Vote today on tougher gun laws in New Jersey



Brent Johnson reports for NJ.com:


State lawmakers are set to vote Monday on a package of bills to make New Jersey’s gun laws even tougher — and Gov. Phil Murphy has vowed to sign them all if they reach his desk.


The state Assembly will consider six measures at the Statehouse in Trenton, including one to reduce magazine capacity, another to ban armor-piercing bullets, another to make it tougher to obtain a permit to carry a handgun, and two that are designed to keep firearms out of the hands of people with mental health issues. 


Meanwhile, the National Rifle Association and local gun-rights activists will hold a morning rally at the nearby War Memorial in Trenton to protest the bills before the voting session. 


It all will happen two days after hundreds of thousands of people across the globe took part in the March for Our Lives — rallies for more gun control organized by survivors of last month’s school shooting in Parkland, Florida.


Murphy, a Democrat campaigned last year for tighter gun laws, spoke at Saturday’s march in Newark. He said in a statement later in the day that the students’ “activism inspires me and reaffirms my commitment to making New Jersey a national leader in passing common-sense gun safety laws.”


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NJ bill moving to restart Fishermen’s Energy wind farm


Michelle Brunette reports for the Atlantic City Press:



A bill to restart the Fishermen’s Energy wind farm project for the ocean off Atlantic City passed an Assembly committee Thursday and now moves to the full Assembly.


It would require the state Board of Public Utilities to open a 90-day period for the submission of an amended application for a wind energy project in state waters offshore of Atlantic City.


While Fisherman’s Energy is not mentioned by name, it is the only such wind project that meets the criteria of the bill, A-2485, sponsored by Vince Mazzeo and John Armato, D-Atlantic; and Wayne DeAngelo, D-Mercer, Middlesex.


Paul Gallagher, an attorney and Fishermen’s Energy’s chief operating officer, said the company is ready.


“We have been quiet, but maintained our permits and our relationships,” Gallagher said. “This project is fully permitted and ready to build.”


If all moves quickly at the BPU, he said the project could begin in the fall.


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Energy & Enviro bills on NJ Senate board list for Monday



The following six energy and environment bills are among a list of 52 pieces of legislation scheduled for votes by the New Jersey State Senate on Monday, Marcy 26, 2018:

S534 (Oroho / Sarlo) – Excludes corrugated containers sold by the manufacturer from definition of “litter-generating product”; exempts such sales from user fee imposed under “Clean Communities Program Act.”


S1082 (Cruz-Perez / Singleton) – Provides tax credits to vineyards and wineries for qualified capital expenses.


S1242 (Turner / Greenstein) – Requires boil water notices to be provided to municipal officials within one hour.


S1496 (Smith / Greenstein) – Prohibits sale and distribution of mercury relays and switches under certain circumstances.


S1793 (Smith / Greenstein) – Concerns low emission and zero emission vehicles; establishes Clean Vehicle Task Force.


A839 / S258 (Land / Andrzejczak / Mazzeo / Van Drew / Singleton) – Prohibits offshore oil and gas exploration, development, and production in State waters, and issuance of DEP permits and approvals for activities associated with offshore oil and gas activities.

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New Jersey reptile-and-amphibian lovers alert

 The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee will consider the folliowing bills on on Monday, March 26, 2018:

Bog turtle

S1925 (Bateman) – Designates Bog Turtle as State Reptile.

S2287 (Turner) – Designates Pine Barrens Treefrog as NJ State Amphibian.


Pinelands Tree Frog



The committee will meet at 11 a.m. in Committee Room 7, 2nd Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ.


  



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At some Philly homes, toilets get flushed into the city’s drinking water source. Water detectives are on the case

Philadelphia Water Department utility representative Michael Cossie dye-tests storm water and sanitary sewer connections to investigate crossover issues, in which household sewage flows into the storm water system and vice versa (Tim Tai photo)

Frank Kummer report for Philly.com:

Last week, Joe Ferretti, a Philadelphia Water Department supervisor, pried open a manhole next to a scenic Schuylkill River bank, flicked on a flashlight and peered down.

Ferretti saw evidence sewage was flowing freely into the river at a stone outfall known as S050204.

In some Philadelphia homes, human waste, shower water, dirty dish grease and other stuff that belongs in the sanitary sewer system is going down the wrong pipe, sending it to waterways that feed the Delaware River — the city’s primary source of drinking water.

For years, water department workers like Ferretti have been on a painstaking hunt for “cross connections,” a mild-sounding name that means mixed-up pipes that threaten public health. Between showers, toilet flushes, and sink use, a typical Philadelphia resident uses up to 85 gallons of water a day. That equates to about 272 gallons a day for a typical Philadelphia home – and if there’s a cross connection, that could mean 100,000 gallons going into the river each year.

cross connections diagram

The stone outfall Ferretti examined — outfall S05204 — is at Kelly Drive in the city’s East Falls section. Water department crews had methodically worked their way up to a block on Ainslie Street, about half a mile from the river, looking for the home, or homes, that were producing the sewage. On a bitterly cold day last week, the crew spent hours outside on their detective work, literally following their noses.



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Carr is new chair of American Water Works Assoc.-NJ

News Release: Middlesex Water Company (NASDAQ:MSEX), a provider of water, wastewater and related utility services, is pleased to announce that its Manager of Engineering, Brian F. Carr, P.E., has been selected Chair of the American Water Works Association, New Jersey Section (AWWA-NJ) Board of Trustees for the 2017-2018 season. 
Brian F. Carr, P.E.
Brian F. Carr, P.E., Middlesex Water Manager of Engineering, Named Chair of the American Water Works Association – New Jersey Section


Carr is a licensed professional engineer for the past 21 years and has extensive experience planning, designing, and managing a wide variety of water and sewer capital improvement projects. He has served on and led many committees of AWWA-NJ including the Licensed Operators Committee, Student Affairs Committee, and most recently served as Vice-Chair and Trustee of the section.   Carr graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in Civil Engineering.
  
“On behalf of the employees and Board of Directors at Middlesex Water Company we congratulate Brian on his selection as Chairman and look forward to his leadership, vision and contributions to our industry in his new role,” said Dennis Doll, Middlesex Water Company, Chairman, President & CEO.
AWWA-NJ is made up of more than 1,300 members united in a mission to provide a safe and reliable drinking water supply to the people of New Jersey.  Members include most of New Jersey’s public and investor-owned water utilities along with engineering and environmental professionals and allied industry businesses.  AWWA works to make advances in public health, safety and welfare by uniting the efforts of the full spectrum of drinking water professionals.   Learn more about AWWA-NJ at www.njawwa.org
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