Bill Text: NJ AR220 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Amended

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Bill Title: Opposes seismic blasting in Atlantic Ocean near Barnegat Bay.*

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-2)

Status: (Passed) 2015-12-03 - Filed with Secretary of State [AR220 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2014-AR220-Amended.html

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[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 220

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

216th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 24, 2015

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  BRIAN E. RUMPF

District 9 (Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean)

Assemblywoman  DIANNE C. GOVE

District 9 (Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Opposes seismic blasting in Atlantic Ocean near Barnegat Bay.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee on November 16, 2015, with amendments.

 

An Assembly Resolution ¹[urging the National Marine Fisheries Service to cancel] opposing¹ seismic blasting ¹[plans]¹ in the Atlantic Ocean near Barnegat Bay, New Jersey.

 

Whereas, The National Marine Fisheries Service within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ¹[has]¹ received authorization for marine mammal "takes" during an oceanic seismic study ¹[which would be conducted]¹ in the Atlantic Ocean about 15 miles from Barnegat Bay ¹[in summer 2015]¹ ; and

Whereas, The authorization ¹[allows] allowed¹ over 25 marine mammal species, six of which are endangered, to be subjected to noise created from seismic airguns and three other acoustic blast technologies; and

Whereas, Seismic testing is known to have the potential to seriously harm marine life; and

Whereas, One such test ¹[that may be used near Barnegat Bay]¹ is a multibeam echosounder (MBES), which has been implicated in the stranding of over 100 melon-headed whales off the coast of Madagascar; and

Whereas, The ¹[proposed]¹ testing area is also a key habitat for squid and summer flounder, which are important local fisheries; and

Whereas, The tests ¹[will] may¹ negatively impact an area just beginning to recover from the damage caused by Superstorm Sandy, while the marine life populations continue to suffer from sea level rise, marine acidification, and pollution; and

Whereas, While scientific research is extremely important and vital to the health of the ocean and marine life, there is no need for this ¹[particular] type of¹ study, which ¹[will pose] poses¹ an unnecessary risk to certain marine life; now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    ¹[The] a. This House opposes seismic blasting in the Atlantic Ocean near Barnegat Bay, New Jersey.

     b.    This House further urges the¹ National Marine Fisheries Service ¹[is respectfully urged]¹ to cancel ¹[all] any future¹ plans relating to the performance of seismic testing in the Atlantic Ocean near Barnegat Bay, New Jersey.

 

     2.    Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to Richard L. Merrick, Ph.D., Director, Scientific Programs and Chief Science Advisor for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration, and the regional administrator for the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and every member of ¹[congress] Congress¹ elected from ¹[the] this¹ State ¹[of New Jersey]¹ .