Christie declines to sign bill requiring public notice of raw sewage overflows

[babylonsister]

could his reasoning be? My first thought is he could be honoring a 'favor'? Call me cynical...

Christie declines to sign bill requiring public notice of raw sewage overflows
Tuesday January 21, 2014, 4:55 PM
BY JAMES M. O'NEILL
STAFF WRITER


Governor Christie declined to sign a bill that would have required public notification whenever sewer-outfall pipes dump raw sewage into local rivers and bays, legislation that had received overwhelming support by both parties in the state legislature.

The bill also would have required outfall pipes to be clearly marked with signs for swimmers, fishermen, kayakers and other who use the water.

Christie’s office announced Tuesday that he let the bill expire without signing it – in effect a pocket veto.

“I’m extremely disappointed,” said Debbie Mans, head of the NY/NJ Baykeeper, which supported the bill. “This is a significant public health issue. Unfortunately the governor didn’t think important that the public be informed that they are swimming in raw sewage.”`

Bill Sheehan, the Hackensack Riverkeeper, agreed. “That’s terrible news,” he said. “But I’m not surprised.”

Environmental groups had been pushing for public notification when sewer lines overflow because the health of those who use the rivers and bays right after an overflow could be at risk. Raw sewage can cause gastroenteritis, hepatitis, and skin, respiratory and ear infections.

more...

http://www.northjersey.com/news/Christie_declines_to_sign_bill_requiring_public_notice_of_raw_sewage_overflows.html

[Liberal Veteran]

1. Maybe he's worried he'd have to notify the public every time he speaks? -nt

[monmouth3]

2. Everyone is going to pay for not loving him...n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. A lot of the raw sewage seems to be coming from Christie's office.

[herding cats]

4. Hiding an aging infrastructure and the results of such?

More than 23 billion gallons of raw sewage and other pollutants pours each year into New Jersey's bays and rivers – including the Hackensack, Passaic and Hudson – because aging sewer systems can't handle the extra flow of water during heavy rains. The raw sewage and toxic waste spills from more than 200 outfall pipes, including some in Ridgefield Park, Hackensack and Paterson.

The outfall pipes are part of older systems that rely on combined sewage lines to handle sewage from buildings and storm water runoff from roadways and parking lots. When heavy rains hit, they can't handle the extra flow, and it gets dumped out of the system through the outfall pipes before reaching sewage treatment facilities.

Bill Sheehan, the Hackensack Riverkeeper, said the proposed law is needed because many people don't realize sewer overflows even occur. "The vast majority of people are still ignorant to the fact that towns are dumping raw sewage into our rivers on a regular basis," he said. "Providing public notice about the overflows would be very important from a public health standpoint."
- See more at: http://www.northjersey.com/news/239377631_Sewage_spill_bill_faces_Senate_today.html#sthash.3Ze9Qi7r.dpuf

[marions ghost]

5. what century is this?

The public has to be protected from harmful information.

[wilt the stilt]

6. He would have to post a sign

every time he went to the bathroom and that is just too much work,