WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-NJ) announced in an Aug. 24 release $2.8 million in grants from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to support coastal resilience in New Jersey’s coastal communities.
Matched by $2.4 million in state funding, those funds will support jobs through the New Jersey Coastal Management Program, which addresses many coastal issues in the state such as coastal hazards, wetland and shoreline protection, public access to the coast, aquaculture, and ocean resource uses.
Some uses of the grant money include:
Continue to provide assistance to coastal communities for developing Municipal Public Access Plans and improving their resilience to coastal hazards.
Help researchers better understand the factors causing changes to New Jersey’s wetlands and shorelines, and developing approaches to protect and restore these areas.
Support public outreach efforts to ensure coastal permitting is done properly and those permits are enforced.
“I’m proud of winning this funding, not only for the jobs New Jersey’s Coastal Management Program supports, but because maintaining our coast is vital to our way of life,” stated Menendez. “From tourism and shore communities, to our vibrant fishing industry and the small business owners who line our boardwalks and employ our residents, protecting this precious part of our state is incredibly important to me. Especially as the Trump administration ignores climate change, and even makes it worse, these grants will become even more important to protecting our one and only planet.”
“As sea levels rise and New Jersey is forced to continue to combat the effects of climate change, it’s more important than ever that we are doing everything possible to protect our coastal communities,” stated Booker. “These grants will go a long way in investing in the resilience of our coastline and in supporting the kinds of jobs through the New Jersey’s Coastal Management Program that support our local ecosystems, promote tourism and protect our shore communities.”
New Jersey’s Coastal Management Program (NJCMP) is part of the National Coastal Zone Management Program which addresses some of today’s most pressing coastal issues, including sustainable and resilient coastal community planning, climate change, ocean planning, and planning for energy facilities and development.
It is a voluntary partnership between the federal government and U.S. coastal and Great Lakes states and territories authorized by the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) of 1972 and administered by the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA).
The NJCMP is comprised of a network of offices within the Department of Environmental Protection that serve distinct functions yet share responsibilities that influence the state’s coastal areas.
An important aspect of the NJCMP is ensuring that coastal resources and ecosystems are conserved as a vital part of local, state and federal efforts to enhance sustainable coastal communities.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
