Mount Olive Township Well Water Testing

-a message from Mayor Rob Greenbaum

Mt. Olive Township residents can have their well water tested for commonly occurring bacteria, nitrates and other contaminants. The Township Environmental Commission and the Raritan Headwaters Association (RHA) are sponsoring reduced-cost well tests. A basic test for coliform bacteria and nitrates costs $60. Other testing options are available for additional costs. The well-testing kits contain easy-to-follow instructions. Kits may be purchased on Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28 at the Municipal Building between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon.

Payment is by check only, made out to RHA. The water samples must be dropped off on Monday, April 29 at the Municipal Building between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

For more information, contact RHA at welltesting@raritanheadwaters.org or (908) 234-1852, ext 401.

NJ Highlands Council Wins Environmental Award

CHESTER, NEW JERSEY – The New Jersey Highlands Council received the 2007 Environmental Achievement Award from the South Branch Watershed Association (SBWA) during the Association’s 48th Annual Dinner Meeting, held Friday, March 28th at the Copper Hill Country Club in Ringoes, New Jersey.

"It is a great honor for the Highlands Council to receive this award from such an established and respected environmental organization," said John Weingart, NJ Highlands Council Chairman. "We did our best to design a process for developing the Highlands Regional Management Plan that would be as smart and open to the public as possible, and it is particularly gratifying to see that process recognized by the Watershed Association. We look forward to continuing to benefit from their input as we implement the Highlands Plan."

William Kibler, the Executive Director of the South Branch Watershed Association, praised the New Jersey Highlands Council and staff in their efforts on preparing the Regional Master Plan.

“The Council and staff put tremendous effort into the draft Regional Master Plan, including conducting numerous public hearings and accepting and reviewing an immense volume of public comments,” Kibler said. “The process of developing the draft Regional Master Plan has been an excellent example of open government. The Council and staff have ensured that the public is informed and involved in the process of preparing and revising the Plan.”

Other recipients at the awards ceremony included Commerce Bank, which received the 2007 Corporate Achievement Award honoring outstanding environmental efforts by a corporation, and Aimee Swain and Jackie Parrinello, who received the Hermia Lechner Award for outstanding volunteer service to the SBWA.

Michelle Ruggiero of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was the event’s guest speaker and addressed the topic, “Know the Bear Facts.”

“The professionalism and enthusiasm of the Council members and staff while dealing with a controversial and very challenging mandate are a great credit to the Highlands Council,” added William Kibler. “Their efforts to ‘protect, restore, and enhance the quality and quantity of surface and ground waters,’ in the New Jersey Highlands will have a great impact on the environment of our watershed for generations.”



Pictured above at the South Branch Watershed Association Annual Awards Dinner on Friday, March 28th, are (left to right) William Kibler, Executive Director of the South Branch Watershed Association; Jim Hill, President of the SBWA; John Weingart, Chairman of the New Jersey Highlands Council; and Eileen Swan, Executive Director of the New Jersey Highlands Council.



“The Highlands Council and staff are grateful for the South Branch Watershed Association’s acknowledgement of the process of creating the Regional Master Plan and the transparency we have provided at every step of the process,” said Eileen Swan, Executive Director of the Highlands Council. “We are in the very busy final phases of adoption for the Regional Master Plan, and it is easy to forget to appreciate all of the work we've done. I would like to thank the SBWA for this award and for the opportunity for all of us to look back on what we have achieved. I urge the Council and staff to look forward to the great things we will accomplish in the future.”

About the South Branch Watershed Association (SWBA)
The South Branch Watershed Association is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to protecting the environment in the watershed of the South Branch Raritan River. For over 40 years, SBWA has been assisting municipalities, schools, community groups, and citizens with protecting natural resources through education and outreach. Programs offered by SBWA include a volunteer stream monitoring program, biannual stream clean-ups, informational workshops, community well testing programs, and in-school in-field environmental education programs. SBWA also serves as a clearinghouse for public information regarding local environmental issues.

NJ Highlands Regional Master Plan

CHESTER, NEW JERSEY - Yesterday, the New Jersey Highlands Council announced the commencement of a 90-day public comment period for the Highlands Regional Master Plan(RMP - Final Draft 2007). Three public hearings have been scheduled for February 2008 for open public comment.

“The Final Draft of the Regional Master Plan is an exciting example of regional planning in New Jersey,” said John Weingart, Chairman of the Highlands Council. “The Council members and staff have worked hard to prepare a plan will protect, enhance and restore the valuable resources of the Highlands as required by the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act. While this draft plan already reflects changes suggested by the public during the Council's many hearings and lengthy comment period earlier this year, we wanted to provide another opportunity for input. We invite the public including interested stakeholders to review the new final draft and suggest potential improvements for the Council to consider before adopting the Regional Master Plan."

Publication of the Highlands Regional Master Plan(Final Draft November 2007), the accompanying technical addenda and/or Land Use Capability Series maps are now available on the New Jersey Highlands Council's web site >>

The New Jersey Highland's Council will hold three public meetings regarding the Regional Master Plan on the following dates:

• February 6, 2008 from 4pm to end of public comment at the Morris County Haggerty Education Center, 53 East Hanover Ave, Morristown, New Jersey.


• February 11, 2008 from 6pm to end of public comment at the Passic County Community College, One College Blvd., Paterson, New Jersey.


• February 13, 2008 from 6:30pm to end of public comment at the Voorhees High School, 256 County Rt 513, Glan Gardner, New Jersey.

The public comment period will officially close on February 28, 2008. If you are unable to attend one of the scheduled public meetings the NJ Highlands Council is offering the following two additional ways to submit your comments:

• Via Email - RMPComments@highlands.state.nj.us


• Via Snail Mail -
  
  Attn: Final Draft RMP Comments
  Highlands Council
  100 North Road - Route 513
  Chester, New Jersey 07930

#####