Christie Acts To Protect Jersey Shore, Beaches

Today, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie kicked-off a series of visits to shore communities in New Jersey by highlighting his continued commitment to and strong record of protecting the state’s renowned beaches and 130 miles of coastline. The Governor began the week in Ocean City, where he talked about protecting the health of the shore’s beaches, the ocean’s water quality and the vast shore economy that these environmental treasures support.

“New Jersey’s shoreline is an environmental treasure that draws people from across our state and across the region to spend time on our beaches, support New Jersey businesses and contribute enormously to the economic well-being and quality of life of our citizens,” said Governor Christie. “Whether it’s standing against offshore drilling or liquefied natural gas facilities that would industrialize the coastline, or aggressively pursuing a comprehensive plan to restore the ecological health of Barnegat Bay, protecting New Jersey’s shore is a top priority of my Administration.

“Healthy beaches are the backbone of New Jersey’s shore economy, supporting the livelihoods of tens of thousands of New Jerseyans and representing a substantial component of our state’s $35.5 billion tourism industry. My commitment to protect the environment keeps faith with our obligation to preserve these treasures for future generations, while at the same time protecting and promoting the job creation of our shore economy,” concluded Governor Christie.

Governor Christie has acted on a strong commitment to protect New Jersey’s environment. Specifically, the Governor has demonstrated his dedication to New Jersey’s beaches and shore economy by taking action to protect clean beaches and clean water throughout the state. The Governor has a record of standing up for the environment and improving the quality of life for Garden State residents by protecting New Jersey beaches and all of the state’s waterways:

· Restored beach replenishment funding to its full level;

· Enacted Fiscal Year 2011 and 2012 Budgets that keep all parks, historic sites and wildlife operations running;

· Signed legislation appropriating nearly $1.5 billion in zero- and low-cost loans for crucial water and sewer infrastructure projects across the state over two years;

· Signed legislation appropriating $157 million for open space across New Jersey, including preservation projects in the Barnegat Bay watershed, on the Cape May peninsula and along urban waterfronts;

· Maintained unwavering opposition to off-shore drilling in New Jersey, as well as drilling off the coast of other states that could negatively impact New Jersey's water and beaches, such as Delaware and Virginia;

· Maintained unwavering opposition to liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities off of New Jersey's coastline, including the veto of a proposed deepwater operation 16 miles off the coast of Asbury Park, preventing construction and operation of 44 miles of submerged pipeline and an offshore port to receive foreign vessels transporting LNG to the U.S. for regasification;

· Proposed a comprehensive 10-point initiative to restore and protect Barnegat Bay, which the Administration continues to implement aggressively, including negotiating the closure of Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station 10 years ahead of license expiration;

· Enacted the most restrictive standards in the nation for nitrogen content in fertilizer and application rates for use, which will reduce nutrient pollution in Barnegat Bay and statewide;

· Enacted law that will reduce post-construction soil compaction to reduce stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollution in Barnegat Bay and all of New Jersey's waterways;

· Adopted a narrative nutrient criteria rule to establish rigorous water quality standards;

· Clearly stated a policy of no new coal-fired power plants in New Jersey, which will reduce pollutants deposited to waterways as well as improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions;

· Continued to advocate--both publicly and in the courts--a strong position against the dredging project to deepen the Delaware River;

· Signed legislation creating a free State saltwater fishing registry in New Jersey, allowing New Jersey anglers to avoid a $15 federal saltwater registration fee.

New Jersey’s tourism industry posted $35.5 billion in total expenditures in 2010, representing an increase of 0.8 percent over 2009 and the first improvement since the industry’s pre-recession high set in 2007. Core tourism, those industries providing direct services to visitors, maintained its standing as the state’s third largest industry, supporting nearly 310,000 private sector jobs while providing over $10 billion in wages and salaries in 2010.

The shore economy is a critical aspect of the state’s overall tourism economy. The tourism economy across Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth and Ocean counties represented 193,000 private sector jobs and over $6 billion in wages and salaries in 2010.