NJPIRG's Toxics-Free Future In The News

BY TRISTAN J. SCHWEIGER
TOMS RIVER BUREAU

LAKEWOOD — Industries throughout the state release hundreds of thousands of pounds of potentially harmful chemicals into the atmosphere each year, according to a new report by NJPIRG's New Jersey Law and Policy Center released Wednesday.

The report is based on data from the federal Environmental Protection Agency compiled in 2005, the most recent year available. Its findings include 398,939 pounds of airborne carcinogens released statewide and 432,119 pounds of airborne developmental toxins.

New Jersey Public Interest Research Group representatives said the emissions occurred lawfully under existing regulations, and called on the government to tighten restrictions and industries to adopt cleaner production techniques voluntarily.

In addition, the report shows fewer than 15 plants are responsible for the majority of the emissions.

"If these polluters would just clean up their acts, our air pollution problem would be reduced by half almost overnight," Katie Feeney, campaign coordinator for NJPIRG's Toms River Campaign Office, said at a news conference here.

NJPIRG held several news conferences throughout the state Wednesday to announce the report. It chose Lake ShenandoahCounty Park in Lakewood for the Ocean and Monmouth counties area because of the park's proximity to the township industrial park. Various businesses located there released more than 2,600 pounds of the chemicals toluene and ethylbenzene, according to NJPIRG.

Toluene is a developmental toxin and ethylbenzene is a carcinogen, Feeney said.

"I think the community really should know all the toxins that are released near the county park, and where children play and where I used to play," said Jaclyn Dunay, an NJPIRG campaign coordinator who grew up in the area.

Mayor Raymond G. Coles said he wanted more information about air pollution in the community, and that the township government's ability to regulate industrial pollutants is limited. However, he said he would ask businesses to consider using safer processes if they exist.

"If there are alternatives that companies in the industrial park can use, I'd ask them to consider them," the mayor said.

Karen Hershey, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said she wanted more time to review the report before commenting on it in depth. However, she said New Jersey has been proactive in adopting regulations on air pollution.

"New Jersey has made strides reducing air pollution, requiring the most up-to-date, state-of-the-art emission controls on industrial sources, and by promulgating some of the most stringent regulations in the country with controlling emissions from power plants," Hershey said.

Feeney said economical methods are available to replace harmful chemicals in many industries. For instance, she said Indiana steel mills have committed to reducing mercury emissions.

Among the report's recommendations is the state making grants available to smaller businesses to adopt practices that reduce toxins.