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Legislation Proposes Hearings
Posted by the Times-Beacon Newspapers on 12/12/07

BY NICHOLAS HUBA
STAFF WRITER

Article Excerpts:

A bill that would require public hearing before any beach replenishment project moves forward, has cleared another hurdle in the state Assembly.

The proposed bill was approved Dec. 6 by the Assembly's Environment and Solid Waste Committee unanimously. The bill, which passed the full state Senate already, now moves to the Assembly floor for a vote.

"This bill would require the (state) Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a public hearing and provide the opportunity for public comment at the conclusion of the feasibility study phase for proposed shore protection projects," the bill, sponsored by state Sens. Bob Smith, D-Middlesex, and Andrew R. Ciesla, R-Ocean, reads.

"The public will now have a chance to express their concerns over these large, expensive and sometimes questionable projects," said Stephanie Rinaldi, chairwoman of the Surfrider Foundation's Jersey Shore Chapter. "Most people can't believe it when they find out no public hearings are required for these projects costing millions of dollars. This levels the playing field."

Read the full article:
http://www.ocobserver.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071212/BEACON04/712120367/1042