Latest news with #DepartmentofEnvironmentalProtection
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Island Beach State Park staff limit visitors after 'sewer line blockages'
ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK — Sewer line blockages prompted state park officials to limit the number of visitors allowed into Island Beach State Park on July 6, according to New Jersey officials. "The park has experienced sewer line blockages over the past several days, requiring the closure of restrooms while Island Beach State Park staff and outside contractors work to identify and resolve the issue," state officials wrote on the park's webpage. "Per the New Jersey Department of Health's Public Recreational Bathing Code, operational restrooms are required to safely allow public access." As of the morning of July 6, the park had "limited functioning restrooms" and staff were working to bring in portable toilets to accommodate the public, according to the post. "Without operational restrooms, it would be both unsanitary and unsafe to allow visitors into the park," New Jersey officials wrote on the park website. Island Beach State Park is home to one of New Jersey's most popular beaches, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The park attracts about a million people each year, and most of those visitors come in the summer months, according to the agency. Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than 17 years. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@ or 732-557-5701. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Limited entry to Island Beach State Park after 'sewer line blockages'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Island Beach State Park reopens Sunday morning after weekend closures. Here's what we know
Island Beach State Park in Seaside Park has reopened after announcing it would be closed indefinitely Saturday night. The park, with its beaches and amenities, is a popular day destination in Ocean County for beachgoers. A sewer line blockage issue caused the closure, leaving no operational restrooms, and making it 'unsanitary and unsafe to allow visitors into the park.' By Sunday morning shortly after 7:30 a.m., the park announced it would open with limited capacity with some 'limited functioning' restrooms available. The park could close early is 'problems' persist, the announcement read. The state was also trying to bring portable toilets to the park. The state said park staff are working to resolve the issue and make repairs, and would update its website and social media pages with updates. The state Department of Environmental Protection's notice read on its Facebook page at about 11 p.m. Saturday: 'We are disappointed to report that the park is experiencing sewer line blockage issues that necessitates closing all restrooms within the park. Public restrooms are required as per the New Jersey Department of Health Public Recreational Bathing Code, and without operational restrooms, it would be both unsanitary and unsafe to allow visitors into the park.' The beautiful July 4th holiday weekend weather has kept the park busy as it closed due to being filled to capacity on Saturday. Sunday brings what would be another gorgeous beach day with 78° and mostly sunny skies. it also closed on Friday due to capacity. This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Island Beach State Park reopens Sunday a.m. after 'indefinitely' closing
Technical.ly
26-06-2025
- Business
- Technical.ly
This data tool is changing how New Jersey plans public transit. Here's how other regions could use it, too.
How can we empower New Jerseyans to more easily understand and take action on pressing transportation needs in their communities? That's the question that my team at the state's Office of Innovation and our colleagues at the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) asked over the past year. As DEP began calling for applications for transportation planning grants, there was a growing public desire for a tool that provided a baseline analysis by combining disparate data sources to help identify transportation gaps. Our collaboration recently resulted in rolling out the Transportation Needs Index. The user-friendly portal featuring data visualizations highlights existing transit infrastructure (like bus stops and rail stations) and combines it with community demographic data (such as household income and vehicle ownership). This pilot platform is now helping communities and decision-makers in New Jersey see more clearly where investments and partnerships might make the biggest impact — a model that could be replicated in other states and regions. Start by finding collaborators In summer 2024, DEP was working to create a toolkit for communities around the state to guide investments of zero-emission, shared-use mobility (eMobility) solutions, including car shares, shuttle services, scooters and more traditional modes. The first step in the toolkit was identifying communities and conducting needs assessments, but there were no statewide resource combining existing transportation infrastructure with relevant community demographics. While people could try to stitch together helpful data on an ad hoc basis, this would be a heavy lift for local decision-makers and community organizations trying to guide upcoming engagements and discussions. A new analysis and index could have the potential to, for example, highlight an area that has high rates of poverty and low rates of car ownership while also lacking transit options. Such a community could be a promising candidate for a car share, shuttle service or other 'last mile' eMobility solution. Luckily, when it came to developing a model for a new index, our team didn't have to start from scratch. Jersey City had conducted a year-long transportation study to identify areas of the city that were underserved by transit. Its approach combined analyzing proximity to transit infrastructure with household demographic data to create a combined score. Informed by their approach, we ultimately created a pilot that rolled out in March, incorporating a variety of New Jersey data, including: Disability status data; Vehicle access; Poverty levels; Age demographics; Population density; and Existing proximity to bus stops and rail stations. With this data, we were able to create a composite score that pinpoints areas with high transportation needs but low transit access, making them prime candidates for investments in areas like eMobility. For example, while this area in the city of Passaic has a high transportation access score, it could still be a strong candidate for mobility investments because it also has higher-than-average poverty levels, senior and youth population and population density. Its composite needs score is 37 (numbers above 25 are considered high needs). How data sparks change With this depth of information, we worked with DEP's geographic information system experts to create a data visualization tool that illuminates communities where transportation investments could yield a significant impact. In other words, the new Transportation Needs Index allows users to see how transportation infrastructure and community demographics intersect in ways that were never before available at a glance. The index has become a key part of DEP's Mobility Planning Toolkit. Already, it has been accessed over 500 times. Even more local leaders, organizations and residents will be using it due to planning grants from DEP, including nearly $1 million in grants announced on June 19 for several communities. For example, officials can use the index to start data-driven conversations with their communities, serving as a quantitative complement to the many comments, suggestions and other qualitative input they receive from individuals and local community groups. It's important to note that the Index only serves as one piece of input. It is no substitute for the nuanced local conversations around affordability, reliability and the everyday on-the-ground experience of people. Additionally, some transportation systems like privately operated public bus networks, paratransit, ferries, bike share and biking infrastructure were not included in the pilot version of the index. What to know before taking on a transit index The best civic tech almost always requires an ongoing, iterative approach to maintain effectiveness and relevance. This was no exception. Other key takeaways from this project include: Routinely check in with subject matter experts; Stay focused on meeting end-user needs; Start small (which is always better than not starting at all!); and Never underestimate the power of combining and presenting data in a new way. This is the first time this type of data has been combined at the state level, creating a robust resource for planners, city officials and community members, many of whom simply don't have the time or resources to undertake this alone. With a small, focused, specialized team, we were able to bring all this data together at scale statewide for all New Jersey communities relatively quickly. In other words, through a team approach, we are able to compile and present a large trove of data that empowers more people to come to the table, informed with the basic facts about transit and transportation in their part of the state. We welcome feedback from around the state from people who are using it to make data-informed decisions, as well as from local groups and individuals who want to engage more deeply in planning processes. My hope is that other states and jurisdictions will replicate this approach and even improve upon it, so that we can all understand our transit landscapes better and make the best possible decisions about where to invest and what kinds of mobility partnerships to create. With richer conversations in every community, we can create a clearer path toward a more connected and sustainable future for all residents.
CBS News
25-06-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Major Deegan Expressway closed in both directions in the Bronx due to water main break
The Major Deegan Expressway is closed in both directions from West 230th Street to Van Cortlandt Park South in the Bronx following a water main break, officials said. Chopper 2 was over the scene and saw a large hole in the roadway on Van Cortlandt Park South. The Department of Environmental Protection said a private contractor, Metropolitan Water and Sewer, was working at a building under construction at the site when it struck a 24-inch distribution main. A water main break at a Bronx construction site shut down the Major Deegan Expressway on June 25, 2025. CBS News New York The DEP was able to isolate the break and reroute the water supply so no businesses, buildings, or households are currently without water, but a nearby construction site was inundated with water. The site, where a large construction crane is located, is being assessed for safety, and the timeline for repairs is to be determined, the DEP said. Please stay with CBS News New York for more on this developing story.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
7 New Jersey Vacation Spots Are Issued High Alert for Bacteria Levels
Elevated bacteria levels were found at several New Jersey beaches, including Point Pleasant and multiple Wildwood Crest sites Water samples showed enterococci counts above the state's safe threshold, which may lead to infections from exposure While beaches remain open, advisories are in effect, and daily testing will continue until levels return to normalNew Jerseyans will need to double-check their beach days, as a few select locations have received bacteria level advisories. Water samples collected in Point Pleasant, N.J., on Monday, June 9, showed a high concentration of enterococci, a bacterium normally found in the digestive tracts and intestines of humans and animals, as reported by the New Jersey State Department of Environmental Protection, per local news outlet App. Bacteria counts were at 260 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters, which is twice as high as New Jersey's safe swimming threshold: 104 colony-forming units. Towards Cape May County, bacteria counts we also found to be higher than usual, reaching 120 colony-forming units. When the bacteria are in large quantities in water, it signals that other potentially harmful bacteria are in the water supply, including viruses. Coming in contact with this bacterium in large quantities can result in ear, nose, and throat infections. Advisories have been issued for several beaches in Wildwood Crest: Lavender Road, Orchid Road, Miami Avenue, Hollywood Beach, and Jefferson Avenue Beach, as well as the 104th Street Bay in Stone Harbor. According to the New Jersey Cooperative Coastal Monitoring Program, advisories do not typically result in beach closures. However, when a sample surpasses the New Jersey State Sanitary Code's allowance, 'a swimming advisory is issued and additional sampling is conducted and continues each day until the sample result is below 104 enterococci/100 milliliters," per the Department of Environmental Protection. Aside from bacteria monitoring, health officials or enforcement agencies may close the beaches at their discretion to protect public health and safety. Read the original article on People
