Clean Ocean Action
Making Waves to Save our Seas, One Blog Post at a Time
Monday, April 2, 2018
“Be the Sea Change” at Liberty Science Center and Beyond
Clean Ocean Action will be visiting the Liberty Science Center to celebrate Conservation Week on Saturday and Sunday, April 7th and 8th. In addition to an information table that guests can visit, we will be sharing our “Be the Sea Change” presentation twice each day to kick off the campaign.
This year, we are delighted to welcome Katy Coyle who is assisting with the 2018 “Be the Sea Change” program. Katy comes to Clean Ocean Action with a background in social work and pre-school education. Welcome Katy! For information about how “Be the Sea Change” can come to your local elementary school, contact Katy at Coastal@cleanoceanaction.org.
A Snowy World Water Week
March 22, World Water Day, is designated by the United Nations as a day to focus attention on the water in our world. This year many schools celebrated the arrival of spring and World Water Week by playing in the snow since schools were closed due to yet another Nor’Easter!
Luckily the snow didn’t fall until after the first ever Watershed Mindfulness Summit, “Love Your River” at Markham Place Middle School in Little Silver on March 19th. Clean Ocean Action partnered with the Math and Science Curriculum Supervisor, Meredith Adams, and her enthusiastic team of 5th grade teachers to facilitate three learning stations where 90 students participated in experiments and activities to get hands-on experience with the impact humans have on their watershed.
Luckily the snow didn’t fall until after the first ever Watershed Mindfulness Summit, “Love Your River” at Markham Place Middle School in Little Silver on March 19th. Clean Ocean Action partnered with the Math and Science Curriculum Supervisor, Meredith Adams, and her enthusiastic team of 5th grade teachers to facilitate three learning stations where 90 students participated in experiments and activities to get hands-on experience with the impact humans have on their watershed.
Plastic Free Waters Partnership Meeting in NYC Last Week
![]() |
Fifth graders from PS15 in Brooklyn showcased their EPA-grant funded project on litter cleanup at the Plastic Free Waters Partnership meeting. |
Clean Ocean Action is part of a larger regional coalition called the “Plastic Free Waters Partnership” (PFWP) which aims to reduce plastic and microplastic debris in all waterbodies primarily in the NJ/NY region. COA leads two PFWP workgroups focused on Straws and Microplastics in addition to being on the steering committee. Last week, COA’s Alison McCarthy, Catie Tobin, and Dr. Swarna Muthukrishnan attended PFWP’s first meeting for 2018, which was hosted by EPA Region II Headquarters in NYC. The meeting showcased an EPA-grant funded project on litter cleanup and characterization conducted by a group of fifth graders from PS15 in Brooklyn. This was followed by a panel discussion on Environmental Justice issues in debris management and other work group sessions to discuss ongoing activities and plan the next steps for 2018.
NY/NJ Elected Officials Take Action Against Offshore Drilling
New Jersey and New York have ramped up opposition at the
federal, state and local levels, and COA is tracking and compiling these
outstanding actions. Check out the list
of federal, state and local actions on the OCS page of COA’s website. If you
know of any actions missing or if there are new actions taken, please contact
advocate@cleanoceanaction.org or 732-872-0111. Also, if your town or county is
not listed, please urge them to do so; you can use COA’s sample resolution.
Here is some recent news:
•
The Shore Tourism and Ocean Protection (STOP)
from Offshore Oil and Gas Act (S-258) passed unanimously in the Senate on March 26, 2018! This
bipartisan legislation will ban offshore drilling and infrastructure in New Jersey’s
state waters. It awaits signature from Governor Murphy, who is expected to sign it
soon.
•
NJ Congressmen sent a bi-partisan letter led by
Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr (NJ-6), including US Representatives Albio Sires,
Bill Pascrell, Jr., Frank LoBiondo, Josh Gottheimer, Donald Norcross, Bonnie
Watson Coleman and Donald M. Payne, Jr. on March 16, 2018, urging the
Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agency Co-Chairs
not to fund the 2019-2024 OCS Leasing Program. Congressman Christopher H. Smith (NJ-4) also sent a similar letter. This effort could help to stop BOEM from
continuing to process offshore development.
•
BOEM rejected NJ Congressman LoBiondo’s request
for a public hearing in Cape May. This
is an unfair government practice since BOEM granted a NY Congressman a hearing
after making a similar request.
•
NY Governor Andrew Cuomo and Former US Vice
President Al Gore coordinated a press conference on March 9, 2018, to denounce
offshore drilling and promote offshore wind.
While offshore wind holds promise it must be sited appropriately to
protect marine life and navigational needs, and implemented correctly.
•
Over 35 towns in NJ and 3 in NY have passed
resolutions opposing offshore drilling.
•
Assemblyman Wirths switches vote in
favor of the STOP (Shore Tourism Ocean Protection) Assembly Bill A839: 72
to 1 – almost unanimous!
•
US Representative Christopher H. Smith (NJ-4)
Testimonial letter
submitted on March 9, 2018 asking for public hearing on offshore drilling.
•
US Senator’s Letter
on March 5, 2018 requesting an extension to the comment period.
•
New Jersey federal and state elected officials
attending Ocean City Music Pier press event on February 26th.
• Atlantic Coast Republicans met with Zinke on
Tuesday, February 27th. Although NJ Congressmen, LoBiondo, Lance,
MacArthur and Smith left feeling optimistic, a final decision has not been
reached. We need to keep the pressure on! Submit comments to BOEM.
•
New Jersey federal and state elected officials
attending COA’s February 14th press conference.
•
US Representative Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-6) letter
from US Representatives on February 12, 2018 against plans for Seismic
Testing off New Jersey’s coast.
•
US Representative Tom MacArthur (NJ-3) meeting
with Ryan Zinke, Secretary of the Interior.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)