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 IT'S TIME TO LOCK IN THE PROGRESS...
Laws
and regulations are insufficient to protect the vast ecological value of this ocean
region and its living marine resources from polluting and
habitat-destructive activities, such as ocean dumping of contaminated
sediments, permanent extraction of offshore sand by industrial
strip-miners, and offshore gas and oil exploration to name a few. These destructive activities undermine the
ecological and economic potentialities
for sustainable living marine resources and must be prohibited. Elected officials must strive harder to protect the ocean.
The current battles are fought permit by permit, which is
time-consuming, unproductive, and exhausting. It is time to lock-in the tremendous path of progress which has led
to far-reaching improvements in our ocean water quality and lock-out
environmentally harmful activities, thereby ensuring the continued
protection of the ocean today and for future generations.
New legislation -- the Clean Ocean Zone -- will permanently protect the waters of
the NY/NJ and will:
Reduce
Pollution:
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Prohibit new ocean dumpsites.
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Mandate capping of the
Historic Area Remediation Site (HARS) -- formerly the Mud Dump Site --
with progressively cleaner sediment to ensure the remediation of the HARS
and to protect against adverse ecological effects.
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Prohibit new point sources of
pollution and increases of discharge capacity (e.g., wastewater discharge
outfalls, industrial discharges).
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Reduce pollution from
stormwater and sediments. (This will be accomplished through state
initiatives.)
Protect
Marine Ecosystems:
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Prohibit the permanent
extraction (e.g. strip-mining) of natural non-renewable resources, including sand
and gravel.
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Prohibit industrial and
non-renewable energy facilities and infrastructure, including oil and gas exploration and development.
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Require the development of
responsible regulations for renewable energy sources. (This will be
achieved by determinations by two federal agencies that a lease,
easement or right-of-way to establish a renewable energy facility will
not unreasonably degrade or endanger human health or the marine
environment.)
Support
Marine Resources:
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Support recreational and
commercial fishing by acknowledging that federal and state laws for
fisheries exist. Prohibit the COZ legislation from being used to adopt or
enact fisheries management actions. The COZ legislation shall not be used to restrict or limit
recreational or commercial fishing.
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Support federal and state
approved artificial reefs, and allow underwater research and exploration,
but not projects that will adversely affect the ecosystem.
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Support,
celebrate, and sustain maritime activities that depend on a healthy and
clean ocean such as: boating, underwater diving, fishing, surfing, swimming, and the
enjoyment of the sea. The COZ legislation will not be used to
restrict or limit these activities.
Click
here for a briefing paper that describes the 10 points of the COZ in more
detail
Click
to view the growing list of organizations supporting the COZ
Join the COZ
Campaign
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