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6/10/11

VAN DREW DISCUSSES CONTINUED EFFORTS TO COMBAT ILLEGAL OCEAN DUMPING

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Cape May County Herald

TRENTON – Senator Jeff Van Drew, Assemblymen Nelson T. Albano and Matthew W. Milam (both D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland) discussed their latest efforts to combat illegal ocean dumping off New Jersey’s coastline.
The measure (A-861) would suspend for three years the license of any health care professional, medical waste facility, generator or transporter found in violation of New Jersey’s medical waste anti-dumping law. If a medical professional or waste handler continues to operate while under suspension, the appropriate state authority would permanently revoke their license. Otherwise, at the end of the three year suspension period they would be allowed to apply for reinstatement of their license.

Albano and Milam introduced the measure after several South Jersey beaches were forced to close before the 2008 Labor Day weekend, after illegally dumped medical waste washed ashore. As many as 225 syringes and other medical waste were found in Avalon – leading borough officials to close beaches four times. Syringes also washed ashore in Berkeley, Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Brigantine and Upper Township.

Thomas McFarland, a Philadelphia dentist who owns a Jersey Shore summer home, was charged with intentionally dumping the waste that caused the Avalon closings. He received probation and was ordered to pay restitution.