Happy Holidays! Welcome to New Jersey Environmental Federation's Winter 2010 Newsletter, Clean Water Currents.

We hope that you have been enjoying the holiday season so far. It's a busy, hectic time for everyone, however, we would like to take a moment to thank you - our members and supports - for your continued support. Without your help, we couldn't do our work to ensure safer and cleaner drinking water, a healthier environment, and a greener, more stable economy.

In this issue of Clean Water Currents, we will update you on our work to clean up the air in and around our ports; ensure a safer, cleaner energy future; protect families from toxic chemicals by overhauling the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA); implement Pesticide Free Zones in parks and playgrounds; and our successful Autumn Toast to the Environment fundraising event at Laurita Winery.

Again, thank you for your continued support and commitment to the environment. We hope you enjoy the holidays and have a happy new year!

Clearing the Air at the Ports 

New Jerseyans now face the nation's second greatest cancer risk from diesel soot in the nation. According to UMDNJ, treatment for asthma alone accounts for 12 percent of New Jersey's managed care costs.

In Newark, school children experience a 25 percent asthma rate, double the state and national rates. The city's residents are hospitalized and experience premature deaths at twice the rate of Essex County Suburbs.

The Coalition for Healthy Ports (CHPs), which the NJ Environmental Federation chairs, consists of 48 environmental/justice, faith, community and labor groups working together to get both clean air and good jobs for port drivers and adjacent communities. Read more...

The Oyster Creek Saga Continues...

The Oyster Creek nuclear power plant is located on the Jersey Shore's Barnegat Bay, 1 of 28 designated National Ocean Estuaries. It is the oldest commercial operating nuclear power plant in the U.S. and one of the oldest in the world.

Concerned with the disastrous effects that this plant has on the eco-system and the economic health of the Jersey Shore (2nd largest economic engine in the state), the New Jersey Environmental Federation has been on the forefront of a coalition of activists groups fighting the relicensing of the aging plant, exposing some of its egregious environment violations, and working for a clean energy future. Read more...

Don't Let the Chemical Industry Gamble With Our Health

On October 26th, the New Jersey Environmental Federation joined Senator Lautenberg and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson at a hearing in Newark on toxic chemicals and children's health. They were joined by CNN's Medical Correspondent Sanjay Gupta, New Jersey mother Lisa Huguenot who has a child with autism and an immune system disorder, and Frederica Perera, the Director of Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health.

The hearing came at a critical juncture in time-last April Senator Lautenberg introduced the Safe Chemicals Act as an attempt to overhaul the failed 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act. This was followed by another bill introduced in the House-the Toxic Chemicals Safety Act-by Congressman Bobby Rush (D-IL) and Henry Waxman (D-CA). Read more...

Making the World Safer, One Park and Playground at a Time

Tinton Falls, Ocean Township and Oceanport recently joined 40 other communities, (8 communities in Monmouth County), which have designated "Pesticide Free Zones" in parks and playgrounds including Asbury Park, Colts Neck, Hazlet, Neptune, and Red Bank.

The NJ Environmental Federation has been working with the Environmental Partnership, chaired by Mary Kinslow, a West Long Branch resident to promote Pesticide Free Zones in parks and open spaces in all their participating communities. Read more...

Wine & Chocolate Tasting - All for a Great Cause!

On Sunday, October 3, 2010, New Jersey Environmental Federation and Clean Water Fund hosted an "Autumn Toast to the Environment" wine and chocolate tasting and fundraising event at Laurita Winery in New Egypt.

Almost 100 guests attended the event, including organizational founders, our first state director, former staff, and new and longstanding members.

The Laurita winery was the ideal setting for our environmental fundraiser. It hints of old world charm overlooking 40 acres of vineyards and 200 acres of woodlands, meadows and pasture. The main building consists mostly of recycled and reclaimed materials including old timbers from the original barns. Read more...

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