OFFICIAL SITE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2005

Contact: Karen Hershey
(609) 984-1795

OCEAN COUNTY SHELLFISH BEDS RE-OPENED AFTER NOVEMBER CLOSURE

(05/59) TRENTON — Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell signed an order today re-opening 1,358 acres of Barnegat Bay shellfish beds that were closed November 29, 2004 due to a discharge while repairs were underway to a broken sewage main.

The Ocean County Utilities Authority completed repairs to the line April 6th. A follow-up inspection was performed on April 7, which confirmed that there was no longer any effluent leaking into Barnegat Bay. The DEP allowed the bay waters and shellfish to purge pollutants for 30 days. Test results indicate that levels of bacteria in the water are at normal, acceptable levels and the waters are now safe for harvest. The re-opening takes effect Thursday, May 12th.

A copy of the Commissioner's revocation order and a map are below.

REVOCATION OF SHELLFISH BED CLOSURE

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
LAND USE MANAGEMENT

Public Notice of Revocation of Condemnation of Shellfish Beds

Pursuant to statutory authority granted the Department of Environmental Protection appearing at N.J.S.A. 13:1B-4 and 58:24-1 et seq., and to assure that the public health is not imperiled by the consumption of shellfish that may be subject to pollution or to any other conditions which may render shellfish dangerous to health because of degraded water quality resulting from the release of sewage into the waters of Barnegat Bay in Ocean County during the repair of a broken main, the Department ordered the condemnation and prohibition of the harvesting of shellfish from those waters previously classified as Approved and Seasonally Approved in the Barnegat Bay area, specifically:

Those waters of Barnegat Bay east of a line starting at the western end of the municipal pier off 5^th Avenue in Seaside, then bearing approximately 255° T to QR "38", then bearing approximately 193°T to Fl G 4s "39" PA, then bearing approximately 97° T to a cupola on Island Beach and terminating.

As provided in the aforementioned prohibition, and having been advised that the final repair to the effluent line was completed on April 6, 2005, a follow-up inspection was performed on April 7^th that confirmed that there was no longer any effluent leaking into Barnegat Bay. Sampling results currently show normal levels of microbial indicators and the Department has allowed sufficient time for the dispersion of pollutants and purging of shellfish tissue following the repair of the effluent line. These waters are deemed safe for the harvesting of shellfish. Therefore, I revoke the prohibition, returning these waters to their prior classification effective sunrise, May 12, 2005.

###