New Jersey Friends of Clearwater, a coalition partner and member group of NJ Environmental Federation, is holding its 35th annual Clearwater Festival, "Knock Out Pollution: Protect our Watersheds" this Saturday, August 21st from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm in Asbury Park. This wonderful event is FREE and ONE DAY ONLY!

The event is being held in Sunset Park on Main Street and Sunset Ave in beautiful Asbury Park, New Jersey (only a few blocks away from the beach)! In addition to delicious food and national and local musical acts, there will be numerous environmental groups and other vendors from the region with display tables and information.

Bill to help Barnegat Bay moves out of committee

Thanks to the efforts of the NJ Environmental Federation, coalition partners, our members and supporters, and the leadership of Senator Bob Smith and Assemblyman John McKeon, a package of bills that will ease stress on Barnegat Bay was sent to the floor of the Legislature this morning following a vote by member of the state Senate and Assembly environmental committees.

This is a tremendous victory for Barnegat Bay and New Jersey's waters. One measure, S-1410, would require post-construction restoration of soil similar to the area. A second proposal, S-1411/A-2290, would help reduce the use of phosphate and nitrogen-based fertilizers, the biggest sources of pollution for New Jersey's waterways. The remaining measures, S-1815/A-2577 and S-1856/A-2606, would help control storm water runoff and pollution.

You are cordially invited to New Jersey Enviromental Federation's

Autumn Toast to the Environment

Sunday, October 3, 1-4 pm
Laurita Winery, 35 Archertown Road, New Egypt, NJ

Have a relaxing and enjoyable experience tasting local, sustainably grown wine, while helping to protect and support New Jersey's environment.

Purchase Tickets today!

• $75 per person
• $125 per couple

How to purchase tickets:

• By credit card: click here to purchase online or call Jenny Vickers at 732-280-8988
• By check: make payable to NJEF (or Clean Water Fund for tax-deductible) and mail to:
  NJ Environmental Federation, 1002 Ocean Ave, Belmar, NJ 07719.

Diesel Pollution Makes Us Sick

Diesel engines emit a mixture of particles, metals and gasses including over 40 "hazardous air pollutants" as classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Air Act. Diesel pollution can trigger asthma and cause lung cancer, stroke, and heart attack, contributing to 21,000 early deaths a year. Nationally, diesel exhaust poses a cancer risk that is 7 times greater than the combined risk of all air toxics assessed by EPA. Diesel exhaust is particularly dangerous because it is emitted at ground level - just where people breathe it in¹ .

It's clear from the disaster in the Gulf that oil is risky, dirty, and dangerous.

Join Clean Water Action members and supporters in Florida on Saturday, June 26th for a national day of action to help clean up America's energy and to call on President Obama to move us off oil.

Find a Hand Across the Sand event in Florida, New Jersey, or in other parts of the U.S. or around the world.

For local organizing or attendance information in Florida, please contact Kathy Aterno.

• Buy only organic food and use only organic fertilizer.
  
  Synthetic fertilizers deplete minerals and antioxidants in the soil. Some studies have shown up to 75 percent depletion in the quantities of such minerals present in fruit and vegetables. A major long-term study funded by the European Union (EU) found that organically-produced milk and produce were significantly higher in antioxidants than their conventionally grown counterparts.

• Compost - the best fertilizer for your lawn!
  

On Friday, May 7, 2010, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection announced that new test results found groundwater contamination from Exelon's Oyster Creek nuclear plant was greater than expected, having spread to the Cohansey aquifer, a major drinking source for South Jersey. NJDEP also announced it was ordering Exelon to take aggressive action to address this growing problem as the contaminant, tritium, was found at over 50 times the federal drinking water standard.

James and Rice Gain Environmental Support in Re-election Bids

Newark, NJ--NJ Environmental Federation joined Councilmen Ron Rice Jr. (West Ward) and Oscar S. James II (South Ward) at a City Hall press conference on May 3 2010 to campaign against another garbage transfer station and the idea of expanding Newark's garbage incinerator. The groups say that Newark already faces more than its fair share of pollution.

At the event, NJ Environmental Federation cited James and Rice's leadership here and on many other issues as it announced its endorsement of their re-election bids to the Newark Municipal Council just 8 days before the May 11th municipal elections.

In April, NJ Environmental Federation's Jane Nogaki met with Ocean Township officials to officially declare its public parks and playgrounds as pesticide free zones. (pictured from left to right: Council members David Hiers, William Garafalo, Donna Schepiga, Mayor William Larking, Jane Nogaki, Christopher Siciliano, and Env. Commission Chair Ray Pogwist)

 

On Thursday, April 1, NJ Environmental Federation joined South Orange representatives at a press conference to announce South Orange parks and playgrounds as official "Pesticide Free Zones." 

NJ Environmental Federation canvassers joined Village President Douglas Newman, Trustee Janine Bauer, Village Engineer Sal Renda and members of the Village's Environmental Commission by the duck pond on Thursday afternoon to commemorate the designation. A ladybug emblem representing the "pesticide-free" status of Village parks was affixed to a lamppost near the bocce courts.