SENATE RESOLUTION No. 80

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MARCH 3, 1997

By Senators SCOTT, KYRILLOS, Bennett and Palaia

A Senate Resolution memorializing the Congress of the United States to take all appropriate measures to ensure that untreated sewage from the City of New York is never discharged into open waters.

Whereas, The City of New York recently proposed to discharge approximately 140 million gallons per day of untreated sewage over a four-day period, for a total of about 560 million gallons, into open waters while the city conducts repairs at a Manhattan sewage pumping station; and

Whereas, Neither the State of New Jersey nor, apparently, the Interstate Sanitation Commission were given proper notice of this deplorable proposal or the opportunity to advise New York City of their respective positions thereon, and it is appropriate for Congress to address the lack of communication exhibited between states on such a critical interstate matter; and

Whereas, Thorough, sufficient, and independent studies on the potential environmental and economic impacts of the discharge were not conducted, but if they had been, they certainly would have concluded that such a discharge could drift into New Jersey waters, cause the temporary closure of shellfish beds, and significantly damage New Jersey's vitally important shore tourism and seafood industries; and

Whereas, Although the Governor of New York and the Mayor of the City of New York, in response to strong protests lodged by the State of New Jersey, concerned citizens, and various environmental organizations, have agreed to postpone the untreated sewage discharge pending preparation of an environmental assessment of the project to determine its effect on the environment and the natural resources of the States of New York and New Jersey, once that assessment is completed the City of New York nevertheless could still decide to press forward with the discharge; and

Whereas, The Congress of the United States, through enactment of the federal Clean Water Act and numerous other environmental laws, has adopted widely accepted public goals and policies urging elimination of water pollution and improvement of the Nation's water quality, but achievement of these goals and policies are seriously undermined when discharges of untreated sewage like that contemplated by the City of New York are tolerated or permitted; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

    1. The Congress of the United States is memorialized to take all appropriate measures to ensure that untreated sewage from the City of New York is never discharged into open waters.

    2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary thereof, shall be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the majority and minority leaders of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, every member of Congress elected from this State, the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Region II Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Interstate Sanitation Commission, the Governor of New York, the Mayor and City Council of the City of New York, the Governor of New Jersey, and the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

STATEMENT

    This resolution would memorialize the Congress of the United States to take all appropriate measures to ensure that untreated sewage from the City of New York is never discharged into open waters. The City of New York recently proposed to discharge about 140 million gallons per day of untreated sewage over a four-day period, for a total of about 560 million gallons, into the East river while the city conducts repairs at a Manhattan sewage pumping station. Such a discharge, if allowed to occur, undoubtedly would have devastating environmental and economic impacts upon New Jersey. Although the proposed discharge was postponed recently by New York officials pending completion of an environmental assessment, it is quite possible that those same officials will allow it to happen eventually, unless they are absolutely prohibited by federal law, decision, or action from doing so.

Memorializes Congress to take measures to stop discharge of untreated sewage by New York City.