Bill Text: NJ SR49 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges US Geological Survey to test certain water wells and monitoring stations and report results thereof.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-16 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee [SR49 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-SR49-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator JEFF VAN DREW
District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)
SYNOPSIS
Urges US Geological Survey to test certain water wells and monitoring stations and report results thereof.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution urging the United States Geological Survey to test certain water wells and monitoring stations and report the results thereof.
Whereas, New Jersey's water resources are constantly strained by the competing needs of the growing population, agriculture, industry, and recreation; and
Whereas, The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has been assessing and monitoring the natural resources and natural hazards of New Jersey for more than a century; and
Whereas, The USGS studies water supply, water quality, floods and droughts, and many other natural resource issues throughout the State; and
Whereas, The USGS collects, stores, and disseminates stream flow, ground water level, and water quality data from Statewide networks, consisting of 216 stream flow measurement sites, 172 ground water level measurement sites, 100 surface water quality sites, and 39 ground water quality sites, and which data are used by water and emergency management authorities and regulatory agencies, including the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; and
Whereas, The quality of ground water and surface water can be affected by contaminants from point sources, such as those from wastewater treatment facilities, landfills, leaking underground storage tanks, and spill sites; contaminants from nonpoint sources, such as pesticides and fertilizers, whose use is widespread over a large area; and contaminants such as radon, corrosive water, and saltwater, which are found naturally over large areas; and
Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper and in the public interest of this State for this House to urge the USGS to sample and test each well and water monitoring station that it owns or operates in New Jersey and report the results thereof; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. This House urges the United States Geological Survey to sample each well and water monitoring station that it owns or operates in this State at least once every year in accordance with the standards adopted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection pursuant to the "Safe Drinking Water Act," P.L.1977, c.224 (C.58:12A-1 et seq.).
b. This House further urges the United States Geological Survey to share these test results with the Department of Environmental Protection, and, if any well or water monitoring station tested does not meet the "Safe Drinking Water Act" standards, this House requests the United States Geological Survey to provide notice to the governing bodies of the municipality and county and the State legislators representing the district in which the well or water monitoring station is located.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary thereof, shall be transmitted to the Director of the United States Geological Survey and the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to sample each well and water monitoring station that it owns or operates at least once every year in accordance with the standards adopted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) pursuant to the "Safe Drinking Water Act," P.L.1977, c.224 (N.J.S.A.58:12A-1 et seq.).
The resolution further urges the USGS to share these test results with the DEP and, if any well or water monitoring station tested does not meet the "Safe Drinking Water Act" standards, the USGS is urged to provide notice to the governing bodies of the municipality and county and the State legislators representing the district in which the well or water monitoring station is located.
