Agencies seek source of creek contamination
DEP: Racetrack may not be sole source of pollution
BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer

Clean Ocean Action Executive Director Cindy Zipf speaks at a press conference on contamination of Branchport Creek.

The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is working with county and local health officials, including Monmouth Park Racetrack, to determine the source of bacteria polluting Branchport Creek, which runs through Oceanport and Long Branch.

Oceanport officials received a letter last month from the Monmouth County Board of Health, a shared service with the borough, reporting that an alarming amount of fecal colonies were found in the borough's waterways.

DEP spokeswoman Darlene Yuhas said Monday, "What we have determined is that the racetrack is a likely source, but it may not be the only source."

"We are working to determine what the source of the bacteria is and in finding a solution," she added. "If it is the racetrack that is contributing to the high bacteria levels, they are committed to resolving it."

Bernard Spigner, director of communications for the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, the entity that owns the racetrack, said Tuesday that a consultant has been hired by the authority to determine whether the racetrack is the source of the contamination.

"We are going to get to the source of the contamination and remedy this," he said.

At the Aug. 17 Oceanport Council meeting, Councilwoman Ellynn Kahle said during her committee report that "the numbers [released from the testing results] are alarmingly high."

According to Kahle, the county Board of Health said the high levels of contaminants were a concern for the large number of people who use the borough's waterways for recreation.

"You really should be careful and you really shouldn't be in the water," she said.

Kahle added that the racetrack was suspect as the cause of the contamination and said, "The [racetrack] has promised to do whatever they could to find the source, not admitting that they are the source."

Kahle also said that the bacteria in the waterways can cause gastrointestinal problems, staph infections, ear and throat infections and hepatitis.

Oceanport Mayor Lucille A. Chaump said in an interview Monday, "I am very concerned about this and we are doing the background research to find the source.

"This is in the hands of the [DEP] and the Sports & Exposition Authority. It is unfortunate that we have this problem, but it has to be corrected," she added.

Officials of Clean Ocean Action (COA), an environmental organization, were informed by a concerned citizen last week about the contamination levels and held a press conference last Thursday at Branchport Park in Long Branch.

The levels of contamination found in the creek are thousands of times higher than is acceptable to protect human health and marine life, according to a COA Aug. 17 press release.

"This is a crime against the waterways, the critters that live there and the citizens that want to safely enjoy these waters," COA Executive Director Cindy Zipf said in the release.

"The test results suggest that the most likely source of this bacteria is Monmouth Park Racetrack, COA's principal scientist Dr. Jennifer Samson said in the release.

"These bacteria levels are off the charts and warrant immediate investigation and action."

COA, NY/NJ Baykeeper and the American Littoral Society sent a letter to DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson last Thursday, requesting that action be taken by the DEP within 24 to 48 hours of receipt of the letter, including:

+ Testing the waters to determine the extent and magnitude of the contamination beyond Branchport Creek;

+ Posting signage in the affected areas;

+ Conducting tests to determine the source of the fecal contamination; and

+ Hosting a meeting to review the information, identify the source of contamination and to adopt state, county and local policies to eliminate similar problems n the future.

COA Outreach Director Kari Jermansen said in the release, "Citizens are swimming and playing in this polluted water and are not aware that they are at risk.

"Most disturbing is that the few signs that are posted are faded and easily overlooked," she added. "Citizens need to know about these conditions to prevent them from getting sick."