Garbage: Where are you Governor Whitman, President Clinton, Vice President Gore?

[Joseph R Parrish Jr <JoeParrish@compuserve.com>]

As usual, the NJ Governor responds to the garbage onslaught on 
Elizabeth, Newark, and Jersey City, NJ, by not responding, in an 
area of her state that did not support her in the past election.
Note she says the plan is for three years (beyond her term of 
office?) when even New York City has not specified such a length.  
Has she made a deal with someone who will aid her politically?  
Garbage continues to be treated politically, when it is in fact deadly 
to everyone's health.  Why truck garbage that was previously 
moved by barge?  Why burn NYCity's garbage when New York City 
has banned incineration?  Why use more than 1,000 diesel trucks 
daily to ship the garbage when the PM 10s are already at excedence 
at the tunnels and bridges and when the areas of Elizabeth, Newark, 
and Jersey City are already exceeding the national Clean Air Act limits 
for particulates, ozone, NOX, and volatile organic compounds?  
And where are you USEPA, President Clinton, and Vice President Gore?
Joe Parrish
NJ/NY Environmental Watch
c/o St. John's Church
61 Broad Street
Elizabeth, NJ 07201
and 
300 East 56th Street
New York, NY 10022
November 17, 1999

(The following was posted by Garden State EnviroNews on 
November 16, 1999, and distributed November 17, 1999.)

NJ RESPONDS TO INCOMING TRASH FROM NEW YORK

Date: 991116
From: http://www.state.nj.us/governor/

November 15, 1999

 With cleaner water and air and fewer beach closings just several of
the quality of life issues tackled by her administration, Gov.
Christie Whitman today said she will work to ensure that New York's
shipping of trash to Elizabeth and Newark will be monitored to
minimize the effect on New Jersey residents.

 "Throughout my administration the environment has been a focus of
many of our efforts," said Gov. Whitman. "I will continue to demand
that clean air, water and beaches remain a priority and in pledging
that, I am stepping up the monitoring of truck emissions in the areas
impacted by the trash relocation, and also I want to make sure that
our "trash net" program is actively monitoring trucks in Essex, Hudson
and Union Counties."

 "While the Supreme Court has indicated that we are unable to prevent
the shipping of trash into our state, we do have the right to ensure
that it does not place a burden on the quality of life of our citizens
and our living environment," said the Governor. "I will do everything
in my power to make sure that New Jerseyans continue to reap the
benefits of living in New Jersey, where so much progress has been made
in quality of life issues."

 "New York should not place an unfair burden of its solid waste
responsibilities on the shoulders of New Jerseyans. I will be active
in holding New York to its commitment for a three-year short term plan
and beyond that want to emphasize that the majority of New York's
trash should be handled in the Empire State," the Governor continued.
"I will continue to work with local authorities and county
environmental health agencies to actively champion the interest of New
Jerseyans."

 In response to New York's short term plan to truck solid waste to
four disposal site in New Jersey, the Governor has asked for the
expansion of clean air tests and safety inspections to the areas where
trucks will be traveling. Governor Whitman also pledged to secure the
least disruptive routes and hours of transport for New York's intended
trash shipments. The Governor is also asking that the focus of
regulatory and enforcement efforts be on transfer and disposal
facilities to ensure that the operations comply with permit standards
and public health, safety and environmental protection regulations are
being met.

 New Jersey's "trash net" program is coordinated through the
Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of
Transportation and the NJ State Police. The program was initiated to
heighten and focus safety and regulatory inspection of the solid waste
trucking industry. State officials check vehicle registration, safety,
driver's "hours of operations" limitations and DEP reporting, record
keeping and decaling requirements.

 Emissions will be strictly monitored through the efforts of the
heavy-duty diesel inspection program. The program was initiated last
year and is conducted at mobile inspection stations run by the
Division of Motor Vehicles and the NJ State Police.

# # #

Contact: Jayne O'Connor
Steffanie Bell
609-777-2600

Office of the Governor
PO Box 004
Trenton, NJ 08625

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::