243 



5) Under your Coastal Zone Management Program consistency 

 review authority, what actions have you taken, and what 

 actions have you proposed to take with regards to the 

 Newark Bay permit? 



The proposed Port Newark-Port Elizabeth maintenance 

 dredging project, with ocean disposal of the dredged 

 material, was found to be consistent with the New 

 Jersey Coastal Zone Management Program. The DEPE 

 concurred with the conclusion of the federal agencies 

 that disposal of the dredged material, with proper 

 capping and the implementation of other management 

 practices, would not result in adverse impacts to the 

 environment . 



The DEPE recognizes, however, that there is a need for 

 additional scientific knowledge concerning the 

 possible impacts of dioxin and the development of 

 scientifically based standards for the ocean disposal 

 of dioxin-contaminated dredged material. Thus, the 

 state has established a deadline of December 31, 1995 

 for the development of such criteria. If the 

 standards are not in place by this deadline, the state 

 will use whatever authorities it has to prevent the 

 dredging and ocean disposal of any sediments 

 contaminated with dioxin at any level. 



(6) How do you respond to the testimony of the 

 Environmental Defense Fund that your Coastal Zone 

 Management Act decisions were flawed? 



We respectfully disagree with the assertions made by 

 the EDF. The Department's review of the Port 

 Newark-Port Elizabeth project was consistent with 

 established Coastal Zone Management Program review 

 procedures. As previously noted, the DEPE concurred 

 with the federal agencies in the assessment of 

 possible adverse environmental impacts at the Mud Dump 

 site. 



