up almost exclusively, if not exclusively, to locals. Fair? Probably not. A simple issue to address? Not really.
As for the tire tax monies, as I typed before, the Governor is the one who has diverted the monies from the DEP. The DEP, thus, has not handed out any monies last or this year for tire pile cleanups. If they had the money, they’d disburse the money. Much like in ‘04 and ‘05. The Governor is going to have to answer this one himself.

By: nohesitation

nohesitation — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 20:03:53 +0000

Another question is raised by the DEP summary:
“P.L. 2004, c.46 will generate an estimated $12.3 million in annual revenue, of which $2.3 million would be allocated for scrap tire pile cleanup. ”
Where did the $10 million collected but not allocated to cleanup go?