Bill Text: NJ AR140 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges U.S. Coast Guard to replace steel channel markers on NJ Intracoastal Waterway on timely basis and urges Congress to appropriate funds therefor.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-03-16 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee [AR140 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-AR140-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Urges U.S. Coast Guard to replace steel channel markers on NJ Intracoastal Waterway on timely basis and urges Congress to appropriate funds therefor.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the United States Coast Guard to monitor the condition of, and replace on a timely basis, the steel channel markers along the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway, and urging Congress to appropriate the necessary funds therefor.
Whereas, The New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway stretches over 102 nautical miles from Manasquan Inlet to the western entrance to the Cape May Canal on the Delaware Bay, passing through marshes and small bays and connecting the northern reaches of Barnegat Bay to Cape May Harbor and ultimately the Delaware Bay; and
Whereas, The New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway is part of the 3,000-mile Intracoastal Waterway that extends from Boston, Massachusetts to the southern tip of Florida along the Atlantic seaboard; and
Whereas, The New Jersey section of the Intracoastal Waterway is a highly trafficked segment of the Intracoastal Waterway that is critically important to commerce, recreation, and navigation along the Atlantic Coast; and
Whereas, There are approximately 300 channel markers in the New Jersey section of the Intracoastal Waterway which boaters depend on for safe travel along the waterway; and
Whereas, The United States Coast Guard is responsible for the maintenance of these markers, and, a lack of funding has often delayed or prevented the needed maintenance, including replacing old markers and buoys; and
Whereas, The steel channel markers are in salt water that degrades the steel over time requiring continuous maintenance, replacement, and repair supported by reliable on-going funding to prevent the markers from becoming hazards to the health, safety, and welfare of boaters and the public; and
Whereas, In response to the sinking of several boats, injuries to boat passengers, and damage to boats attributed to the disrepair of channel markers, the United States Coast Guard repaired and replaced numerous steel channel markers on the Intracoastal Waterway in December 2019; and
Whereas, The United States Coast Guard is frustrated in its efforts to perform timely maintenance, replacement, and repair of the steel channel markers and buoys because of the lack of sufficient and consistent funding for personnel and vessels to accomplish the work; and
Whereas, Any assistance in this regard that Congress can provide on an on-going basis would be appreciated by the United States Coast Guard and the men and women who strive to serve effectively in the Coast Guard to reduce or eliminate safety issues in the Intracoastal Waterway; and
Whereas, The New Jersey Legislature's request for adequate funding from Congress for this purpose is important, crucial, and appropriate because the New Jersey section of the Intracoastal Waterway is one of the busiest segments of the Intracoastal Waterway, and the safety of the public in the waterway should be of tantamount importance to the State, the United States Coast Guard, and the federal government; and
Whereas, Congress can ensure the safety of boaters along the Intracoastal Waterway by appropriating funds to the United States Coast Guard for the continuous maintenance and replacement of old buoys and disintegrated and disintegrating channel markers; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully urges Congress to appropriate the necessary funds to enable the United States Coast Guard to completely replace any broken, rotted, or worn out steel channel markers and buoys on the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway, and to continue to do so on in a timely manner.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, and to every member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges Congress to appropriate the necessary funds to enable the United States Coast Guard to completely replace any broken, rotted, or worn out steel channel markers and buoys on the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway, and to continue to do so on in a timely manner.
Several boats sank in the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway in 2019 because the steel channel markers on buoys had rotted, broken off, and remained below the surface. The United States Coast Guard is responsible for the repair and management of the markers. Although the United States Coast Guard replaced a number of the markers and buoys in December 2019, according to local reports, there is insufficient, consistent funding to allow for the timely replacement of the markers and buoys on an on-going basis.
This resolution reflects the concern that insufficient attention is being paid to the safety of the public using the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway, one of the busiest segments of the Intracoastal Waterway in the country. The replacement and the funding of the markers and buoys are very important for New Jersey and the safety of hundreds of boaters using the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway.
