New Jersey Proposes to Limit Phosphorus on 400 River Miles

TRENTON, New Jersey  - The state of New Jersey has proposed new pollution limits for rivers and streams, targeting phosphorus that causes water quality impairment of 200 river miles within the Passaic River Basin and the Wanaque Reservoir, as well as an additional 200 river miles in 20 waterways across the state.

"Improving the water quality of our most significant and largest drinking sources is fundamental to protecting the health of New Jersey's residents," said Acting Governor Richard Codey. "Safeguarding our water resources also is key to supporting New Jersey's growing communities and economy."

Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bradley M.
Campbell said the state is moving quickly now to make up for lost time.
"For critical drinking water sources like the Wanaque and others, we
will continue to work at an accelerated pace to make up for past delays
in setting tougher pollution limits," he said.

For the Passaic River Basin, the DEP has proposed total maximum daily
loads (TMDLs) - or pollution limits - to address phosphorus contamination entering the Wanaque Reservoir and over 200 river miles.

Affected rivers within the Passaic River Basin include Pompton River,
Ramapo River, Pequannock River, Wanaque River, Upper & Middle Passaic
River, Whippany River, and Rockaway River. The proposal calls for a reduction of phosphorus - from 57,574 pounds to 17,496 pounds per year - going into the Wanaque Reservoir, which lies within the Passaic River Basin.

The proposal requires 42 wastewater treatment plants within the Passaic
River Basin to reduce phosphorus discharges by 83 percent, and establishes an 80 percent phosphorus reduction target for nonpoint source pollution.

One measure to address nonpoint source pollution is a requirement for
all municipalities impacting the Wanaque Reservoir to adopt a low
phosphorus fertilizer ordinance. The state environmental agency also proposed TMDLs for 20 additional waterways encompassing 200 river miles across 10 watershed areas. These 20 pollution limits call for phosphorus reductions ranging from 21 to 92 percent.

In developing these TMDLs, the state agency identifies the maximum
amount of phosphorus that a water body can contain and still meet New
Jersey's water quality standards.

The agency then allocates the targeted reduction amongst existing
pollution sources to restore the waterways to the state's clean water
standard.

The federal Clean Water Act establishes the requirement that states
prepare and submit a report identifing waters that do not meet water
quality standards.

These waterbodies have impaired water quality and the state is required
to develop a total maximum daily load for each pollutant in each
waterbody.

The DEP will hold hearings beginning on August 4 to accept public
comments on the new phosphorus limits. Contact Barbara Hirst of the
Division of Watershed Management at (609) 633-1441,
Barbara.Hirst@dep.state.nj.us.

For more information about New Jersey's watersheds visit
http://www.nj.gov/dep/watershedmgt