Coastal evacuation plan coordinates exodus
Plan will give county tools in event of natural disaster
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Monmouth County has unveiled a draft plan for coastal evacuation that takes a comprehensive look at the facilities necessary to move residents safely away from coastal areas.
Maps of evacuation routes (l-r) and emergency shelters are included in the coastal evacuation study.
The yearlong study of coastal evacuation routes prepared for the Monmouth County Planning Board channels residents of coastal communities west, away from coastal areas that would be flooded in the event of a major storm.
The study, conducted by Jacobs Engineering Inc. in cooperation with Reichman Frankle Inc. and Techniquest Engineering, was unveiled at an open house meeting June 2 at the Brookdale Higher Education Learning Center on Broadway in Long Branch.
The purpose of the Coastal Evacuation Routes Study is to evaluate transportation facilities used for evacuation along the New Jersey coastal region east of the Garden State Parkway, to recommend improvements to existing facilities, and to develop new ones where appropriate, according to the study.
"One of Monmouth County's finest assets — its 26 miles of bay coastline — is also a potential liability as low- lying coastal areas are subject to flooding from wave action and weather, particularly during hurricane events," the study states.
The information can also be used when existing state and local plans are reviewed and updated, such as the county Office of Emergency Management's Emergency Operations Plan.
As outlined on the project website, monmouthcers. com, key objectives of the plan include:
• Collect transportation facility, operations and service network data for 12 critical infrastructure and emergency travel routes (portal facilities) in and around Monmouth County's coastal communities.
• Evaluate the inter-relationship of transportation routes and services and their capacity/ performance limitations, especially during peak seasonal periods.
• Group communities with common transportation routes and encourage them to work collaboratively to identify specific needs, issues and concerns.
• Evaluate potential physical/operational improvements to routes, including a range of transportation technologies.
The listed goals of the study include: to improve coastal routes; identify and address limitations to evacuation routes to ensure their efficiency during emergency situations; and promote awareness of evacuation routes and the evacuation process among residents, tourists, stakeholders and the general public.
Roadway widening, a network of shelters, backup power for traffic signals, evacuation route signs and new bridges are among the $150 million-plus in measures recommended in the study aimed at upgrading the county's plans for evacuation of coastal areas.
The study area includes 41 municipalities located east of the Garden State Parkway and divides the coastal area into three regions: northern, central and southern.
The northern region includes Aberdeen, Keyport, Hazlet, Union Beach, Keansburg, Holmdel, Matawan, Atlantic Highlands, Highlands and Middletown.
The central region includes Red Bank, Fair Haven, Sea Bright, Rumson, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township, Little Silver, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Eatontown, Tinton Falls, West Long Branch, Long Branch, Ocean Grove, Deal, Interlaken, Allenhurst and Loch Arbor.
The southern region encompasses Asbury Park, Avon- by- the- Sea, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Brielle, Belmar, Lake Como, Manasquan, Neptune, Neptune City, Sea Girl, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights and Wall.
The study identifies 12 "portal" routes leading west from the coastal region.
The process involved stakeholders and each region was represented by a group with members from each municipality to give feedback on each local need.
A Technical Advisory Committee was also formed to work with the project team members. The TAC included the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management and the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Engineers Lakshan Wickramarachchi and Bob Brakman were available to answer questions during the June 2 open house.
"It was a one- year study where we picked routes based on how many people are in the area," Brakman said, adding, "There are three times as many people living here in the summer, so we could see where the worst locations are in the summer."
"We worked extensively with getting information from population studies," Wickramarachchi said. "We recommended physical improvements based on how many people live in the area. I think we were successful."
Information made available at the open house included evacuation routes, suggested road improvements, an estimated cost for each improvement and the lead agency to take on such a job.
For example, the study suggests the widening of Route 520 to create a full shoulder, which would be taken on by the county with an estimated cost of $16.5 million.
Also suggested is an upgrade of signals for wireless controls on Route 36 traffic lights, which would be taken on by the state at a cost of $322,000.
The study also suggests that the state widen Route 36 at the Broad Street intersection, which would cost an estimated $4 million.
The study broke down suggestions into long- , intermediate- and short- term projects and actions to be taken during emergencies.
For example, the suggested widening of Route 520 shoulder is a long- term project, while adding no parking placards is a short- term project.
The draft plan also suggests evacuation routes for coastal residents.
The engineers suggest that travelers in the Northern region take CR-39, CR-56/7, CR-50/576, SR-36 or CR-8A/12/12A when evacuating and take Routes 520 or 36 or Park Avenue when in the Central zone. Wickramarachchi explained the goal of the plan.
"This is not an everyday event," Wickramarachchi said. "We wanted a practical plan to get people out to use the resources we have available.
"These are the best ways out that we identified," Wickramarachchi continued. "These roads lead into other main roads in the area."
He added that in evacuating, the suggestion is to work from the coastline out.
"We developed a broad picture plan and hope to expand upon it," Wickramarachchi said. "We try to get to areas along the coasts first, like Sea Bright. We have to have the best option to lead people to safety."
According to Brakman, people are alerted 36 hours prior to an evacuation, but the advance warning often does little good.
"We have discovered that even if we give people 36 hour warnings they still wait until the last minute," Brakman said.
Another issue is the added traffic during the evacuation.
"Also, it is not just a family leaving in their cars," Brakman said. "It's families leaving in two or three cars. Nobody wants to leave a car there."
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com
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Friday, July 31, 2009
o'port asks for $1M more for creek cleanup
O'port asks for $1M more for creek cleanup
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
OCEANPORT — Oceanport Mayor Michael Mahon has requested $1 million in federal appropriations to dredge the Branchport Creek and remove fecal contamination.
Mahon made the request in a letter addressed to Rep. Rush Holt (D-6th District), seeking support in obtaining this special appropriation.
"As you know, the Borough of Oceanport has partnered with Monmouth Park racetrack and its operator the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) to end the runoff of contaminated storm water into Branchport Creek," the letter states.
The letter states that in October 2008, the borough of Oceanport's governing body agreed to seek funding as a conduit borrower from the N.J. Environmental Infrastructure Trust on behalf of the NJSEA.
"Since that time, the governing body has continued the application process and is currently seeking $22 million in low-interest loans to support the storm-water management solution under design for Monmouth Park," the letter states.
A new plan to end the pollution of Branchport Creek outlined last month calls for measures including detention basins, vegetative fields, and a pumping station at Monmouth Park in Oceanport.
On May 11, officials with the racetrack and the NJSEA held a town hall-style meeting at Oceanport Borough Hall to unveil plans to reduce the amount of storm water from Monmouth Park that enters Branchport Creek.
The proposed upgrades call for the construction of a roughly 4-acre detention basin, a pump station, and a series of drainage piping that could reduce the amount of contaminated runoff from the horse track to virtually zero.
"The objectives ultimately are to improve the water quality of the Branchport Creek and to assure that the track complies with a permit requirement the DEP [state Department of Environmental Protection] has for concentrated animal feeding operations," explained Brian McPeak, an engineer with the Warren-based PS&S Integrated Design and Engineering, the engineering firm that is handling the design and implementation of the project.
Mahon's letter said, "The cleanup of the river bed can't be left for Mother Nature alone. Funding must be provided to complete the dredging of Branchport Creek beyond the Branchport Avenue bridge to the west side immediately adjacent to Monmouth Park."
Mahon stated that state funding is essential for this project to be successful.
"Federal dollars are a critical resource that must fill the gap in state funding," Mahon continued.
Mahon also called on Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th District) as well as Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Melendez to support the additional $1 million to supplement the current appropriation, which is $4.2 million, and to dedicate new dollars to the creek.
According to Oceanport Councilman Joseph Irace, the $4.2 million is federal stimulus money and is to be used to dredge the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers.
Plans for the storm-water system improvement project call for the construction of an improved storm-sewer system to collect runoff from the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) areas; the construction of a pumping station to convey the collected waters to a detention basin; the construction of a vegetated detention basin that will have the ability to hold 7.8 million gallons of water and feature 2.7 acres of constructed wetlands; and the construction of a force main to convey the detained water from the basin to the Two Rivers Water Reclamation Authority (TRWRA) up to a maximum of 500,000 gallons of water a day. The improvement project will be broken down into a four-phase plan that will be implemented over a four-year period and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2012.
The first phase of the roughly $22 million project has already begun and has seen gutters placed on the roofs of the majority of the structures around the park property, including the backstretch area where the horse stalls are located.
According to Don Sharp, the lead engineer with PS&S on the project, runoff from the roofs of the park's structures is considered clean and can be released into the creek without fear of it contaminating the waters.
However, that water is currently collected with the same contaminated water as the rest of the park. With the addition of gutters on the park structures, the water will now be able to be separated from the park's contaminated water and can be sent out to the creek.
In addition to the separation of the roof runoff from the contaminated water, the first phase also includes upgrades to the park's drainage pipe connection with TRWRA.
The Branchport Creek, which runs between Oceanport and Long Branch, is a tributary of the Shrewsbury River. The river meets the Navesink River before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.
According to Mahon, the borough has been participating with the Two River Council of Mayors in seeking to dredge the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers. Branchport Creek would be included in this project.
Staff Writer Dan Howley contributed to this story.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
OCEANPORT — Oceanport Mayor Michael Mahon has requested $1 million in federal appropriations to dredge the Branchport Creek and remove fecal contamination.
Mahon made the request in a letter addressed to Rep. Rush Holt (D-6th District), seeking support in obtaining this special appropriation.
"As you know, the Borough of Oceanport has partnered with Monmouth Park racetrack and its operator the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) to end the runoff of contaminated storm water into Branchport Creek," the letter states.
The letter states that in October 2008, the borough of Oceanport's governing body agreed to seek funding as a conduit borrower from the N.J. Environmental Infrastructure Trust on behalf of the NJSEA.
"Since that time, the governing body has continued the application process and is currently seeking $22 million in low-interest loans to support the storm-water management solution under design for Monmouth Park," the letter states.
A new plan to end the pollution of Branchport Creek outlined last month calls for measures including detention basins, vegetative fields, and a pumping station at Monmouth Park in Oceanport.
On May 11, officials with the racetrack and the NJSEA held a town hall-style meeting at Oceanport Borough Hall to unveil plans to reduce the amount of storm water from Monmouth Park that enters Branchport Creek.
The proposed upgrades call for the construction of a roughly 4-acre detention basin, a pump station, and a series of drainage piping that could reduce the amount of contaminated runoff from the horse track to virtually zero.
"The objectives ultimately are to improve the water quality of the Branchport Creek and to assure that the track complies with a permit requirement the DEP [state Department of Environmental Protection] has for concentrated animal feeding operations," explained Brian McPeak, an engineer with the Warren-based PS&S Integrated Design and Engineering, the engineering firm that is handling the design and implementation of the project.
Mahon's letter said, "The cleanup of the river bed can't be left for Mother Nature alone. Funding must be provided to complete the dredging of Branchport Creek beyond the Branchport Avenue bridge to the west side immediately adjacent to Monmouth Park."
Mahon stated that state funding is essential for this project to be successful.
"Federal dollars are a critical resource that must fill the gap in state funding," Mahon continued.
Mahon also called on Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th District) as well as Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Melendez to support the additional $1 million to supplement the current appropriation, which is $4.2 million, and to dedicate new dollars to the creek.
According to Oceanport Councilman Joseph Irace, the $4.2 million is federal stimulus money and is to be used to dredge the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers.
Plans for the storm-water system improvement project call for the construction of an improved storm-sewer system to collect runoff from the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) areas; the construction of a pumping station to convey the collected waters to a detention basin; the construction of a vegetated detention basin that will have the ability to hold 7.8 million gallons of water and feature 2.7 acres of constructed wetlands; and the construction of a force main to convey the detained water from the basin to the Two Rivers Water Reclamation Authority (TRWRA) up to a maximum of 500,000 gallons of water a day. The improvement project will be broken down into a four-phase plan that will be implemented over a four-year period and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2012.
The first phase of the roughly $22 million project has already begun and has seen gutters placed on the roofs of the majority of the structures around the park property, including the backstretch area where the horse stalls are located.
According to Don Sharp, the lead engineer with PS&S on the project, runoff from the roofs of the park's structures is considered clean and can be released into the creek without fear of it contaminating the waters.
However, that water is currently collected with the same contaminated water as the rest of the park. With the addition of gutters on the park structures, the water will now be able to be separated from the park's contaminated water and can be sent out to the creek.
In addition to the separation of the roof runoff from the contaminated water, the first phase also includes upgrades to the park's drainage pipe connection with TRWRA.
The Branchport Creek, which runs between Oceanport and Long Branch, is a tributary of the Shrewsbury River. The river meets the Navesink River before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.
According to Mahon, the borough has been participating with the Two River Council of Mayors in seeking to dredge the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers. Branchport Creek would be included in this project.
Staff Writer Dan Howley contributed to this story.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Coastal evacuation plan coordinates exodus
Coastal evacuation plan coordinates exodus
Plan will give county tools in event of natural disaster
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Monmouth County has unveiled a draft plan for coastal evacuation that takes a comprehensive look at the facilities necessary to move residents safely away from coastal areas.
The yearlong study of coastal evacuation routes prepared for the Monmouth County Planning Board channels residents of coastal communities west, away from coastal areas that would be flooded in the event of a major storm.
The study, conducted by Jacobs Engineering Inc. in cooperation with Reichman Frankle Inc. and Techniquest Engineering, was unveiled at an open house meeting June 2 at the Brookdale Higher Education Learning Center on Broadway in Long Branch.
The purpose of the Coastal Evacuation Routes Study is to evaluate transportation facilities used for evacuation along the New Jersey coastal region east of the Garden State Parkway, to recommend improvements to existing facilities, and to develop new ones where appropriate, according to the study.
"One of Monmouth County's finest assets — its 26 miles of bay coastline — is also a potential liability, as low-lying coastal areas are subject to flooding from wave action and weather, particularly during hurricane events," the study states.
Maps of evacuation routes (l-r) and emergency shelters are included in the coastal evacuation study.
The information can also be used when existing state and local plans are reviewed and updated, such as the county Office of Emergency Management's Emergency Operations Plan.
As outlined on the project website, monmouthcers. com, key objectives of the plan include:
• Collect transportation facility, operations and service network data for 12 critical infrastructure and emergency travel routes (portal facilities) in and around Monmouth County's coastal communities.
• Evaluate the inter-relationship of transportation routes and services and their capacity/ performance limitations, especially during peak seasonal periods.
• Group communities with common transportation routes and encourage them to work collaboratively to identify specific needs, issues and concerns.
• Evaluate potential physical/operational improvements to routes, including a range of transportation technologies.
The listed goals of the study include: to improve coastal routes; identify and address limitations to evacuation routes to ensure their efficiency during emergency situations; and promote awareness of evacuation routes and the evacuation process among residents, tourists, stakeholders and the general public.
Roadway widening, a network of shelters, backup power for traffic signals, evacuation route signs and new bridges are among the $150 million-plus in measures recommended in the study aimed at upgrading the county's plans for evacuation of coastal areas.
The study area includes 41 municipalities located east of the Garden State Parkway and divides the coastal area into three regions: northern, central and southern.
The northern region includes Aberdeen, Keyport, Hazlet, Union Beach, Keansburg, Holmdel, Matawan, Atlantic Highlands, Highlands and Middletown.
The central region includes Red Bank, Fair Haven, Sea Bright, Rumson, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township, Little Silver, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Eatontown, Tinton Falls, West Long Branch, Long Branch, Ocean Grove, Deal, Interlaken, Allenhurst and Loch Arbor.
The southern region encompasses Asbury Park, Avon- by- the- Sea, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Brielle, Belmar, Lake Como, Manasquan, Neptune, Neptune City, Sea Girl, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights and Wall.
The study identifies 12 "portal" routes leading west from the coastal region.
The process involved stakeholders and each region was represented by a group with members from each municipality to give feedback on each local need.
A Technical Advisory Committee was also formed to work with the project team members. The TAC included the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management and the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Engineers Lakshan Wickramarachchi and Bob Brakman were available to answer questions during the June 2 open house.
"It was a one- year study where we picked routes based on how many people are in the area," Brakman said, adding, "There are three times as many people living here in the summer, so we could see where the worst locations are in the summer."
"We worked extensively with getting information from population studies," Wickramarachchi said. "We recommended physical improvements based on how many people live in the area. I think we were successful."
Information made available at the open house included evacuation routes, suggested road improvements, an estimated cost for each improvement and the lead agency to take on such a job.
For example, the study suggests the widening of Route 520 to create a full shoulder, which would be taken on by the county with an estimated cost of $16.5 million.
Also suggested is an upgrade of signals for wireless controls on Route 36 traffic lights, which would be taken on by the state at a cost of $322,000.
The study also suggests that the state widen Route 36 at the Broad Street intersection, which would cost an estimated $4 million.
The study broke down suggestions into long- , intermediate- and short- term projects and actions to be taken during emergencies.
For example, the suggested widening of Route 520 shoulder is a long- term project, while adding no parking placards is a short- term project.
The draft plan also suggests evacuation routes for coastal residents.
The engineers suggest that travelers in the Northern region take CR-39, CR-56/7, CR- 50/576, SR-36 or CR-8A/12/12A when evacuating and take Routes 520 or 36 or Park Avenue when in the Central zone.
Wickramarachchi explained the goal of the plan.
"This is not an everyday event," Wickramarachchi said. "We wanted a practical plan to get people out to use the resources we have available.
"These are the best ways out that we identified," Wickramarachchi continued. "These roads lead into other main roads in the area."
He added that in evacuating, the suggestion is to work from the coastline out.
"We developed a broad picture plan and hope to expand upon it," Wickramarachchi said. "We try to get to areas along the coasts first, like Sea Bright. We have to have the best option to lead people to safety."
According to Brakman, people are alerted 36 hours prior to an evacuation, but the advance warning often does little good.
"We have discovered that even if we give people 36 hour warnings they still wait until the last minute," Brakman said.
Another issue is the added traffic during the evacuation.
"Also, it is not just a family leaving in their cars," Brakman said. "It's families leaving in two or three cars. Nobody wants to leave a car there."
Click here to enlarge
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Plan will give county tools in event of natural disaster
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
Monmouth County has unveiled a draft plan for coastal evacuation that takes a comprehensive look at the facilities necessary to move residents safely away from coastal areas.
The yearlong study of coastal evacuation routes prepared for the Monmouth County Planning Board channels residents of coastal communities west, away from coastal areas that would be flooded in the event of a major storm.
The study, conducted by Jacobs Engineering Inc. in cooperation with Reichman Frankle Inc. and Techniquest Engineering, was unveiled at an open house meeting June 2 at the Brookdale Higher Education Learning Center on Broadway in Long Branch.
The purpose of the Coastal Evacuation Routes Study is to evaluate transportation facilities used for evacuation along the New Jersey coastal region east of the Garden State Parkway, to recommend improvements to existing facilities, and to develop new ones where appropriate, according to the study.
"One of Monmouth County's finest assets — its 26 miles of bay coastline — is also a potential liability, as low-lying coastal areas are subject to flooding from wave action and weather, particularly during hurricane events," the study states.
Maps of evacuation routes (l-r) and emergency shelters are included in the coastal evacuation study.
The information can also be used when existing state and local plans are reviewed and updated, such as the county Office of Emergency Management's Emergency Operations Plan.
As outlined on the project website, monmouthcers. com, key objectives of the plan include:
• Collect transportation facility, operations and service network data for 12 critical infrastructure and emergency travel routes (portal facilities) in and around Monmouth County's coastal communities.
• Evaluate the inter-relationship of transportation routes and services and their capacity/ performance limitations, especially during peak seasonal periods.
• Group communities with common transportation routes and encourage them to work collaboratively to identify specific needs, issues and concerns.
• Evaluate potential physical/operational improvements to routes, including a range of transportation technologies.
The listed goals of the study include: to improve coastal routes; identify and address limitations to evacuation routes to ensure their efficiency during emergency situations; and promote awareness of evacuation routes and the evacuation process among residents, tourists, stakeholders and the general public.
Roadway widening, a network of shelters, backup power for traffic signals, evacuation route signs and new bridges are among the $150 million-plus in measures recommended in the study aimed at upgrading the county's plans for evacuation of coastal areas.
The study area includes 41 municipalities located east of the Garden State Parkway and divides the coastal area into three regions: northern, central and southern.
The northern region includes Aberdeen, Keyport, Hazlet, Union Beach, Keansburg, Holmdel, Matawan, Atlantic Highlands, Highlands and Middletown.
The central region includes Red Bank, Fair Haven, Sea Bright, Rumson, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township, Little Silver, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Eatontown, Tinton Falls, West Long Branch, Long Branch, Ocean Grove, Deal, Interlaken, Allenhurst and Loch Arbor.
The southern region encompasses Asbury Park, Avon- by- the- Sea, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Brielle, Belmar, Lake Como, Manasquan, Neptune, Neptune City, Sea Girl, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights and Wall.
The study identifies 12 "portal" routes leading west from the coastal region.
The process involved stakeholders and each region was represented by a group with members from each municipality to give feedback on each local need.
A Technical Advisory Committee was also formed to work with the project team members. The TAC included the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management and the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Engineers Lakshan Wickramarachchi and Bob Brakman were available to answer questions during the June 2 open house.
"It was a one- year study where we picked routes based on how many people are in the area," Brakman said, adding, "There are three times as many people living here in the summer, so we could see where the worst locations are in the summer."
"We worked extensively with getting information from population studies," Wickramarachchi said. "We recommended physical improvements based on how many people live in the area. I think we were successful."
Information made available at the open house included evacuation routes, suggested road improvements, an estimated cost for each improvement and the lead agency to take on such a job.
For example, the study suggests the widening of Route 520 to create a full shoulder, which would be taken on by the county with an estimated cost of $16.5 million.
Also suggested is an upgrade of signals for wireless controls on Route 36 traffic lights, which would be taken on by the state at a cost of $322,000.
The study also suggests that the state widen Route 36 at the Broad Street intersection, which would cost an estimated $4 million.
The study broke down suggestions into long- , intermediate- and short- term projects and actions to be taken during emergencies.
For example, the suggested widening of Route 520 shoulder is a long- term project, while adding no parking placards is a short- term project.
The draft plan also suggests evacuation routes for coastal residents.
The engineers suggest that travelers in the Northern region take CR-39, CR-56/7, CR- 50/576, SR-36 or CR-8A/12/12A when evacuating and take Routes 520 or 36 or Park Avenue when in the Central zone.
Wickramarachchi explained the goal of the plan.
"This is not an everyday event," Wickramarachchi said. "We wanted a practical plan to get people out to use the resources we have available.
"These are the best ways out that we identified," Wickramarachchi continued. "These roads lead into other main roads in the area."
He added that in evacuating, the suggestion is to work from the coastline out.
"We developed a broad picture plan and hope to expand upon it," Wickramarachchi said. "We try to get to areas along the coasts first, like Sea Bright. We have to have the best option to lead people to safety."
According to Brakman, people are alerted 36 hours prior to an evacuation, but the advance warning often does little good.
"We have discovered that even if we give people 36 hour warnings they still wait until the last minute," Brakman said.
Another issue is the added traffic during the evacuation.
"Also, it is not just a family leaving in their cars," Brakman said. "It's families leaving in two or three cars. Nobody wants to leave a car there."
Click here to enlarge
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Antique clock returns home to Oceanic firehouse
Antique clock returns home to Oceanic firehouse
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
George Sperling (l-r), clock restorer and donator, Albert Mentel, president of the Oceanic Fire Engine Company, and Irven Miller Jr., a member of the fire company, with the vintage clock that was returned to the fire company on May 6. In the background is a photo of Thomas Worthley, the first chief of the Oceanic Company, who was probably the chief at the time of the Eatontown fire.
LONG BRANCH — A vintage clock completed a decades-long journey last month, ending up in the local firehouse where it originally hung more than a century ago.
On May 6, Irven Miller Jr. officially presented the antique timepiece to the Oceanic Fire Engine Company No. 1, the oldest fire company in Long Branch. Miller is a member of the fire company.
The clock was originally given to the Oceanic Company, currently located on Norwood Avenue, after the company responded to a fire in Eatontown in 1892, according to Dan Wilson, a member of the Oceanic Fire Engine Company.
The borough of Eatontown called the company to assist with the fire, and Oceanic Company responded with its Babcock Chemical Pumper.
The clock was presented to the company to thank the members for their help in fighting the fire
According to Wilson, years later the clock was discarded, ending up on a curb at some point in the 1950s, when it was rescued and restored by George Sperling's father.
Sperling, of Eatontown, has been restoring and repairing old clocks with his father for more than 50 years, according to Wilson.
At the fire company's May 6 monthly meeting, the clock was returned to its original owners and Sperling provided some insight into the history of the clock and its restoration.
"Albert Mentel, president of the Oceanic Fire Company Number 1, gratefully accepted the clock and thanked George for the generosity of his gift," Wilson said.
According to Wilson, the clock is currently hanging at the station where it originally was placed, a detail Wilson took care to replicate.
He said that while some members may not appreciate the history surrounding the clock, it's important to keep the clock where it originally was hanging.
"The clock has been missing since apparently the '50s," Wilson said. "So I think the work George has done to restore the clock has been great."
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
George Sperling (l-r), clock restorer and donator, Albert Mentel, president of the Oceanic Fire Engine Company, and Irven Miller Jr., a member of the fire company, with the vintage clock that was returned to the fire company on May 6. In the background is a photo of Thomas Worthley, the first chief of the Oceanic Company, who was probably the chief at the time of the Eatontown fire.
LONG BRANCH — A vintage clock completed a decades-long journey last month, ending up in the local firehouse where it originally hung more than a century ago.
On May 6, Irven Miller Jr. officially presented the antique timepiece to the Oceanic Fire Engine Company No. 1, the oldest fire company in Long Branch. Miller is a member of the fire company.
The clock was originally given to the Oceanic Company, currently located on Norwood Avenue, after the company responded to a fire in Eatontown in 1892, according to Dan Wilson, a member of the Oceanic Fire Engine Company.
The borough of Eatontown called the company to assist with the fire, and Oceanic Company responded with its Babcock Chemical Pumper.
The clock was presented to the company to thank the members for their help in fighting the fire
According to Wilson, years later the clock was discarded, ending up on a curb at some point in the 1950s, when it was rescued and restored by George Sperling's father.
Sperling, of Eatontown, has been restoring and repairing old clocks with his father for more than 50 years, according to Wilson.
At the fire company's May 6 monthly meeting, the clock was returned to its original owners and Sperling provided some insight into the history of the clock and its restoration.
"Albert Mentel, president of the Oceanic Fire Company Number 1, gratefully accepted the clock and thanked George for the generosity of his gift," Wilson said.
According to Wilson, the clock is currently hanging at the station where it originally was placed, a detail Wilson took care to replicate.
He said that while some members may not appreciate the history surrounding the clock, it's important to keep the clock where it originally was hanging.
"The clock has been missing since apparently the '50s," Wilson said. "So I think the work George has done to restore the clock has been great."
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
Click here to enlarge
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Lead-free agreement combats poisoning
Lead-free agreement combats poisoning
Long Branch becomes Model Lead-Safe City
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — The City of Long Branch has joined the growing list of New Jersey municipalities to sign an agreement with the New Jersey Public Advocate to aggressively respond to and prevent the problem of childhood lead poisoning.
New Jersey Public Advocate Ronald K. Chen and Mayor Adam Schneider have signed an agreement designating Long Branch as the state's eighth "Model Lead- Safe City." Long Branch approved the agreement last month and Chen recently signed it as well.
"The City of Long Branch is to be commended for its commitment to addressing this serious health concern. This agreement builds on some forward-thinking initiatives that the city already has in place and makes Long Branch a leader in the lead poisoning prevention area," said Chen, who unveiled a report last April that showed that thousands of children in New Jersey are poisoned in their homes every year due to exposure to deteriorating lead-based paint.
According to the Public Advocate's report, the childhood lead poisoning problem was determined to be particularly acute in the state's cities.
In response to the report, Gov. Jon S. Corzine has signed an executive order requiring state departments to tighten their lead poisoning prevention activities.
Long Branch Director of Health David Roach said lead poisoning is always a concern in urban areas with older housing stock.
"Lead-based paint in construction is a national problem," Roach said.
"We don't have an inordinate amount of cases in Long Branch. But when you have housing stock in an urban area, you are at more risk."
Under the Model Lead-Safe City agreement, Long Branch officials committed to take steps to:
• Designate a Lead-Safe City Coordinator, who will head up all efforts related to responding to and preventing lead poisoning;
• Distribute lead poisoning educational materials through city public and private schools;
• Notify residents of a multi-unit building to get a blood lead test when a child is found to be lead poisoned in one unit of that building;
• Review and recommend changes to the existing Lead-Based Paint municipal ordinance to deal with lead hazards; and
• Identify areas in the city where children have elevated blood levels or are not being tested, and initiate corrective actions for the safety of all children living in Long Branch.
Roach explained that two coordinators would be appointed for the program, likely he and Michael Kowal, who also works for the city's health department.
"We are licensed lead inspectors and Monmouth County risk assessors," Roach said.
Because New Jersey has some of the oldest housing stock in the country, lead poisoning remains a challenging public health concern, according to a press release from the Public Advocate's Office.
Long Branch, in particular, is most vulnerable because of the number of pre-1950 housing units in the city. Household paint contained extremely high levels of lead pigments before 1950. Approximately 32 percent of Long Branch's housing stock was built before 1950, and almost 75 percent was built before 1978, the year that lead-based paint was completely banned, the press release states.
The New Jersey Department of the PublicAdvocate conducted a field investigation in late 2007 in five of the New Jersey cities with the highest concentration of lead-poisoned children: Trenton, Camden, Newark, East Orange and Irvington. Together, these five cities accounted for 31 percent of all reported lead poisonings in New Jersey in 2005.
At each of the 104 addresses inspected, one or more children had already been lead poisoned within the past 10 years, and thus were or should have been inspected. Additionally, approximately one-third of the homes had already undergone an abatement.
According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, lead is invisible to the naked eye and has no smell. Children may be exposed to it from consumer products through normal hand-to-mouth activity, which is part of their normal development. They often place toys and fingers in their mouth, exposing themselves to lead paint or dust.
Lead, a metallic substance, remains in the environment years after its initial use. It is toxic to the body's tissue and enzymes. Lead poisoning results from exposure to lead in the environment. Even though lead has been banned for decades, it still may be present in homes built prior to 1978 and is most commonly found in chipping or peeling paints, plumbing and surrounding soil. Removing or avoiding lead sources or early detection through blood screening is the best means to prevent lead poisoning. Lead can be removed through proper abatement techniques.
Eliminating exposure to lead poisoning and increasing public awareness about the dangers of lead exposure were also the focus of a summer
fair held in the city last week.
The Monmouth County Health Department partnered with community groups and healthcare organizations to hold "Kickoff the Summer Lead Free" on June 6 in Slocum Park.
"Exposure to lead is dangerous to children and adults and poses negative health effects after prolonged exposure," said Freeholder Amy A. Mallet, who oversees the county's Department of Health. "This summer-oriented awareness event will give parents and caregivers the tools to assess and remove lead-based products from their homes and play areas."
The awareness fair offered lead level blood screening for children, information about sources of lead paint in the environment, and dust-wipe kits that parents can use to evaluate the painted surface in their homes.
The county Health Department joined with the Long Branch Health Department, Monmouth Family Health Center, and the Regional Prenatal Consortium of Monmouth and Ocean Counties to organize the event.
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Long Branch becomes Model Lead-Safe City
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — The City of Long Branch has joined the growing list of New Jersey municipalities to sign an agreement with the New Jersey Public Advocate to aggressively respond to and prevent the problem of childhood lead poisoning.
New Jersey Public Advocate Ronald K. Chen and Mayor Adam Schneider have signed an agreement designating Long Branch as the state's eighth "Model Lead- Safe City." Long Branch approved the agreement last month and Chen recently signed it as well.
"The City of Long Branch is to be commended for its commitment to addressing this serious health concern. This agreement builds on some forward-thinking initiatives that the city already has in place and makes Long Branch a leader in the lead poisoning prevention area," said Chen, who unveiled a report last April that showed that thousands of children in New Jersey are poisoned in their homes every year due to exposure to deteriorating lead-based paint.
According to the Public Advocate's report, the childhood lead poisoning problem was determined to be particularly acute in the state's cities.
In response to the report, Gov. Jon S. Corzine has signed an executive order requiring state departments to tighten their lead poisoning prevention activities.
Long Branch Director of Health David Roach said lead poisoning is always a concern in urban areas with older housing stock.
"Lead-based paint in construction is a national problem," Roach said.
"We don't have an inordinate amount of cases in Long Branch. But when you have housing stock in an urban area, you are at more risk."
Under the Model Lead-Safe City agreement, Long Branch officials committed to take steps to:
• Designate a Lead-Safe City Coordinator, who will head up all efforts related to responding to and preventing lead poisoning;
• Distribute lead poisoning educational materials through city public and private schools;
• Notify residents of a multi-unit building to get a blood lead test when a child is found to be lead poisoned in one unit of that building;
• Review and recommend changes to the existing Lead-Based Paint municipal ordinance to deal with lead hazards; and
• Identify areas in the city where children have elevated blood levels or are not being tested, and initiate corrective actions for the safety of all children living in Long Branch.
Roach explained that two coordinators would be appointed for the program, likely he and Michael Kowal, who also works for the city's health department.
"We are licensed lead inspectors and Monmouth County risk assessors," Roach said.
Because New Jersey has some of the oldest housing stock in the country, lead poisoning remains a challenging public health concern, according to a press release from the Public Advocate's Office.
Long Branch, in particular, is most vulnerable because of the number of pre-1950 housing units in the city. Household paint contained extremely high levels of lead pigments before 1950. Approximately 32 percent of Long Branch's housing stock was built before 1950, and almost 75 percent was built before 1978, the year that lead-based paint was completely banned, the press release states.
The New Jersey Department of the PublicAdvocate conducted a field investigation in late 2007 in five of the New Jersey cities with the highest concentration of lead-poisoned children: Trenton, Camden, Newark, East Orange and Irvington. Together, these five cities accounted for 31 percent of all reported lead poisonings in New Jersey in 2005.
At each of the 104 addresses inspected, one or more children had already been lead poisoned within the past 10 years, and thus were or should have been inspected. Additionally, approximately one-third of the homes had already undergone an abatement.
According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, lead is invisible to the naked eye and has no smell. Children may be exposed to it from consumer products through normal hand-to-mouth activity, which is part of their normal development. They often place toys and fingers in their mouth, exposing themselves to lead paint or dust.
Lead, a metallic substance, remains in the environment years after its initial use. It is toxic to the body's tissue and enzymes. Lead poisoning results from exposure to lead in the environment. Even though lead has been banned for decades, it still may be present in homes built prior to 1978 and is most commonly found in chipping or peeling paints, plumbing and surrounding soil. Removing or avoiding lead sources or early detection through blood screening is the best means to prevent lead poisoning. Lead can be removed through proper abatement techniques.
Eliminating exposure to lead poisoning and increasing public awareness about the dangers of lead exposure were also the focus of a summer
fair held in the city last week.
The Monmouth County Health Department partnered with community groups and healthcare organizations to hold "Kickoff the Summer Lead Free" on June 6 in Slocum Park.
"Exposure to lead is dangerous to children and adults and poses negative health effects after prolonged exposure," said Freeholder Amy A. Mallet, who oversees the county's Department of Health. "This summer-oriented awareness event will give parents and caregivers the tools to assess and remove lead-based products from their homes and play areas."
The awareness fair offered lead level blood screening for children, information about sources of lead paint in the environment, and dust-wipe kits that parents can use to evaluate the painted surface in their homes.
The county Health Department joined with the Long Branch Health Department, Monmouth Family Health Center, and the Regional Prenatal Consortium of Monmouth and Ocean Counties to organize the event.
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A day to share smiles and some waves
A day to share smiles and some waves
Life Rolls On returns to Long Branch June 28
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
SCOTT FRIEDMAN Volunteers wait for the right wave to launch Ronald Moore, of Providence, at the Life Rolls On event in Long Branch June 22, 2008.
LONG BRANCH — People with limited mobility will enjoy a day of surfing at the Jersey Shore June 28 when The Life Rolls On Foundation holds its annual "They Will Surf Again" [TWSA] event at Pier Village in Long Branch.
"This is an amazing event to participate in or just watch," event coordinator Joe Levy said. "This event is about community and lending a hand.
"It's about sharing smiles and sharing some waves while swallowing some nice salty Jersey Shore water."
According to the foundation's website, TWSA is an event created for people with spinal cord injuries.
"Injured athletes from around the country gather together for a day of surfing. Some have not surfed since their injury, some have never surfed, some surf all the time despite their varying mobility," the site states.
"The participants have varying degrees of mobility," Levy explained. "Their injuries come from car accidents to motocross, to falls when they were little.
"They are all amazing individuals who have both my and the foundation's utmost respect. To the participants, smile, pray for surf, have an awesome day.
"This event shows how connected we all are to spinal cord injuries and stem cell research," he continued. "We all know someone who is in some way affected by this problem.
"The event improves the quality of life for those suffering from these issues. Without teams and volunteers of this magnitude, people suffering from SCI [spinal cord injury] would otherwise have no opportunity to get in the water, never mind surf a wave."
California-based Life Rolls On has held TWSA events across the country including California, North Carolina, Florida, Virginia and New Jersey.
This will be the 24th event held since 2004 and the second consecutive year the program will take place in Long Branch.
"This will be the second TWSA event in the Northeast," he said. "We are following much of the same format as last year. It will be a little bigger in production and hopefully a tad bit bigger waves."
Levy said that the reaction in Long Branch has been positive for the foundation.
"The reception is amazing," he said. "The recreation department, the police, lifeguard and beach crews are just fantastic. Pier Village also helps out in promotion, and it's just a great place to spend the day, surfing or not."
According to Levy, after registration is completed, teams will be made and the first ride is expected to go off around 9:30 a.m.
"We should hopefully have two or three surfers in the water at each break depending on the swell that day," he said.
"Smiles, laughter, cheers and adrenaline start around 9:30 a.m. with the first ride of the day."
Levy expects there will be between 25 and 30 surfers along with about 150 volunteers, roughly a seven- to 10-to-one volunteer to surfer ration.
Levy explained that the event is built on the work of the volunteers.
"LRO and TWSA would not exist without volunteers," he said. "It's a long day and can be physically challenging for those pitching in but it can also be one of the most rewarding days of your life."
An event like this is not without its challenges, he acknowledged.
"There are a lot of moving pieces that need to be coordinated as far as the town, the sponsors, volunteers and participants," he said. "The event and end result are worth any challenges."
Levy explained that funding for the event comes from sponsors and also from some grants.
"The event and organization has volunteers and sponsors that handle a lot of the equipment for the event," Levy said. "Sponsors for the events come through private companies both surf- related and not.
"Food, drinks, etc. are all donated as well as tons of giveaways and raffles. Spinal cord injury grants also add to some funding."
TWSA is the flagship event for LRO, but the foundation has also held several golf events this year, as well as its first skiing event in California this year.
For more information or to volunteer, visit the website at http://www.liferollson.org.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Life Rolls On returns to Long Branch June 28
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
SCOTT FRIEDMAN Volunteers wait for the right wave to launch Ronald Moore, of Providence, at the Life Rolls On event in Long Branch June 22, 2008.
LONG BRANCH — People with limited mobility will enjoy a day of surfing at the Jersey Shore June 28 when The Life Rolls On Foundation holds its annual "They Will Surf Again" [TWSA] event at Pier Village in Long Branch.
"This is an amazing event to participate in or just watch," event coordinator Joe Levy said. "This event is about community and lending a hand.
"It's about sharing smiles and sharing some waves while swallowing some nice salty Jersey Shore water."
According to the foundation's website, TWSA is an event created for people with spinal cord injuries.
"Injured athletes from around the country gather together for a day of surfing. Some have not surfed since their injury, some have never surfed, some surf all the time despite their varying mobility," the site states.
"The participants have varying degrees of mobility," Levy explained. "Their injuries come from car accidents to motocross, to falls when they were little.
"They are all amazing individuals who have both my and the foundation's utmost respect. To the participants, smile, pray for surf, have an awesome day.
"This event shows how connected we all are to spinal cord injuries and stem cell research," he continued. "We all know someone who is in some way affected by this problem.
"The event improves the quality of life for those suffering from these issues. Without teams and volunteers of this magnitude, people suffering from SCI [spinal cord injury] would otherwise have no opportunity to get in the water, never mind surf a wave."
California-based Life Rolls On has held TWSA events across the country including California, North Carolina, Florida, Virginia and New Jersey.
This will be the 24th event held since 2004 and the second consecutive year the program will take place in Long Branch.
"This will be the second TWSA event in the Northeast," he said. "We are following much of the same format as last year. It will be a little bigger in production and hopefully a tad bit bigger waves."
Levy said that the reaction in Long Branch has been positive for the foundation.
"The reception is amazing," he said. "The recreation department, the police, lifeguard and beach crews are just fantastic. Pier Village also helps out in promotion, and it's just a great place to spend the day, surfing or not."
According to Levy, after registration is completed, teams will be made and the first ride is expected to go off around 9:30 a.m.
"We should hopefully have two or three surfers in the water at each break depending on the swell that day," he said.
"Smiles, laughter, cheers and adrenaline start around 9:30 a.m. with the first ride of the day."
Levy expects there will be between 25 and 30 surfers along with about 150 volunteers, roughly a seven- to 10-to-one volunteer to surfer ration.
Levy explained that the event is built on the work of the volunteers.
"LRO and TWSA would not exist without volunteers," he said. "It's a long day and can be physically challenging for those pitching in but it can also be one of the most rewarding days of your life."
An event like this is not without its challenges, he acknowledged.
"There are a lot of moving pieces that need to be coordinated as far as the town, the sponsors, volunteers and participants," he said. "The event and end result are worth any challenges."
Levy explained that funding for the event comes from sponsors and also from some grants.
"The event and organization has volunteers and sponsors that handle a lot of the equipment for the event," Levy said. "Sponsors for the events come through private companies both surf- related and not.
"Food, drinks, etc. are all donated as well as tons of giveaways and raffles. Spinal cord injury grants also add to some funding."
TWSA is the flagship event for LRO, but the foundation has also held several golf events this year, as well as its first skiing event in California this year.
For more information or to volunteer, visit the website at http://www.liferollson.org.
Contact Kenny Walter at
kwalter@gmnews.com.
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Oceanport asks for $1M more for creek cleanup
Oceanport asks for $1M more for creek cleanup
BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
OCEANPORT — Mayor Michael Mahon has requested $1 million in federal appropriations to dredge the Branchport Creek and remove fecal contamination.
Mahon made the request in a letter addressed to Rep. Rush Holt (D-6th District), seeking support in obtaining this special appropriation.
"As you know, the Borough of Oceanport has partnered with Monmouth Park racetrack and its operator the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) to end the runoff of contaminated storm water into Branchport Creek," the letter states.
The letter states that in October 2008, the borough of Oceanport's governing body agreed to seek funding as a conduit borrower from the N.J. Environmental Infrastructure Trust on behalf of the NJSEA.
"Since that time, the governing body has continued the application process and is currently seeking $22 million in low-interest loans to support the storm-water management solution under design for Monmouth Park," the letter states.
A new plan to end the pollution of Branchport Creek outlined last month calls for measures including detention basins, vegetative fields, and a pumping station at Monmouth Park in Oceanport.
On May 11, officials with the racetrack and the NJSEA held a town hall-style meeting at Oceanport Borough Hall to unveil plans to reduce the amount of storm water from Monmouth Park that enters Branchport Creek.
The proposed upgrades call for the construction of a roughly 4-acre detention basin, a pump station, and a series of drainage piping that could reduce the amount of contaminated runoff from the horse track to virtually zero.
"The objectives ultimately are to improve the water quality of the Branchport Creek and to assure that the track complies with a permit requirement the DEP [state Department of Environmental Protection] has for concentrated animal feeding operations," explained Brian McPeak, an engineer with the Warrenbased PS&S Integrated Design and Engineering, the engineering firm that is handling the design and implementation of the project.
Mahon's letter said, "The cleanup of the river bed can't be left for Mother Nature alone. Funding must be provided to complete the dredging of Branchport Creek beyond the Branchport Avenue bridge to the west side immediately adjacent to Monmouth Park."
Mahon stated that state funding is essential for this project to be successful.
"Federal dollars are a critical resource that must fill the gap in state funding," Mahon continued.
Mahon also called on Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th District) as well as Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Melendez to support the additional $1 million to supplement the current appropriation, which is $4.2 million, and to dedicate new dollars to the creek.
According to Oceanport Councilman Joseph Irace, the $4.2 million is federal stimulus money and is to be used to dredge the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers.
Plans for the storm-water system improvement project call for the construction of an improved storm-sewer system to collect runoff from the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) areas; the construction of a pumping station to convey the collected waters to a detention basin; the construction of a vegetated detention basin that will have the ability to hold 7.8 million gallons of water and feature 2.7 acres of constructed wetlands; and the construction of a force main to convey the detained water from the basin to the Two Rivers Water Reclamation Authority (TRWRA) up to a maximum of 500,000 gallons of water a day.
The improvement project will be broken down into a four-phase plan that will be implemented over a four-year period and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2012.
The first phase of the roughly $22 million project has already begun and has seen gutters placed on the roofs of the majority of the structures around the park property, including the backstretch area where the horse stalls are located.
According to Don Sharp, the lead engineer with PS&S on the project, runoff from the roofs of the park's structures is considered clean and can be released into the creek without fear of it contaminating the waters.
However, that water is currently collected with the same contaminated water as the rest of the park. With the addition of gutters on the park structures, the water will now be able to be separated from the park's contaminated water and can be sent out to the creek.
In addition to the separation of the roof runoff from the contaminated water, the first phase also includes upgrades to the park's drainage pipe connection with TRWRA.
The Branchport Creek, which runs between Oceanport and Long Branch, is a tributary of the Shrewsbury River. The river meets the Navesink River before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.
According to Mahon, the borough has been participating with the Two River Council of Mayors in seeking to dredge the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers. Branchport Creek would be included in this project.
Staff Writer Dan Howley contributed to this story.
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BY KENNY WALTER Staff Writer
OCEANPORT — Mayor Michael Mahon has requested $1 million in federal appropriations to dredge the Branchport Creek and remove fecal contamination.
Mahon made the request in a letter addressed to Rep. Rush Holt (D-6th District), seeking support in obtaining this special appropriation.
"As you know, the Borough of Oceanport has partnered with Monmouth Park racetrack and its operator the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA) to end the runoff of contaminated storm water into Branchport Creek," the letter states.
The letter states that in October 2008, the borough of Oceanport's governing body agreed to seek funding as a conduit borrower from the N.J. Environmental Infrastructure Trust on behalf of the NJSEA.
"Since that time, the governing body has continued the application process and is currently seeking $22 million in low-interest loans to support the storm-water management solution under design for Monmouth Park," the letter states.
A new plan to end the pollution of Branchport Creek outlined last month calls for measures including detention basins, vegetative fields, and a pumping station at Monmouth Park in Oceanport.
On May 11, officials with the racetrack and the NJSEA held a town hall-style meeting at Oceanport Borough Hall to unveil plans to reduce the amount of storm water from Monmouth Park that enters Branchport Creek.
The proposed upgrades call for the construction of a roughly 4-acre detention basin, a pump station, and a series of drainage piping that could reduce the amount of contaminated runoff from the horse track to virtually zero.
"The objectives ultimately are to improve the water quality of the Branchport Creek and to assure that the track complies with a permit requirement the DEP [state Department of Environmental Protection] has for concentrated animal feeding operations," explained Brian McPeak, an engineer with the Warrenbased PS&S Integrated Design and Engineering, the engineering firm that is handling the design and implementation of the project.
Mahon's letter said, "The cleanup of the river bed can't be left for Mother Nature alone. Funding must be provided to complete the dredging of Branchport Creek beyond the Branchport Avenue bridge to the west side immediately adjacent to Monmouth Park."
Mahon stated that state funding is essential for this project to be successful.
"Federal dollars are a critical resource that must fill the gap in state funding," Mahon continued.
Mahon also called on Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6th District) as well as Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Melendez to support the additional $1 million to supplement the current appropriation, which is $4.2 million, and to dedicate new dollars to the creek.
According to Oceanport Councilman Joseph Irace, the $4.2 million is federal stimulus money and is to be used to dredge the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers.
Plans for the storm-water system improvement project call for the construction of an improved storm-sewer system to collect runoff from the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) areas; the construction of a pumping station to convey the collected waters to a detention basin; the construction of a vegetated detention basin that will have the ability to hold 7.8 million gallons of water and feature 2.7 acres of constructed wetlands; and the construction of a force main to convey the detained water from the basin to the Two Rivers Water Reclamation Authority (TRWRA) up to a maximum of 500,000 gallons of water a day.
The improvement project will be broken down into a four-phase plan that will be implemented over a four-year period and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2012.
The first phase of the roughly $22 million project has already begun and has seen gutters placed on the roofs of the majority of the structures around the park property, including the backstretch area where the horse stalls are located.
According to Don Sharp, the lead engineer with PS&S on the project, runoff from the roofs of the park's structures is considered clean and can be released into the creek without fear of it contaminating the waters.
However, that water is currently collected with the same contaminated water as the rest of the park. With the addition of gutters on the park structures, the water will now be able to be separated from the park's contaminated water and can be sent out to the creek.
In addition to the separation of the roof runoff from the contaminated water, the first phase also includes upgrades to the park's drainage pipe connection with TRWRA.
The Branchport Creek, which runs between Oceanport and Long Branch, is a tributary of the Shrewsbury River. The river meets the Navesink River before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.
According to Mahon, the borough has been participating with the Two River Council of Mayors in seeking to dredge the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers. Branchport Creek would be included in this project.
Staff Writer Dan Howley contributed to this story.
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