BARNEGAT — Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation Wednesday that imposes the nation’s strictest limits on fertilizers and creates soil standards meant to prevent pollution from spilling into Barnegat Bay. At a beach club overlooking the bay, Christie said his administration is improving the environment after decades of empty promises from previous governors. The measures, which include limiting the nitrogen...
A biplane heads east as it flies over Barnegat Bay, crossing over Island Beach State Park and out over the ocean. BARNEGAT — Gov. Chris Christie signed legislation Wednesday that imposes the nation’s strictest limits on fertilizers and creates soil standards meant to prevent pollution from spilling into Barnegat Bay.
At a beach club overlooking the bay, Christie said his administration is improving the environment after decades of empty promises from previous governors. The measures, which include limiting the nitrogen contents of fertilizer, were opposed by industry, Christie said.
"We understand that the beauty of the body of water that we have here in New Jersey is much more important to our psychic health and our economic health than any of the arguments being made by the other side," Christie said.
The bill signing took place only a few miles from the Oyster Creek nuclear plant, which Christie announced last month will close in 10 years, ahead of schedule, in exchange for the state not requiring them to build a cooling tower.
"These are the first real concrete steps when you combine it with the closing of Oyster Creek," Christie said.
The new laws require that 20 percent of nitrogen contained in fertilizer be a slow-release variety to prevent it from easily washing into waterways. The effectiveness of some storm water basins will be reviewed.
The new law prohibits licensed professionals from applying fertilizers within 10 feet of a waterway; a 25-foot buffer would be established for homeowners.
Homeowners can’t apply fertilizer on their lawns from Nov. 15 to March 1 and whenever the ground is frozen. Licensed professionals cannot apply fertilizers from Dec. 1 to March 1.
The law also bans the use of phosphorus in fertilizer to protect freshwater bodies such as lakes and streams. Golf courses are exempt.
Jeff Tittel, executive director of the Sierra Club of New Jersey, said the state has the jellyfish to thank for these landmark changes to environmental protections.
"The dirtier and saltier the water is, the more jellyfish you have," Tittel said. "They’re like the canary in the coal mind. You’re seeing the jellyfish all over the bay. They let everyone know that the bay was really in serious trouble, and we have to do something."