FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2003

Contact: Peter Boger (609) 984-1795

DEP ANNOUNCES WORKSHOPS ON OPEN SPACE FUNDING
Programs Help Local Governments in Applying for Funding for Open Space Acquisition

(03/91) TRENTON — The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Green Acres Program and the Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program will hold four workshops in June and July to guide municipal and county officials and nonprofit organizations through the state-funding application process. These workshops are part of the McGreevey Administration's continued commitment to promote open space preservation and to create new parks and recreational areas around the state.

"Given the overwhelming demand from local governments and nonprofits for funding to preserve open space, we wanted to help applicants navigate the process more easily and explore additional funding opportunities they might not otherwise use," said DEP Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell. "Working with community partners to preserve open space is a vital component of Governor McGreevey's smart growth agenda."

Governor McGreevey's other open space initiatives include a proposal to provide capital gains tax waivers to landowners who sell their property to the state. His constitutional amendment to invest an additional $150 million for creating and enhancing community parks and for preserving open space and farms in the Highlands has passed the Legislature with widespread support and will appear on the November ballot.

During the workshops, DEP will encourage municipal and county government applicants who have a project with a water quality benefit to apply to the Environmental Infrastructure Financing Program (EIFP) for acquisition funds. By holding workshops early in the year, the Green Acres program hopes to inform applicants of this opportunity in time to meet EIFP's early deadlines and to qualify for EIFP funding.

The EIFP is a partnership between the NJDEP and the NJ Environmental Infrastructure Trust (Trust). The EIFP provides low-cost financing to municipal, county, and other local government units as well as to water purveyors for the construction of wastewater, drinking water and stormwater or nonpoint source pollution management projects, including open space acquisition that provides a water quality benefit.

Financing through EIFP provides a rate equal to one-quarter of the current market rate and results in a loan structure that reduces annual debt service significantly when compared to local financing options. The EIFP has no limit on the amount of money that a borrower can finance to acquire land and the funds can be used as a local match for land acquisition projects funded through Green Acres.

The Green Acres program protects environmentally sensitive open space, water resources and other significant natural and historic resources and provides parks for New Jersey residents and visitors to enjoy. Green Acres partners with, and provides grants and low interest loans to, qualifying county and municipal government agencies and nonprofit land conservancies who work to further these same goals.

Since Green Acres was established in 1961, the program has protected more than 517,000 acres of open space and developed hundreds of recreation facilities. Statewide, more than 1.2 million acres of open space and farmland have been preserved.

This year's workshops are scheduled for:

• June 27 at Cumberland County College, Vineland, from 9:30 to 3:30,
  
• July 17 at Brick Township Municipal Building, Brick, from 9 to 3,
  
• July 23 at Mercer County Boathouse, West Windsor, from 9 to 3, and
  
• July 31 at Charles Watters Community Service Building (formerly the Museum Building), Paramus, from 9 to 3.

Pre-registration is required for all workshops. There is a nominal fee, which covers breakfast, lunch and handouts, of $25 per person and $20 for each additional member from the same municipality or organization. To register, contact Nancee May, Green Acres workshop coordinator, at (609) 984-0570.

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Related Links

• NJDEP Green Acres (Open Space)
  http://www.nj.gov/dep/greenacres

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6/18/03

Contact: Elaine Makatura
(609) 984-1795

DEP RESPONDS TO SENATE BUDGET PROPOSAL

(03/89) TRENTON – Calling a budget proposal released on Monday evening by Senator Littell and other members of the Senate Budget Committee "irresponsible," New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell today said cuts in funding will hurt shore protection, open space and toxic waste clean up.

"This budget proposal reflects the wrong values for the people of New Jersey. They will be weakening environmental protection under the guise of fiscal prudence. Under the prior administration, DEP's budget was slashed, programs and personnel cut, and standards in enforcement weakened," DEP Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell said.

The Littell-led proposal for a $138 million reduction in the capital construction project threatens $75.2 million constitutionally dedicated for open space preservation throughout the state, $25 million for shore protection, $30.7 million for hazardous waste cleanups, and $24.9 million for underground tank cleanup and brownfield redevelopment.

"The McGreevey administration has identified clean air, clean drinking water, a healthier environment and a better quality of life among its highest priorities. The people of New Jersey share these values. We are making real progress in our efforts to reverse the mistakes of the past. Now that we have begun to turn the corner, this budget undermines our progress and ignores the will of the people," Campbell said.

The budget proposal targets programs that protect the quality of New Jersey’s 127 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline. Specifically, funding for shore protection programs that would replenish beaches is vulnerable under the proposal.

"The Jersey shore has made tourism one of the state’s highest-ranking industries. Tourism along our coastal communities contributes upwards of $16 billion to the state economy and employs hundreds of thousands of people. In the face of those facts, the proposal to slash shore funding is beyond all reason," Campbell said.

The DEP budget would fund some 40 shore protection projects in coastal communities including Absecon Island and Brigantine in Atlantic County; and the Belmar to Manasquan beach fill in Monmouth County.

This year, the DEP received requests for more than $400 million for open space preservation funding from local governments and nonprofit organizations that are working to combat sprawl, provide local parks and preserve New Jersey’s remaining precious, undeveloped land resources. The proposed cuts would delay state support for many of these projects.

The additional proposal to divert $5 million recovered in natural resource damage settlements will prevent the state from undertaking restoration projects to compensate New Jerseyans for economic and natural resource losses caused by contamination of drinking water and fisheries. After many years of neglect, the McGreevey Administration is stepping up efforts to ensure that responsible parties for contamination and for lost use of natural resources restore ecological injuries and pay damage assessments. If the proposal is adopted, communities that have already waited too long for the state fulfill its role as the trustee and protector of the people’s natural resources will have to wait even longer.

This proposal will also effect hazardous waste cleanup funding for contaminated sites where responsible parties either refuse or are unable to conduct remediation work. Major projects include the Horseshoe Road, Roebling Steel, and Higgins Disposal Superfund sites, which require state funding to ensure federal trust fund monies are available for these cleanups.

In addition, these cuts would reverse the progress Governor James E. McGreevey has achieved — with bipartisan support in the Legislature — to make underground storage tank cleanup funds available to municipalities and developers to restore brownfield sites to productive use.

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• NJDEP Shore Protection
  http://www.nj.gov/dep/shoreprotection
• NJDEP Green Acres (Open Space)
  http://www.nj.gov/dep/greenacres
• NJDEP Site Remediation Program (Cleanups)
  http://www.nj.gov/dep/srp

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6/18/03

Contact: Amy Cradic
(609) 984-1795

DEP Reaches Settlement with Local Water Supplier to Address Water Use Violations and
Promote Conservation:

Township to Replenish Excess Water Withdrawn from Aquifer

(03/88) TRENTON – New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell today announced that the township of East Greenwich, Gloucester County, has agreed to replenish – over a three year period – the amount of excess water diverted from a local aquifer and to decrease its reliance on limited groundwater supplies by purchasing water from a private water company.

"East Greenwich relied on a depleted aquifer for its water supply and was consistently withdrawing more water than permitted due to the township's increased growth," said DEP Commissioner Campbell. "We are pleased that East Greenwich is paying back the excess water amounts used and is easing the long-term strain placed on the aquifer by tapping into a more plentiful water source to meet future needs."

East Greenwich is located in Water Supply Critical Area No. 2 as designated under the state's Water Supply Management Act. Critical Area designations are made where excessive water usage poses a significant threat to the long-term integrity of a water supply source.

Under its DEP-issued water supply allocation permit, East Greenwich can divert no more than 178 million gallons of water from its wells per year. In 2001, East Greenwich exceeded its annual water allocation limit by more than 79 million gallons, and in 2002 the township exceeded its annual limit by 61 million gallons.

As part of the settlement with the DEP, East Greenwich has agreed to decrease the annual, permitted amount of water it diverts from groundwater supplies by a total of 61 million gallons over a three-year period between 2003 and 2005 to make up for or replenish the amount of water withdrawn in excess of its permit limit in 2002. Any additional water needed by the township during this period and in the future must be purchased from New Jersey American Water Company. In addition, East Greenwich has agreed to pay the DEP $31,250 to settle a penalty assessed for its 2001 water allocation limit violation.

The New Jersey-American Water Company recently extended its Tri-County Pipeline in order to provide East Greenwich with any water needed above its permitted water diversion limit.

Critical Area No. 2 was established in 1993 under the Water Supply Management Act and includes portions of Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Atlantic, Cumberland, Salem, Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Since the area was designated, water allocations from the Potomac-Raritan-Magothy aquifer system have been reduced on average of 22 percent within this region.

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• NJDEP Water Supply Administration
  http://www.nj.gov/dep/watersupply

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6/17/03

Contact: Amy Cradic
(609) 984-1795

Take a Virtual Tour of New Jersey's State Parks and Historic Sites

(03/87) TRENTON – A newly added feature on the state Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) web site (www.nj.gov/dep) now provides visitors greater opportunity to discover New Jersey's state parks, forests, and historic sites through online videos, photo galleries and panoramic iPix images.

"New virtual tours of our state parks and historic sites provide people an added opportunity to enjoy some of New Jersey's greatest attractions," said DEP Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell. "The online videos and images are useful tools that can help families or individuals find the perfect location for a day trip or find a scenic area for overnight camping."

By simply logging on to the Internet and visiting the DEP homepage, visitors can explore the scenic sites of New Jersey's beaches, rivers, trails, camping areas, historic homes and landscapes, including the battlefields where Washington and the Continental Army spent almost half of the American Revolutionary War.

Virtual tours are currently available for 23 state park and historic sites, including:

In addition to the new state park and historic site virtual tours, the DEP homepage features a new listserv that allows New Jersey's residents and businesses to receive the latest DEP news releases and updates directly by email. Both new online features are accessible from the homepage at www.nj.gov/dep.

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• NJDEP Division of Parks & Forestry
  http://www.njparksandforests.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6/17/03

Contact: Peter Boger or
Elaine Makatura
609-984-1795

DEP OPENS NEW MARINE WATER QUALITY MONITORING CENTER
Ceremony Coincides with Opening of Additional Shellfish Beds for Harvesting

(03/86) TRENTON – Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell today officially opened new offices and laboratories for the state's Marine Water Monitoring Program in Leeds Point, Atlantic County. The facilities will allow DEP to provide continuous marine water quality data to the public and to test shellfish routinely for contaminants.

"DEP's monitoring of New Jersey's shellfish growing waters not only protects the public from shellfish diseases, but also serves as an environmental yardstick by which we can measure the progress of pollution abatement programs," said Commissioner Campbell. "These new facilities will ensure that New Jersey remains a worldwide leader in the shellfish industry and in protecting its fragile coastal resources."

This facility will be part of DEP's network of 2,500 monitors that routinely samples marine waters ensuring that shellfish are harvested from clean waters. The new laboratory is outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment including an atomic absorption spectrophotometer to test shellfish for metals, including mercury, arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium and nickel.

New Jersey's shellfish industry is a critical part of the coastal economy with a dockside value of $79 million per year.

In addition to shellfish testing, the facility also will compile continuous, real-time water quality data, using new monitoring equipment. Solar-powered sensors located in four coastal buoys will gather data on water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity and chlorophyll. The data will soon be available in real time on the DEP web site at http://www.nj.gov/dep.

"Now that we are able to better monitor our coastal waters, we will be better prepared to investigate persistent problems such as harmful algae blooms and sudden drops in dissolved oxygen, both of which can damage New Jersey's aquatic ecosystem," Campbell said.

The new, larger facilities also provide space for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) equipment that will improve the state's response to contaminant spills, helping DEP track the spills and determine what areas need to be closed.

The US Environmental Protection Agency provided a $300,000 grant to support the purchase of state of the art equipment to upgrade the facility.

The dedication of the Leeds Point facility coincides with the opening of additional harvesting waters, a benefit of New Jersey's continued commitment to improved marine water quality.

On Monday, June 16, the reclassification and upgrade of 3,889 acres of shellfish waters took effect, marking the 15th consecutive year that New Jersey has upgraded more beds for harvest than it downgraded. With this latest reclassification, 90 percent of New Jersey's shellfish beds are now open for harvest.

The newly opened beds include 3,695 acres in the Atlantic Ocean off Monmouth County. DEP previously allowed shellfishing on the remaining 194 acres but has now upgraded the waters, lengthening the harvesting season. These areas include Manahawkin Bay (133 acres), Tuckerton Cove (45 acres) and Strathmere (16 acres).

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• NJDEP Bureau of Marine Water
  http://www.nj.gov/dep/wmm/bmw

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6/12/03

Contact: Jack Kaskey
609-984-1795

West Milford Man Cited for Shooting Bear

(03/83) TRENTON – The Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) Division of Fish and Wildlife today cited a West Milford Township man for unlawfully shooting a black bear that entered his yard last week.

As a result of an investigation that included a review of necropsy reports, the DEP cited Patrick P. Flynn Jr. of North Kushaqua Trail in West Milford for unlawfully injuring a black bear. The summons carries a minimum fine of $100 and a maximum fine of $300.

Flynn shot and wounded the 400-pound, male black bear on the evening of June 5. The following morning, division officers located the bear 400 yards from the house. They were forced to euthanize the animal due to its injuries.

Although Flynn indicated at the time that he shot the bear in self-defense, the division's necropsy report indicated otherwise. The bear was shot in the rear at a range of about 15 yards, indicating it was retreating when Flynn pulled the trigger.

"Communities need to understand that shooting bears is unlawful," said DEP Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell. "While there may be circumstances in which an immediate threat to safety would excuse a killing, that justification was not presented by the facts in this case."

Residents who encounter a bear on their property should call police and not confront the animal. The DEP has trained hundreds of local police officers to respond to bear incidents.

Making loud noises, such as banging pans together, will usually get a bear to leave the area. Keeping garbage, pet foods and bird feeders secured from bears can reduce the number of problem incidents in a neighborhood.

West Milford Municipal Court is scheduled to hear the case Tuesday, July 1.

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• NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife
  http://www.njfishandwildlife.org
• Bear Facts for New Jersey
  http://www.njfishandwildlife.org/bearinfo.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6/4/03

Contact: Fred Mumford
(609) 984-1795

Toxic and Hazardous Substance Data Released
Enforcement and Permit Review Underway

(03/81) TRENTON – To increase public awareness, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell today released new data quantifying releases of toxic substances to New Jersey's air, land, and water by the state's largest industrial facilities. DEP is using the data to better identify possible environmental violations and community impacts.

DEP collected data from 500 New Jersey facilities that submitted reports for 229 substances used during 2001. Facilities required to report under the state's Community Right to Know and Pollution Prevention programs include manufacturing companies, power plants, hazardous waste treatment and disposal facilities, and chemical and petroleum plants.

"The data that New Jersey facilities reported will help our scientists and investigators identify where enforcement actions and permit reviews can bring greater health protections for New Jersey's residents and their environment," said Commissioner Campbell.

In the past year, DEP updated all toxic substance release data for reporting years 1998 through 2001, which includes additional information about materials used in products and recycled by industry not reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. All data is now available for the reporting years 1994 through 2001.

"Although raw data do not directly translate into risks to public health or the environment, the information does provide a starting point," said Commissioner Campbell. "Determining potential health and ecological risks requires further scrutiny and evaluation of many factors, including location of a release, toxicity of a substance, where a chemical goes after release and proximity to residents."

The 2001 data includes 2,306 reports on substances covered by New Jersey's Right to Know law that were manufactured, brought into facilities, consumed in processes, shipped off site in products, released directly into the environment, managed as waste on site, or shipped off site for further management (recycling, energy recovery, or treatment or disposal). DEP also is reviewing hazardous substance use and waste management to accelerate pollution prevention measures that improve operational processes and efficiencies at these industrial facilities.

Total releases into the environment decreased statewide from 23.1 million pounds in 2000 to 18.1 million pounds in 2001. Of the total for 2001, approximately 78.1 percent were releases to air, 20.2 percent to water and 1.7 percent to on-site land.

The total amount of materials used by industries reporting decreased from 29.8 billion pounds in 2000 to 26.8 billion pounds in 2001. For reporting year 2001, the amount shipped in products is 87.8 percent of total usage, consumption is 11.2 percent and non-product output is one percent. Non-product output is defined as all hazardous substances that are generated during processing, but not released to the environment or shipped out as a product.

Releases for industries that have been reporting since the Right to Know program began in 1987 decreased by 2.9 million pounds from 2000 to 2001, while hazardous substance use by these original industries decreased by 3.4 billion pounds. Releases for industries that began reporting for 1999 when additional companies were added to the Right to Know program decreased by 2.2 million pounds from 2000 to 2001, and during the same time hazardous substance use by these industries increased by 142 million pounds.

The DEP's materials accounting program was initially established under the New Jersey Worker and Community Right To Know Act (CRTK) signed into law in 1983. The first data collection coincided with industry reporting under the federal Toxic Chemical Release Inventory in 1988 for reporting year 1987. At that time materials accounting was limited to the 155 substances on the CRTK Environmental Hazardous Substance List. The passage of the New Jersey Pollution Prevention Act in 1991 and enhancements to the Toxic Release Inventory have resulted in reporting changes that included expansion of the list to more than 600 substances in 1995, and adding industries in 1998 and persistent bioaccumulative toxics in 2000.

The 2001 summary report, background information and individual county and facility summary reports can be accessed using the link below. Please follow these steps:

At the Online Reports web page, click the blue log-in button in the right column.
At the prompt for User Name enter: dep, do not enter a password. Click OK.
When the report page displays, click the link "Release and Pollution Prevention Report (RPPR)" to access the reports.

Access the Online Reports

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6/4/03

Contact: Amy Cradic
(609) 984-1795

DEP Reaches Settlement with Quarry Operator for Water Pollution Violations

(03/80) TRENTON – The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced that 3M Company, owner of the Belle Mead Quarry in Somerset County, has agreed to pay $99,120 for repeated stormwater runoff violations impacting local stream quality.

"Stormwater runoff is one of the greatest sources of water pollution in New Jersey and 3M Company's poor site management repeatedly contributed to this larger environmental problem," said DEP Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell. "We continue to work closely with 3M to address site management deficiencies and prevent future pollution occurrences."

The 3M Company's Belle Mead Quarry is located on County Road 601 in Montgomery and Hillsborough townships. Between August 2000 and October 2002, the DEP issued 3M Company 11 Notices of Violation for illegal stormwater discharges from the quarry, for its failure to monitor and report discharges as required by its permit at an authorized discharge outfall, and for pollutant discharge exceedances at a permitted outfall.

Based on DEP investigations and reports from the Montgomery Township Health Department, the department determined that 3M Company's illegal stormwater discharges impacted tributary waters located downstream of the quarry, including Back Brook, Roaring Brook and Crusers Brook. While the impact of the pollution discharges can not be quantified, the contamination caused visible water turbidity in the illegal runoff areas. A significant source of stormwater runoff contamination is onsite mineral fines (industrial residue) stockpiles associated with the facility's quarrying and rock crushing operations.

In addition to the fine, DEP's settlement agreement with 3M Company requires the facility to submit quarterly progress reports to the department and to take interim and permanent corrective actions to reduce the impact of the quarry activities on stormwater that exits the site. The corrective actions include:

• Constructing a new stormwater retention basin in the quarry area;
• Properly cleaning and maintaining permanent and temporary water basins;
• Maintaining existing and installing additional silt fencing and hay bales for stormwater runoff prevention;
• Conducting inspections of the basins, silt fencing and hay bales after significant rain events and, at a minimum, on a weekly basis;
• Minimizing stormwater runoff from the quarry floor via traffic control restrictions, basin pumping or other best management practices to be determined;
• Stabilizing the mineral fines stockpiles; and
• Inspecting roadways and associated ditches and culverts on a bi-weekly basis.

Notices of Violation were issued for unpermitted discharges on: August 2, 2000, June 28, 2001, August 8, 2001, March 7, 2002, June 11, 2002, and October 17, 2002. A Notice of Violation was issued for 3M Company's failure to monitor and report in compliance with their DEP-issued permit on August 30, 2000. Notices of Violation were issued for permit limitation violations on: August 20, 2000, April 18, 2001, December 5, 2001, and June 24, 2002.

The Montgomery Township Health Department and the Sourland Regional Citizens' Planning Council assisted the DEP in reporting the 3M Company's illegal stormwater discharges.

A copy of the DEP's settlement agreement with the 3M Company is available upon request.

In an effort to reduce pollution levels in New Jersey's water resources and address stormwater runoff problems, DEP Commissioner Campbell has proposed new stormwater regulations. The proposed regulations would update the state's Stormwater Management Rules with an emphasis on new performance standards for ground water recharge. The rules would require maintaining 100 percent of the average annual groundwater recharge statewide, a major initiative toward mitigating against future droughts. In addition to the recharge standards, the regulations also stress water quality controls. Statewide, these rules require the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for development in order to reduce pollution runoff levels by 80 percent. These rules also provide the special protections needed for the state's high quality waters by requiring the protection of vegetated areas along waterways designated as Category One (C1) water resources.

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• NJDEP Compliance & Enforcement
  http://www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement
• NJDEP Division of Water Quality
  http://www.nj.gov/dep/dwq

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6/3/03

Contact: Jack Kaskey
609-984-1795

Get Outside to Celebrate Free Fishing Days and National Trails Day

(03/79) TRENTON – As if mild spring weather weren't enough reason to get outdoors, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell reminds the public that dozens of organized hiking and fishing programs are being held this weekend to celebrate Free Fishing Days and National Trails Day.

During Free Fishing Days, Saturday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8, residents and non-residents can fish New Jersey's public waters for free. The DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife is working with volunteers statewide to host children's fishing derbies and beginner fishing classes.

"Free Fishing Days are a wonderful opportunity for children and adults to learn to fish," Campbell said. "With dozens of children’s fishing derbies and classes to choose from this weekend, there are plenty of opportunities for kids to try their hand at fishing."

The DEP’s Division of Parks and Forestry will kick off National Trails Day on Saturday, June 7, with more than 30 events and activities planned throughout the weekend in state parks, forests and other natural areas around New Jersey.

"The first Saturday in June is the time for many of us to lace up our hiking boots, hop on our bicycles, saddle our horses and head for a favorite trail,"Campbell said. "It’s a day to get outdoors and celebrate our connection to people, places and nature."

This year the national theme is "Healthy Trails, Healthy People." Campbell encouraged families and outdoor enthusiasts to take advantage of the health benefits offered by more than 1,000 miles of mapped trails and 500 miles of canoeable streams and rivers in the state.

In addition to enjoying the state’s trails, Trails Day also is about developing an understanding of the perseverance required to establish, preserve and maintain them throughout the year. Campbell urged everyone to consider one of the many trail-maintenance projects being held this weekend.

"New Jersey is the perfect nature getaway," said Nancy Byrne, executive director of the New Jersey Office of Travel & Tourism. "Whether angling in our more than 4,000 lakes, ponds, rivers and reservoirs or hiking, biking and walking our nature trails, visitors and residents revel in the wonders of New Jersey's outdoors."

The DEP is celebrating Free Fishing Days by offering beginner fishing classes at no charge through its Take Me Fishing Program. Run by volunteers, these half-day classes provide an introduction to fishing to children ages 10 and up. Courses cover tackle, safety, ethics, casting and fishing techniques.

Take Me Fishing classes are scheduled June 7 and 8 in Burlington, Middlesex, Ocean, Union, Salem and Sussex counties, and beginner spin-casting classes will be held at the Pequest Trout Hatchery in Warren County.

The DEP's Division of Fish and Wildlife also is stocking state-raised sunfish, catfish, largemouth bass and black crappies for dozens of children's fishing derbies this weekend.

Although no license is required to fish public waters during Free Fishing Days, all other regulations remain in effect. In New Jersey, a license is required only for those older than 15 fishing in freshwater.

A list of Take Me Fishing classes and National Trails Day events is available at https://njdepwptest.net/newsrel/trailsday2003. For a listing of Free Fishing Day derbies, visit www.waterworkswonders.org (look under events).

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• NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife
  http://www.njfishandwildlife.org
• NJDEP Division of Parks & Forestry
  http://www.njparksandforests.org
• NJ Office of Travel & Tourism
  http://www.nj.gov/travel