GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Current News & Alerts:
June 16th, 2010: MEMBERSHIP ALERT
DEP Issues News Release Announcing Public Access Policy Change
"NEW COMMON SENSE PUBLIC ACCESS RULES PROPOSED
FOR STATE'S BEACHES AND WATERWAYS"
Yesterday, the DEP issued a news release announcing that they will create reasonable new rules on public access to the state's tidal waters. The announcement states that the proposed changes would end unreasonable mandates and replace them with reasonable access requirements that recognize local conditions and costs. The announcement outlined three immediate changes: public access will not be required for waterfront dredging activities,developments at existing port facilities, and any existing facility prohibited by federal law from providing public access because of
homeland security concerns. They also included a list of changes that will be proposed this summer including changes that will impact marinas.
The MTA/NJ has spent the last three and a half years aggressively fighting these rules legally and legislatively. The public access rule places serious mandates on marina owners; increases security concerns, reduces revenues and increases costs beyond the ability of most marinas to support. Marinas find themselves boxed in, as they can not expand or improve without revising their facility for increased and unlimited public access. Most recently, Melissa Danko and MTA/NJ members have been working with the new administration and urging the department to recognize the serious impacts that these rules have had on the boating industry and exempt marinas from the new public access requirments as marinas already provide public access by the very nature of their business.
MTA/NJ is very pleased that the department has responded to the Association's concerns and recognized the need to revise the state’s public-access rule to make it more reasonable using common sense. While this is a positive step in the right direction, there are a number of questions that need to be answered and what the specific changes to the rules are going to be for marinas. We are in the process of arranging a meeting with the DEP to continue our discussions and obtain additional details.
We will update all of our members as soon as we have any new information. If you have any questions please contact Melissa Danko at 732-292-1051. If you would like more informaiton on the public access rules and the MTA/NJ's efforts to provide permanent relief for marinas, please visit www.mtanj.org and Click on Government Relations.
You can click on release to view it on the DEP website
JUNE 10, 2010: CONTACT THE GOVERNORS OFFICE TO SAVE THE I BOAT NJ PROGRAM
As previously announced, the legislature is currently considering the state budget proposal. Buried deep within the proposal, unfortunately, is a reduction in funds in the I BOAT NJ Program. The Office of Management and Budget is looking to take much of the $2.5 million fund for General Fund purposes- this would wipe out the entire program essentially destroying years of hard work in getting these funds dedicated to the recreational boating industry and marine trades. The MTANJ has strongly opposed this and has been working with senior Budget Committee members to discuss the impact that a loss of funding would have on the many tax saving and beneficial projects the program supports and urge them to save I BOAT NJ.
Please help fight to save The I BOAT NJ Program by contacting Governor Christie's office and urging him to save the program by not allowing the entire fund to be depleted for 2011. The call should only take a few moments of your time. The phone number to call is 609-292-6000. All you need to do is state that you are calling to urge the Governor to save the I BOAT NJ Program and to not redirect all of these funds out of the program. They will take your message and pass it along to the Governor. You can also email the Governor by clicking here. When you click on the link, you will be prompted to select a topic. Select Budget. Your subtopic will be I BOAT NJ and your subject line will be Save The I BOAT NJ Program. You can then include your information and your message. Feel free to include the information below. Again, it will only take a few minutes. Phone calls and emails to the Governor are tracked and the more calls that are made, the greater chance we have in saving some of the funds in this program for future projects. Please also forward this message to your customers, friends and colleagues.
We recognize that the current economic climate has severely impacted all areas of state government and that many drastic measures and budget cuts have been made; however, it is important to note that the I BOAT NJ Program is fully funded through vessel registration fees. This is the only money the industry receives back. Over the years, the program has funded many great projects that have drastically improved and enhanced the recreational boating industry in NJ and positively impacted the lives of the thousands of people that depend on and enjoys our waterways.
Please contact the Governor today. Thank you for your support and assistance.
Red Tape Review Group Issues Final Report
The Red Tape Review Group, headed by Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno with bipartisan legislative membership, issued its report calling for substantive legislative, regulatory and policy reforms. Additionally, the report called for the withdrawal or revision of 16 proposed regulations, among the 128 proposed rules frozen under Executive Order #1, and began the process, to be completed by mid-July, of reviewing existing regulations for adherence to "common sense principles." In this regard, the report lists over a dozen existing rulemaking areas requiring review where rules are archaic or anachronistic, offend common sense, or overreach government authority to act. Finally, the Group recommends establishment of an ongoing Red Tape Review Group to identify rules that impede job creation, economic growth and investment in New Jersey.
The MTA/NJ was very pleased to see the comments in the report regarding Public Access. Click here to read Executive Director, Melissa Danko's Testimony. Pages 36-37; 2. Examples of Rules that Appear to Offend Common Sense. The report stated: "However, it became equally clear that the DEP regulations requiring unfettered access to recreational marinas would impose immense legal, liability, security and safety-related costs on an industry that is essential to the State's tourism economy."
Here is another link:
http://www.nj.gov/governor/news/news/552010/pdf/20100419_rtr_final_report.pdf
Red Tape Review Letter to Senator Karrow
State Legislative News & Information
March/April 2009 Legislative Update
January/February 2009 Legislative Update
September/October 2008 Legislative Update
New Jersey Legislature Website
2008 Election Analysis
Public Access News & Information
The public access issue remains at the forefront of the MTA/NJ’s efforts as the NJDEP continues to attempt to mandate deed restrictions on permits, though the moratorium law prohibits them from doing so. The MTA/NJ is addressing these recent attempts and working to provide permanent relief for marine businesses. However, the MTA/NJ would like to hear from anyone that is working on an NJDEP application and being asked to provide public access as a condition of their permit. This would include any language regarding public access requirements that is written into a permit, proposed and/or discussed with an NJDEP representative. Please contact Melissa Danko at 732-292-1051 or mdanko@mtanj.org. All information is kept confidential.
S1553- Public Access & Marina Safety Taskforce Act
MTA/NJ Comments on NJDEP Public Access Rule Proposal, Jan. 1/12/07
MTA/NJ Comments on NJDEP Public Access Rule Proposal Amendments, 2/14/08
NJDEP Coastal Zone Management rules and Coastal Permit Program rules, N.J.A.C. 7:7E and 7:7; Public access amendments and new rules
NJDEP Coastal Zone Management rules, N.J.A.C. 7:7E-8.11 and 8A -Adoption of concurrent public access proposal
Editorial: New DEP rules to cause hardships for marinas, 6/14/07
Editorial: Marina owners seek balance between privacy and public access, 4/6/08
Marina Dock Age Magazine Article: Fighting for Everyone's Rights, Jul/Aug 2008, page 34
Abandoned Vessels Disposition Article
On March 24, MTA/NJ Executive Director, Melissa Danko met with new DOT Commissioner, James Simpson. He had arranged the meeting in response to the Association's letter urging his support for the I BOAT NJ Program and the Office of Maritime Resources and their efforts. A boater himself, the Commissioner stated that he will do what he can to support the industry and work with us on our recommendations.
2010 Letter to NJDOT Commissioner
MTA/NJ Political Action Committee
The MTA/NJ PAC is a non-partisan, non-profit, political action committee formed to raise voluntary contributions to use in supporting candidates for state and local elective offices who share boating concerns and are sensitive to expanding the recreational boating business and opportunities.
The MTA/NJ PAC ensures members the opportunity to participate in the election and support of candidates who make decisions affecting our business and the New Jersey recreational boating industry.
MTA/NJ PAC Enrollment Form