Bulldozers tomorrow morning at sunrise

Tomorrow morning is a pivotal day for Palmyra Cove Nature Park. Bulldozers will roll in just after sunrise - and we'll be there to face them. We'll be asking questions - and hopefully getting some better answers than the NJ DEP and Army Corp. gave us today.

The press will also be there to publicize our efforts. Bring your yard signs and even if you can't get there at sunrise, please come out to the nature park to show your support for the park's protection.

Public Information Session
I am so proud of the park's supporters! Over a hundred people showed up to ask tough questions and voice their opposition to the "compromise," including local residents, the major of Palmyra, delagates from the Sierra Club, the NJ Audubon Society, NJ Environmental Federation and Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper. About a dozen reporters covered the event,
Unfortunately, the NJDEP and Army Corps talked around our questions.

Lisa Jackson - NJDEP Commissioner
During her 20 minute appearance at the meeting, Lisa Jackson said PCNP is held in trust by the state of NJ for the people of the state and that it belongs "to the people of New Jersey." Yet hundreds of NJ's people oppose the plan to dump on the park.

You might expect these agencies to use PowerPoint or Keynote to make their plans clear, but they chose instead to use printed maps, which were impossible for anyone to see. When Ms. Jackson pointed out the 20-acre area for dredge spoils, she said "it includes a pond...I think it has a name.." and the audience shouted out "Dragonfly Pond!" It was a proud moment for us.

She also clarified the nature of the project: EMERGENCY dredging. (Not deepening or maintenance dredging). This title basically gives them the right to do whatever they want, despite the public's concern or case law.

She also said "I support an amendment to the current management agreement taking 50 acres of land off the table." However, the next commissioner can amend it again and use the 50 acres. In order to save that 50 acres forever, a deed restriction/ conservation easement is necessary. Getting this needs to be our long term goal.

Other particulars:
-The project will remove 55,000 cubic yards of sand
-The project will take about 30 working days - starting tomorrow (with dredging to begin next week)
-The project will cost $2.3 million to remove 55,000 cubic yards

Charlie Myers - Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers
Myers claims to have "looked at" existing disposal sites from Allegheny Ave to Trenton and dismissed. He said Hawk Island and Burlington Island can't be used because of "lack of maintenance" and later accused the state of letting the island fall into this state. (There's no money in the budget for maintaining the sites).

He also said the Money Island site was out of commission due to last year's storms. However, we've learned that the site was used for dredge spoils just 6 months ago and that the PADEP could issue permits and prepare the site quickly to accommodate the "emergency" dredging.