Christie declines to sign bill requiring public notice of raw sewage overflows

Governor Christie declined to sign a bill that would have required public notification whenever sewer-outfall pipes dump raw sewage into local rivers and bays, legislation that had received overwhelming support by both parties in the state legislature.

The bill also would have required outfall pipes to be clearly marked with signs for swimmers, fishermen, kayakers and other who use the water.

Christie’s office announced Tuesday that he let the bill expire without signing it – in effect a pocket veto.

“I’m extremely disappointed,” said Debbie Mans, head of the NY/NJ Baykeeper, which supported the bill. “This is a significant public health issue. Unfortunately the governor didn’t think important that the public be informed that they are swimming in raw sewage.”`

Bill Sheehan, the Hackensack Riverkeeper, agreed. “That’s terrible news,” he said. “But I’m not surprised.”

Environmental groups had been pushing for public notification when sewer lines overflow because the health of those who use the rivers and bays right after an overflow could be at risk. Raw sewage can cause gastroenteritis, hepatitis, and skin, respiratory and ear infections.

The bill would have required towns and sewer authorities to report expected sewer overflows to the state Department of Environmental Protection even before they occur or immediately after they happen. The DEP would then have had to alert the public within 12 hours by posting a notice on the agency website and sending emails out to those who signed up for such a service.

More than 23 billion gallons of raw sewage and other pollutants get dumped into New Jersey waters each year, including the Hackensack, Passaic and Hudson rivers, because aging sewer systems that convey both sewage and storm water from street drains can’t handle the extra flow from heavy rains.

The raw sewage pours into rivers and bays dozens of times a year from more than 200 outfall pipes, including some in Ridgefield Park, Hackensack and Paterson.

The DEP has been revising the language of permits that sewer agencies need to operate sewer pipe outfalls. The revised permits would include new public notification requirements similar to those in the bill, and the DEP is conducting a series of hearings throughout the state on the language in the new permits.

“But the process is such that it will take up to a year for the new permits to go into effect,” said Sheehan. “It looks like now it will be every man, woman and child for themselves this upcoming swimming season.”

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