June 5, 2015 — NEW JERSEY — In a strongly worded letter to Dr. France A. Cordova, director of the National Science Foundation, NJ DEP Commissioner Bob Martin condemned, in no uncertain terms, the seismic study that was set to begin this week off the coast.
The DEP has been stymied so far in its efforts to get the climate-related study halted.
The study involves blasting 250 decibel sound waves every 30 seconds for 30 days in an area 18 to 45 miles southeast of Barnegat Inlet.
Environmentalists, fisherman and marine mammal experts are anxious to stop the study for the harm it may cause to fish, whales and other marine mammals that live in or pass through the area.
While he is not in favor of any seismic testing, Commissioner Martin also takes exception to the timing of the study.
“This study is taking place at the worst possible time of the year due to the foreseeable effects it will have on New Jersey’s coastal resources,” he wrote.
Read the full story at the Asbury Park Press