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Christie Makes Earth Day Stop In Sea Bright Voices opposition to LNG, offshore drilling
By John Burton
SEA BRIGHT - Gov. Chris Christie made a stop at Surfrider Beach Club, 931 Ocean Avenue, last Thursday in observance of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.
Christie was accompanied by other elected officials, environmentalists, school-age children and former NJ Governor Tom Kean, among others.
His visit to Sea Bright was one of a series of stops he made to call attention to environmental issues facing the state.
At Surfrider, the Governor signed legislation abolishing some restrictions on solar panel installations, and expressed his opposition to a recently announced Obama administration initiative that would allow oil drilling off some areas of the eastern Atlantic coast.
He also reiterated his opposition to proposals to construct liquid natural gas receiving stations less than 20 miles from the beach where hewas standing.
"This administration will oppose any application for liquid natural gas projects," the governor said.
"New Jersey is not going to be a pipeline to New York for liquid natural gas at the risk of our shore and our beaches," Christie continued, evoking a large round of applause from those in the audience, many of whom were wearing lapel buttons with a "No LNG" logo - a red circle and diagonal line through it.
"We're going to continue to ensure the quality of our ocean and drinking water," he continued, as his young daughter, Brigit, clutched by his side (It was Take Your Daughter to Work Day, Christie explained).
Environmental groups have been waging a war in opposition to the LNG proposals, establishing these stations for transporting the gas, warning of the threat it allegedly poses to the state's coastline, undermining the progress environmental groups have made over the years in cleaning the waterways after years of neglect and flagrant disregard for the environment and Laws.
"These two are huge," said Clean Ocean Action Executive Director Cindy Zipf, referring to Christie's pronouncements. Clean Ocean Action, headquartered at Gateway National Recreation Area at Sandy Hook, is a coalition of businesses and groups that advocate for environmental issues, especially those related to waterways in the New York and New Jersey areas. Zipf was effusive when she addressed the audience on these points. "Look at the ocean now," she said, visibly excited. "It's thriving. It's a joyous time for the ocean."
Zipf a couple of weeks ago came out quite strongly against the initiative to allow offshore oil drilling off of Virginia and Delaware. That plan voiced by President Barack Obama as a stopgap, while research continues on alternative energy solutions, would not allow drilling off of New Jersey. Zipf and others argued the ocean is flowing and contiguous, and any impact would be felt here. "Who knew President Obama's environmental platform would be an oil rig?" She said.
The day marked the 40th Earth Day, but Christie noted that it was also 40 years ago that state Legislature approved the creation of the state's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Kean (the day was also his 75th birthday) said he was one of the authors of that legislation, signed by then Governor William T. Cahill. The message Kean delivered then was the same as it is now, he said: "When you clean up the ocean you help the economy."
Kean said vacationers spend three-quarters of a billion dollars at the Jersey Shore.
Christie, a Republican, thanked the former Republican governor, with Christie calling him, "Someone who has been an inspiration to me everyday," abeling Kean as one of his heroes.
And like Kean, Christie stressed, "Those that say business and the environment can't co-exist are wrong."
Christie said his cuts to the DEP budget were the least of any state department in these difficult economic times. But, he added, "We're going to continue, as I said, to change the culture of the DEP," making the department more customer friendly.
Christie signed bill S-921, overturning standing regulations in the state's land use law and coastal regulations classifying solar panels as impervious surfaces, which prohibited them from some development.
Afterwards, Zipf again expressed her support for Christie's actions, saying, "He campaigned on this and it was gratifying to see the Governor deliver on his promise."
Diane Gooch, who is seeking the Republican nomination to run the 6th Congressional District, offered her gratitude.
Gooch is the owner of The Two River Times™.
"I was very gratified," Gooch said. "I'm a strong advocate for the ocean and I was glad to hear Gov. Christie's commitment."
Despite the handshakes and smiles, not all were won over. Jeff Tittel, executive director for New Jersey's Sierra Club chapter, offered his take that Christie's actions in his first 90 days have been counterproductive for environmental causes including budget cuts for programs and moratoria on rules and regulations that benefit developers over the environment. "What he's actually doing is the opposite on environmental issues," than his public pronouncements, Tittel charged.
"We're glad what he did today for Earth Day," he said. "But every day should be Earth Day."
