Hudson River Fishermen's Association of New Jersey

NY to Dump Toxic Mud 3 Miles off NJ Shore!
**This page is copied from the main page of this site from March 9, 2000.

   MikeY emailed me with a cry for help from the HRFA. The cause for concern? A good one. One of many good ones currently in need of our attention. NY is planning on dumping toxic mud (sediment) on the closed mud dump just 3 miles off NJ!  Sure, the big guy picking on the little guy...same old story! :)  Actually, it's kind of sad, the Mud dump has been closed for years by the Clinton administration...but now that they are leaving, they don't mind trying to make a few fat cats happy on the way out at the expense of our waters, our fish, and our health. 3 miles is not a safe distance from the beaches to dump poisons! There's actually no safe distance, buy hey, you can see 3 miles out!  One good storm and that crap will come floating our way...invisible but poisonous! So, I'll put up the HRFA's plea for attention here, everyone should take a second to sign the email form on thier front page, it will take you but a minute and after doing so, a letter (customizable if you want to really let them know what you think :)) will be sent on your behalf to 22 elected officials who have some say in this matter. Please, take a minute to read this...then take a minute to go there and fill out the form...it really matters! Here's the letter:

     As you may know, NY state is looking to dump tons of toxic sediments at the
   Mud Dump Site 3 miles off Sandy Hook. This site was closed three years ago
   by V.P. Al Gore in a lavish ceremony. This is a little history of what has
   been going on.

     The sediments in question are not from shipping channels but from the docks
   of two private oil companies located in Queens and Brooklyn. They claim the
   dredged material is clean and free of Toxins. We are questioning that. We
   are also opposing the dumping of private materials from New York in Jersey
   waters. This stuff is not Port Authority dredge spoils. It is not to keep
   shipping channels clear. We want an investigation. We want a clarification
   as to how sediments loaded with petrochemicals and PCBs can be classified
   as "Clean." The public hearings held on this issue were a sham held by the
   Army Corps of Engineers. 

     This is what we need you to do.
   Go to our web site www.hrfanj.org  and follow the simple link to send our
   legislators your opinion. We have a sample letter for you. You can change
   it add or subtract from it if you wish but with one click, your opposition
   to this new form of Toxic Ocean Dumping can be heard. One click and your
   letter will go as an individual letter to V.P. Al Gore, Governor Whitman,
   Pataki, The head of the EPA and 22 other elected officials.
   You do have to put your name and address so these people can reply to you. 
   Government officials need to respond by snail mail so your name is
   required. They also need to know your not some cyber-monkey spamming them.

     We need you to take a minute and help us out. This issue is so important
   we have put the link on the cover of our home page to make it easier for you.
   Please feel free to forward this letter and our web address to anyone who
   might be sympathetic to our position.

   Thanks,
   Chas Stamm <'////><
   Director
   HRFA NJ

 So, give the oceans 60 seconds of your time, go there, fill it out, and let the folks in charge know that you're sick and tired of this kinda crap!  We just get the oceans clean enough for inshore fall runs of fish we haven't seen in my lifetime until now...and then they want to start dumping toxic stuff just off the beaches! It's absurd...please tell them so!

I'm also working on the petition form that I tried once...when it's done, it will be aimed at the "sand mining" fiasco that is also being planned for NJ. Seems our federal government is willing to break precedent and sell the life giving bottom just 2 miles offshore for like 25 miles north to south to some private for profit commercial outfit. This is our property, state and federal land...yea, it's under water, but how much more BS are we going to stand for just because you can't see the damage with the naked eye? The poor ocean, the very thing that makes it such a mysterious wonder is also the thing that is enabling folks to rape and destroy it! The "veil" of water covering the ocean bottom keeps the public from seeing the immense damage caused by sand mining, bottom dragging netters, and beach restoration. You would think in this day and age all the "pro-ecosystem" folks would really keep in mind what's best for nature...not just those things that are plainly visible! It's too commercial...the whole system....it's no longer a matter of what's best, it's a matter of how much........

Sincerely,

Tim Surgent