Discover DEP: the Official Podcast of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection

This week is the 12th annual Air Quality Awareness Week, and the theme is “Air Quality Where You Are.” DEP and the state of New Jersey have made it a priority to improve air quality and increase air quality awareness. To help celebrate, Frank Steitz sat down with Gladys Giron to talk about air quality, criteria air pollutants, how well New Jersey is meeting federal standards, how to reduce exposure to ozone, and this week’s initiatives both in New Jersey and around the nation. For New Jersey’s air quality facts, suggested actions for Air Quality Awareness Week and beyond, and other things you can do to help improve air quality, visit www.cleanair.nj.gov Follow New Jersey’s Air Quality Awareness Week efforts on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NJDEPAQES/ USEPA and partners Air Quality Awareness Week webpage: www.epa.gov/airnow/airaware Follow USEPA’s Air Quality Awareness Week efforts on Facebook at www.facebook.com/airnow and Twitter at http://twitter.com/airnow Listen to Discover DEP’s Air Quality Awareness Week podcasts from 2016 and 2017.

Trenton was the third city to join DEP’s Community Collaborative Initiative. In this episode, Bob Bostock sits down with Julie Krause, single point of contact for Trenton at DEP, to talk about her work with local government officials, community groups and stakeholders to support environmental improvement projects important to the city. Listen in as she talks about current projects, such as the Assunpink Daylighting, as well as the collaboration necessary to make these projects successful. Listen to Frank McLaughlin’s episode on the Camden Collaborative Initiative here. Listen to Bill Lindner’s episode on Perth Amboy here. To learn more about CCI in Trenton, click here.

In Discover DEP’s 6th episode, Frank McLaughlin told us about the Community Collaborative initiative and how it got its start in Camden. Now, the CCI has expanded to three additional cities across the state, which will be featured on the next few episodes. This episode will focus on Perth Amboy, the second city to join the initiative. Listen in as Gladys Giron sits down with Bill Lindner, single point of contact for Perth Amboy, to discuss DEP’s collaboration with this city, brownfield redevelopment projects such as 2nd Street Park, and the importance of partnerships in bringing innovative solutions to complex environmental challenges. Learn more about CCI’s work in Perth Amboy here: http://www.nj.gov/dep/cci/perth.html Listen to Frank McLaughlin’s episode on the Camden Collaborative Initiative here: http://njdep.podbean.com/e/episode-6-camden-collaborative-initiative-with-frank-mclaughlin/

Since the first National Women’s History Month in March 1987, every year we take a moment to recognize, honor and celebrate the achievements of American women. This month recognizes the courage and contributions of women everywhere who are breaking down barriers, raising their voices and fighting for what they believe in. There has been a continuous effort to bring and engage women in the STEM and environmental fields – including here at DEP. Women are represented in every leadership category at DEP – from the executive team, assistant commissioners, directors and administrators. Gladys Giron sits down with Deputy Commissioner Debbie Mans to talk about her experience so far at DEP as well as some of her past barriers and accomplishments. Click the link to read DEP’s press release on Deputy Commissioner Debbie Mans: http://www.nj.gov/dep/newsrel/2018/18_0010.htm New Jersey Women’s Heritage Trail: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/hpo/WHTrail_Book.pdf

New Jersey’s state parks are home to about 1,000 miles of official trails and, thanks to the State Park Service, every mile is now available on Trail Tracker. Trail Tracker allows you to track your current location, view trails and points of interest, search for park activities, and download PDF maps of New Jersey’s state parks. This app is helpful in planning for trips to state parks and can also be used in real-time to track your location in any of our state parks, forests or recreation areas. Listen as Heather Merring, one of Trail Tracker’s creators, sits down with Gladys Giron to discuss how this app got its start and the resources it offers. To get started, visit: www.spstrailtracker.nj.gov or www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/

This week (March 11-17) is AmeriCorps Week, which celebrates AmeriCorps members and alumni for their commitment to educating the public about the environment, stewardship, and the impact their work has around the state and nation. In fact, DEP’s own AmeriCorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors are celebrating throughout the state. In this week’s Discover DEP episode, Gladys Giron talks about AmeriCorps Week with Amanda Lotto, current AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassador Program Manager and former Watershed Ambassador, Lauren Cromie, Ambassador for the Mullica River Watershed, and Isabella Castiglioni, Ambassador for the Rancocas Creek Watershed. To learn more about AmeriCorps Week 2018, visit: https://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps For more about the AmeriCorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program, visit: www.nj.gov/dep/wms/bears/americorps.htm To learn more about DEP’s Division of Water Monitoring and Standards program, visit: www.nj.gov/dep.wms Like the AmeriCorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassador Program on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NJWAP/ Listen to Discover DEP’s previous Watershed Ambassador Program episode here: http://njdep.podbean.com/e/episode-46-americorps-new-jersey-watershed-ambassadors-program-with-ismail-sukkar-and-alexis-bowman/   From l-r: Lauren Cromie, Amanda Lotto, Isabella Castiglioni

With spectacular views of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York, as well as many superb trails, High Point State Park is one you shouldn’t miss. As its name suggests, High Point is nearly at the northern-most point of our state. It is also home to the highest point of elevation in the state. Listen in as Gladys Giron talks with Rebecca Fitzgerald, Superintendent of High Point State Park, about this park’s unique amenities, opportunities, programs and natural areas. Learn more about High Point State Park here: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/highpoint.html Want to know more about High Point State Park’s nature programs and events? Click here: http://www.nj.gov/dep/seeds/hpcal.htm Like High Point State Park on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HighPointStatePark/    

Last year, the lobby in DEP’s main building in Trenton featured a display highlighting the connection between baseball and New Jersey’s geology. Now, this latest display features a new aspect of New Jersey’s geology – fluorescent minerals. Under ultraviolet light, certain minerals glow with an amazing array of vibrant colors. This is known as fluorescence. Bob Bostock sits down with Chris Adair, part time assistant geologist in DEP’s Division of Water Supply & Geoscience, to discuss this new display and these intriguing rocks. Click the following links to learn more about fluorescent minerals: https://geology.com/articles/fluorescent-minerals/ https://uvminerals.org/fms/minerals https://www.naturesrainbows.com/ Learn about Sterling Hill Mining Museum here. Learn about Franklin Mineral Museum here.

Resource Interpretive Specialists tell the story of New Jersey’s history, nature and our world, helping people connect to their environment through public programs, hikes, exhibits, recreation, ecotourism and education. Bob Bostock sits down with Diane Hewlett-Lowrie, a Resource Interpretive Specialist for New Jersey’s State Park Service, to discuss her experiences as a naturalist at DEP and programs she has spearheaded. Visit http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/parkindex.html to learn about New Jersey’s state parks, forests, recreation areas and marinas. Visit www.spstrailtracker.nj.gov to use the Trail Tracker web app, and stay tuned for an upcoming podcast about it. Visit http://www.nj.gov/dep/docs/monarch-guide.pdf to view DEP’s Monarch Butterfly Conservation Guide.

Maple sugaring is a tradition in the Northeast that began centuries ago with Native Americans and colonists. Now, organizations around the country have maple sugaring programs to bring this tradition to life for people of all ages to see and enjoy. Wayne Henderek, Resource Interpretive Specialist at the Washington Crossing State Park Nature Center, sits down with Bob Bostock to discuss the processes of sap collecting and syrup making, as well as the maple sugaring program at Washington Crossing State Park, a participatory demonstration of the procedures of home maple sugar production. To reserve a group demonstration or to reserve a spot in the public weekend programs, call the park nature center at (609) 737-0609. For directions, a map and other information on Washington Crossing State Park, visit: www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/washcros.html

With more than 160 federal and state laws passed over the past 20 years dealing with the environment and permits, things can become enormously complex. The Office of Permit Coordination and Environmental Review was established to coordinate and facilitate the permitting of large complex projects across multiple DEP programs. John Gray, Director of the Office of Permit Coordination and Environmental Review and Deputy Chief of Staff, sits down with Bob Bostock to discuss how this office helps to enable timely, predictable and positive permit decisions. Click the link to find out more about DEP’s Office of Permit Coordination and Environmental Review: http://www.nj.gov/dep/pcer/

The mission of Air Quality, Energy & Sustainability (AQES) is to ensure that  New Jersey’s air is clean and safe to breathe, evaluate and support the development and implementation of secure and resilient energy systems, and promote sustainable environmental practices. Bob Bostock sits down with Paul Baldauf, Assistant Commissioner of AQES, to discuss his program’s accomplishments in areas such as emissions from out-of-state sources, electric vehicles, and recycling. Learn more about AQES here: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/aqes/

Site Remediation and Waste Management Program (SRWMP) is the DEP’s program area that administers laws and regulations concerning contaminated sites, recycling and disposal of solid wastes in the state. Mark Pedersen, Assistant Commissioner of the Site Remediation and Waste Management Program, sits down with Bob Bostock to discuss the changes set forth by the Site Remediation Reform Act, the LSRP program and regulatory reform. Learn more about Site Remediation and Waste Management in New Jersey here: http://nj.gov/dep/srp/

The Office of Local Government Assistance plays a crucial role as a liaison between local governments and DEP. This office makes sure that the lines of communication are open between New Jersey’s county and municipal leaders and DEP, and that local issues are heard and addressed. Bob Bostock sits down with Kerry Kirk Pflugh, the director of Local Government Assistance, to discuss the role DEP plays in local government as well as her experiences and accomplishments as a part of this program. For more information about the Office of Local Government Assistance, click here: http://www.nj.gov/dep/lga/

DEP’s core mission is to protect the air, water, land, and natural and historic resources in the state of New Jersey. At the same time, DEP plays a key role in positively impacting the economic growth of the state. While DEP’s goals have remained the same, this agency has undergone a significant transformation since Commissioner Martin took office in 2010. Commissioner Martin helped kick off Discover DEP’s inaugural podcast in April 2016, and we’re happy to have him back to reflect on his 8 years at DEP. Listen in as Bob Bostock sits down with Commissioner Martin to talk about his experience at DEP and the positive changes that he has encouraged.  

As Deputy Commissioner, Dave Glass serves as second in command for DEP under Commissioner Bob Martin. He is responsible for continuing the agency’s successes in developing and implementing policies that balance strong environmental protection, economic growth, and common sense solutions to environmental issues. Listen in as Dave sits down with Gladys Giron to talk about his role at DEP, offices he oversees, and initiatives he has spearheaded over the past 8 years. Listed to our podcast on Environmental Trends here: https://njdep.podbean.com/e/episode-66-environmental-trends-and-key-performance-indicators-with-dr-sandra-goodrow-and-jennifer-feltis-cortese/ Check out the Warn DEP App here: http://www.nj.gov/dep/warndep.htm Download the attached PDF for a full list of DEP’s Social Media pages.

Over the last several decades, DEP has been ensuring that all New Jerseyans have safe water to drink and all the necessary information. Since the presence of lead in drinking water has become a national matter of concern, DEP’s efforts to ensure that New Jersey’s drinking water is clean and safe are more important than ever. Bob Bostock sits down with Leronda Aviles and Kristin Hansen to discuss lead in drinking water and DEP’s new lead website. Click here to check out DEP’s new web page on lead in drinking water: http://www.nj.gov/dep/watersupply/dwc-lead.html Photo (l-r): Kristin Hansen, Leronda Aviles

Although New Jersey is far from the largest state in the Union, it is the most densely populated, making it a challenge to protect our land. Our 8,729 square miles of land encompass many diverse uses. Land Use Management is a group of programs that protect and enhance New Jersey's environment through implementation of State land use regulations, regional land use planning, coastal resource management and funding projects that result in improvements to the quality of the State's environment. Bob Bostock sits down with Assistant Commissioner of Land Use Management Ginger Kopkash to discuss DEP’s role in ensuring that New Jersey’s land remains diverse and well protected. Click here to learn more about DEP’s Land Use Management: http://www.nj.gov/dep/lum/        

To help address environmental inequities, DEP launched the Environmental Justice Program to ensure fair treatment for people of all races, cultures, and incomes, in the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies. The Environmental Justice Program aims to empower citizens who are disproportionately impacted by environmental pollution and often outside of the decision-making process of government. Riché Outlaw and Joseph Donald sit down with Gladys Giron to discuss how DEP’s Environmental Justice Program strives to improve the quality of life in New Jersey’s urban communities that are overburdened by environmental stressors. Click here to learn more about Environmental Justice at DEP. Click here to listen to the Discover DEP episode on Groundwork Elizabeth with Jackie Albaum and Jonathan Phillips. Click here to read about DEP’s Fall 2017 volunteer day with Groundwork Elizabeth. Click here to learn more about volunteering for the New Jersey Tree Foundation in Newark.

DEP’s  Natural and Historic Resources office is charged with preserving and protecting New Jersey’s natural, ecological and cultural resources, including state parks and forests, wildlife management areas, our fish and wildlife, and state historic sites that are so valued by our residents and visitors to the Garden State. From mountains to beaches, woodlands to rivers, battlefields and open spaces, the professionals at NHR are there to promote the responsible use of these special areas and to safeguard them for this and for future generations. Bob Bostock sits down with Rich Boornazian, Assistant Commissioner of Natural and Historic Resources, to discusses the accomplishments of this dynamic group within DEP. Click the highlighted links to learn about New Jersey’s parks and forests, fish and wildlife, historic resources and open space.

This episode concludes Discover DEP’s three-part series focusing on the Pine Barrens. In this third and final episode, Bob Bostock sits down with Tom Gerber, Section Forest Fire Warden and long-time DEP employee, to talk about the history and legends of the Pine Barrens. A New Jersey native, Tom shares his extensive knowledge of the area including early settlements and industries, forest fires, local folklore and the Jersey Devil. Click here to learn more about the history of the Pine Barrens. Click here to learn more about the book “The Pine Barrens” by John McPhee. Click the highlighted links to learn more about Batsto Village and Wharton State Forest.  

The Discover DEP team is in the midst of a three-part series focusing on the Pine Barrens. This second episode focuses on the fauna of the Pinelands. Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and bugs are important residents of this area and are greatly affected by the region’s ecosystem and climate. Listen in as Bob Bostock sits down with John Heilferty, Supervisor of the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Endangered and Nongame Species program, to talk about the various species found in the Pine Barrens as well as DEP’s conservation and management efforts. Click here to listen to our first episode, The Flora of the Pinelands with Bernie Isaacson. Stay tuned for our third and final episode in this series to hear about the area’s rich history and legends from Tom Gerber. Click here to learn more about the animals of the Pinelands. Click here for a full list of New Jersey’s Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. Click here to listen to the podcast episode on Bald Eagles with Kathy Clark.

The Discover DEP team is embarking on a three-part series focusing on the Pine Barrens. The Pine Barrens is a unique part of New Jersey’s landscape. From pygmy pines to “ghost forests,” the flora of the Pine Barrens has an interesting story to tell. Bernie Isaacson, Assistant Regional Forester, sits down with Bob Bostock to kick off this three-part series to give a forester’s assessment of the Pine Barrens, discussing the plants supported by the ecology of the area as well as the challenges that this region faces. Stay tuned for the next two episodes in this series about the Pine Barrens, which will explain more about the animals and history of this area. Click here to learn about DEP’s Forest Service. Click here to learn about the Pinelands Commission. Click here to read the NJ.com article: “Why sections of the Pine Barrens are turning into ‘ghost forests’”.    

The Engineering & Construction program is responsible for administering shore protection, dam restoration and flood control projects throughout the State of New Jersey. This program has been responsible for managing more than $1.5 billion in federal post-Superstorm Sandy projects. Bob Bostock sits down with Dave Rosenblatt, Assistant Commissioner of Engineering & Construction, during the fifth anniversary of Superstorm Sandy to discuss this important program area and the work they do to protect the New Jersey’s coastline and inland flood prone areas. Click here to learn more about DEP’s Engineering and Construction Ppogram. Click here and here to learn more about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers the projects they are completing around the state.

Cyanobacteria are naturally present in lakes and streams, usually in low numbers. However, under suitable environmental conditions, they can form dense blooms. Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms, or CyanoHABs, can discolor water and potentially harm fish and other aquatic organisms. They can also threaten human health and the health of pets that may come in contact with them. Listen in as Bob Bostock sits down with Victor Poretti and Rob Newby from DEP’s Division of Water Monitoring & Standards and Division of Science, Research and Environmental Health as they tell us more about CyanoHABs. To learn more about CyanoHABs, please visit http://www.state.nj.us/dep/wms/bfbm/CyanoHABHome.html To report a potential harmful algal bloom, call 1-877-WARNDEP (1-877-927-6337) or use the WARN NJDEP mobile app To learn more about DWM&S’ Bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring, please visit http://www.state.nj.us/dep/wms/bfbm/index.html To learn more about the Division of Science, Research & Environmental Health, please visit http://www.nj.gov/dep/dsr/ For Drinking Water information, please visit http://www.nj.gov/dep/watersupply/ Photo: Victor Poretti (l) and Rob Newby (r).

Have you ever wondered about why some New Jersey towns have the word “Mount” in their names, such as Mount Holly and Mount Ephraim, when their topography seems so flat? This quirky fact sparked the interest of John O’Brien, cartoonist for the New Yorker and inspired him to draw a cartoon that was published in the New York Times in 1995. Jeff Hoffman, DEP’s State Geologist, saw this cartoon and was, in turn, inspired to write a report entitled “Highest Elevations by County in New Jersey.” Listen in as Bob Bostock sits down with John and Jeff to hear the story behind the cartoon and the report it inspired. Click here to view the “Highest Elevations by County in New Jersey” report. Click here to visit the New Jersey Geological and Water Survey website. Click here to explore John O’Brien’s website. Photo: John O'Brien (left) and Jeff Hoffman (right). Cartoon by John O'Brien Photo: (left to right) John O'Brien, Commissioner Bob Martin, Jeff Hoffman

The nutritional value of fish is hard to deny – they are full of protein, minerals and vitamins and are a part of a well-balanced diet. However, fish and crabs can harbor contaminants such as mercury, PCBs and dioxin. Scientists have performed numerous studies on the presence of these chemicals in fish and have developed the “Fish Smart Eat Smart” guide. This guide provides consumption advisories for fish and crabs found in the state. Gary Buchanan, Director of the Division of Science, Research and Environmental Health, and Bruce Ruppel, Environmental Specialist, sat down with Bob Bostock to discuss the extensive work that went into the creation of this guide and the recommendations that it provides. To learn more about the Fish Smart, Eat Smart guide, please visit www.fishsmarteatsmartnj.org Bruce Ruppel (left) and Gary Buchanan (right)

DEP’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Public Contract Assistance is committed to maintaining an environment that promotes equal employment opportunity and equal access to the benefits of employment for all employees and to ensure that socially and economically disadvantaged businesses have an opportunity to compete for construction and procurement contracts. Hester Agudosi, who joined DEP as the office’s director in February 2017, sat down with Bob Bostock to discuss the importance of this office, her initiatives as director, and the process by which employees can report any issues they may be having. To learn more about the Office of Equal Opportunity and Public Contract Assistance at DEP, please visit http://www.nj.gov/dep/eo/index.htm To reach the Office of Equal Opportunity and Public Contract Assistance at DEP, please call 609-984-9742. DEP employees can visit http://depnet/dep-intranet/equal_op/index.htm for more detailed information.

Nearly 12 million immigrants went through Ellis Island’s immigration inspection station in its 60 years of operation, making it a significant part of the history of the United States. But have you ever wondered if Ellis Island resides within the confines of New Jersey or New York? If you have, you’re not alone – these two states squabbled over this land for years. Bob Marshall, special advisor to the Commissioner for Energy and the Environment, sits down with Bob Bostock to answer this decades-old debate over the rightful jurisdiction over Ellis Island. As Deputy Attorney General in the 1998 New Jersey v. New York United States Supreme Court case, the first trial ever held in the U.S. Supreme Court building, Bob Marshall played an integral role in the decision that the vast majority of Ellis Island is within the jurisdiction of New Jersey. To learn more about Ellis Island, click here. To learn more about the 1998 New Jersey v. New York United States Supreme Court case, click here. To view the Ellis Island quarter, released as a part of the 2017 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program, click here.

In a data-driven organization such as the DEP, long-term environmental trend reports can help employees understand how their work affects the environment and determine where resources should be directed to achieve DEP priorities and goals. Trend reports also inform the public whether we’re meeting our mission to preserve and protect New Jersey’s air, land, water and natural and historic resources. In addition to the importance of these reports, Governor Christie’s Performance Center initiative tracks the operations and performance of each department of state government with a focus on effectiveness, efficiency, timeliness and service quality. Listen to the latest DEP podcast where Dr. Sandra Goodrow, a Research Scientist in DEP’s Division of Science, Research and Environmental Health, and Jennifer Feltis-Cortese of DEP Water Resource Management and co-coordinator of the DEP Performance Indicator Team talk with Bob Bostock about how metrics such as performance indicators and long-term Environmental Trend Reports serve the public. To view the Environmental Trends Reports and Performance Indicators, visit http://www.nj.gov/dep/citizen_mynj.html and http://www.yourmoney.nj.gov/transparency/performance/dep/index.html Jennifer Feltis-Cortese (left) and Dr. Sandra Goodrow (right)

Freshwater mussels inhabit rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. They are vital to their ecosystems, filtering water and cleaning our waterways. Jeanette Bowers-Altman, Principal Zoologist in DEP’s Endangered and Nongame Species Program, sits down with Gladys Giron to discuss this fascinating mollusk and its status in New Jersey, role in the environment, and how DEP aids in its conservation. To learn more about freshwater mussels in New Jersey, click here.

DEP is responsible for monitoring the quality of New Jersey’s water. One way by which this is done is through biological monitoring. The Fish and Headwaters’ Index of Biotic Integrity monitoring programs, also known as FIBI & HIBI, use fish and other aquatic species as measures of water quality. John Vile and Brian Henning, research scientists in DEP’s Division of Water Monitoring and Standards, Bureau of Freshwater & Biological Monitoring, sit down with Bob Bostock to discuss how the health of fish in streams can help scientists to assess the health and condition of the water, as well as to identify ecological changes. To learn more about these programs visit http://www.state.nj.us/dep/wms/bfbm/ibipagemain.htm Photo: John Vile (left) and Brian Henning (right)

It’s tick season, and those little buggers are biting with a vengeance this year. For many, ticks and other outdoor pests can put a damper on our favorite outdoor summer activities. It’s important to follow safety precautions to avoid these unwelcome guests on your summer adventures. Jim Occi, PhD graduate student in Entomology at Rutgers University, sits down with Bob Bostock to tell us more about these pesky pests. To learn more about how DEP deals with mosquitoes, please visit http://www.nj.gov/dep/mosquito/ To learn more about Rutgers’ Center for Vector Biology, please visit http://vectorbio.rutgers.edu/ To view Jim Occi’s website and tick photography, please visit http://jimocci.photoshelter.com/gallery/Ticks-of-the-World/G0000SbPGLWQHnPU/

Out of New Jersey’s 40 treasured state parks, Island Beach State Park and Liberty State Park are the largest and most-visited. With hundreds of thousands of visitors per year, dedicated state employees work hard to make sure the parks are up and running year-round. Superintendents Jen Clayton and Rob Rodriguez talk about the amenities, history and natural wonders that make their parks special, as well as the challenges that come up along the way. To find out more about Liberty State Park, please visit http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/liberty.html. To find out more about Island Beach State Park, please visit http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/island.html. To find out more about the Piping Plovers, please visit http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/pdf/end-thrtened/plover.pdf and http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/news/2016/ploverupdate7-16.htm.   Photo Courtesy of volunteer Kevin Knutsen

This year, DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife is celebrating its 125th Anniversary. The Division has rededicated itself to its long-time mission of conserving wildlife and providing recreation opportunities for generations of hunters, anglers and wildlife enthusiasts. New Jersey is home to a remarkable diversity of fish and wildlife species and hundreds of dedicated professionals to manage these resources. Larry Herrighty, Director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife, sits down with Bob Bostock to discuss the history of the Division, the wildlife that it protects, and how they’ll be celebrating this milestone throughout the year For more information on the Division of Fish and Wildlife, please visit http://njfishandwildlife.com/. To view the New Jersey Monarch Butterfly Conservation Guide, please visit http://www.nj.gov/dep/docs/monarch-guide.pdf.

  Fishing is a popular pastime in New Jersey, and you can’t talk fish without mentioning the summer flounder, also known as fluke. New Jersey is pursuing an agreement regarding 2017 fishing regulations. Currently, New Jersey’s regulations for summer flounder fishing are: 18-inch minimum size, 104-day season, and 3-fish possession limit. To keep this recreational fishery strong, DEP is working with NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) to implement best practices that keep summer flounder population strong. Russ Allen and Al Ivany from the Division of Fish and Wildlife sat down with Bob Bostock to talk about summer flounder and its importance to New Jersey For more information on Summer Flounder and fishing regulations, please visit www.savefluke.nj.gov, www.fishsmart.org and www.njfishandwildlife.com.    (left to right, Russ Allen, Al Ivany)    

Baseball is the National Pastime, but literally every pitch thrown in both the major and minor leagues carries a piece of the Garden State to the plate.  That’s because for more than 75 years every baseball put in play has first been rubbed with a little bit of Lena Blackburn Baseball Rubbing Mud, which takes the shine and slickness off of the ball. This “Miracle Mud,” which is collected from a secret spot right here in New Jersey, is as much a part of baseball as peanuts and Cracker Jack. Chris Adair, part time assistant geologist in DEP’s Division of Water Supply & Geoscience, and Mike Morvay, director of grounds for the Lakewood Blue Claws minor league baseball team, sat down with Bob Bostock to discuss the important link between New Jersey’s geology and baseball. Check out the Lakewood Blue Claws at http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t427 From left to right: Mike Morvay and Chris Adair

This past spring, DEP partnered with Montclair State University’s Marketing Department to create a social media project for the Montclair students. The students were able to analyze 7 of DEP’s Facebook pages, give DEP’s social media administrators feedback, and create social media campaigns for Earth Week 2017. Now that the project is completed, Dr. Patrali Chatterjee and two of her students, Nathan Ellis and Rokhaya Fall, sat down with Bob Bostock to discuss this collaborative project and the positive outcomes it had both for DEP and Montclair State University. To find out more about Montclair State University’s Feliciano School of Business, please visit https://business.montclair.edu/. Click the links below to view the seven DEP Facebook pages that were a part of this project: NJDEP Air Quality, Energy and Sustainability (https://www.facebook.com/NJDEPAQES/) NJDEP Compliance and Enforcement (https://www.facebook.com/NJDEPComplianceandEnforcement/) New Jersey State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites (https://www.facebook.com/NewJerseyStateParks/) New Jersey Forests (https://www.facebook.com/NewJerseyForests/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf) New Jersey Historic Preservation Office (https://www.facebook.com/njshpo/) NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife (https://www.facebook.com/NJFishandWildlife/) AmeriCorps NJ Watershed Ambassadors Program (https://www.facebook.com/AmeriCorpsNJWAP/) Photo: (l-r) Nathan Ellis, Dr. Patrali Chatterjee, Rokhaya Fall

The Blue Acres Program offers New Jersey residents the opportunity to sell properties that were damaged by Super Storm Sandy, or which lie in areas that are exposed to repetitive flooding damage. DEP works with homeowners in these areas to reduce the risk of future flood damage and to help families move out of harm’s way. Fawn McGee, Director of the Blue Acres Program at DEP, joined Bob Bostock to discuss the successes of this program and the process surrounding it. To find out more about DEP’s Blue Acres Buyouts, please visit http://www.nj.gov/dep/greenacres/blue_flood_ac.html.

May is Historic Preservation Month. This month is particularly exciting for DEP’s Historic Preservation Office (HPO), which works to preserve, protect and promote New Jersey’s historic resources. Kate Marcopul, Administrator of the Historic Preservation Office, sits down with Bob Bostock to discuss the important role that HPO plays in the state of New Jersey, including review and compliance, administering the National Register Program on behalf of New Jersey, providing technical assistance to developers, surveying and inventorying historic properties across the state, maintaining data, and everything in between. To find out more about DEP’s Historic Preservation Office and New Jersey’s historic sites, please visit http://www.nj.gov/dep/hpo/.

DEP’s overall mission is to protect New Jersey’s air, land, water, and natural and historic resources. In order to do that, we also need to be regulators, enforcing laws and rules. That’s where Compliance & Enforcement comes in. C&E helps businesses, schools, communities, and homeowners keep the environment clean, safe, enjoyable, and maintained for future generations. Assistant Commissioner Ray Bukowski sits down with Bob Bostock to discuss how DEP works with the regulated community to encourage compliance and resolve cases in order to improve the environment. To find out more about Compliance & Enforcement at DEP, please visit http://www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement/.

Since 1984, the Bureau of Marine Fisheries has been involved in an intensive program of artificial reef construction and biological monitoring. Artificial reefs in ocean waters along the New Jersey coast provide a habitat for fish, shellfish and crustaceans, fishing grounds for anglers, and underwater structures for scuba divers. This past Wednesday, the famed ‘Perfect Storm’ rescue ship, the Tamaroa, was sunk off the coast of New Jersey to become part of an artificial reef that is enhancing fishing opportunities off the coast of New Jersey and Delaware. Peter Clarke sat down with Bob Bostock to discuss the sinking of the Tamaroa as well as New Jersey’s Artificial Reef Program. Click here to get more information on New Jersey’s Artificial Reef Program. Click here to read DEP’s press release on the sinking of the Tamaroa. Click here to watch the sinking of the Tamaroa. Click here for a detailed U.S. Coast Guard history of the Tamaroa. Click here for more on Delaware’s Artificial Reef Program.

DEP is kicking off Air Quality Awareness week, May 1-5, 2017. The purpose of this week is to raise awareness about air pollution, what DEP is doing to reduce the public’s exposure to air pollution, and to encourage everyone to take action to protect themselves and their families from air pollutants. To celebrate Air Quality Awareness Week, Paul Baldauf, Assistant Commissioner of DEP’s Division of Air Quality, Energy & Sustainability, sits down with Bob Bostock to discuss a large piece of the air quality puzzle – energy. For more information on DEP’s efforts for Air Quality Awareness week, and to find out more about DEP’s role in air quality and energy, please visit http://www.nj.gov/dep/cleanairnj/. Like DEP’s Air Quality, Energy and Sustainability page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NJDEPAQES/. Check the air quality in your area by visiting http://www.njaqinow.net/. To learn more about national efforts for Air Quality Awareness Week, please visit https://www3.epa.gov/airnow/airaware/.

New Jersey is home to nearly 1,700 regulated dams. DEP’s Division of Engineering and Construction administers the New Jersey Dam Safety program, which ensures the safety and integrity of dams in New Jersey and protects people and property from the consequences of dam failures. Bob Bostock co-hosted this episode on dam safety with Audrey Miller of NJOHSP’s Preparedness Bureau, host of Intelligence. Unclassified., making this the first episode to feature a partnering state agency as a co-host. Bob and Audrey sat down with John Moyle, Division Director for NJ DEP's Division of Dam Safety and Flood Control, to talk about dam safety in New Jersey in light of the recent failure at the Oroville Dam. Topics of discussion include an explanation of the California Oroville Dam emergency that took place in February, a comparison of dam design, topography, and magnitude of the Oroville Dam and New Jersey dams, and why this type of failure is unlikely to occur in New Jersey. Additional Resources: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection – Bureau of Dam Safety Oroville Dam Crisis New Jersey Office of Homeland Security Earthen Spillway Failure Impacts Limited in New Jersey NJOHSP Podcast – Intelligence. Unclassified.

Ringwood Manor is a National Historic Landmark District and a part of Ringwood State Park. It has historical importance spanning from Native American times through the early 20th century. Original historical structures, gardens and landscapes on 582 acres give visitors an inside look at family life, community, industry and culture throughout history. Sue Shutte, Resource Interpretive Specialist at Ringwood State Park, sits down with Bob Bostock to discuss this unique piece of American history. For more information on Ringwood Manor, please visit http://www.ringwoodmanor.org/. For more information on Ringwood State Park, please visit http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/ringwood.html.

The bobcat is New Jersey’s only species of wild cat, and is listed as endangered in New Jersey. The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife works with many partners across the state to make sure bobcats are getting the support they need in terms of protection from habitat fragmentation and vehicle strikes. Gretchen Fowles, Geographic Information Specialist within DEP’s Division of Fish and Wildlife, sits down with Bob Bostock to discuss the slow but sure comeback of the bobcat in the Garden State and the work that is being done to ensure its survival. To report a dead or injured bobcat, call 1-877-WARNDEP. To report a live bobcat observation (please include photos if you have them!):  http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/rprtform.htm. Information on the tax check-off to support the New Jersey Endangered Wildlife Fund:  http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/checkoff.htm. Information on the Conserve Wildlife license plate:  http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/plates.htm. Information on bobcats in New Jersey:  http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/pdf/end-thrtened/bobcat.pdf. Information on the Connecting Habitat Across New Jersey (CHANJ) project: www.chanj.nj.gov.

Since the first National Women’s History Month in March 1987, every year we recognize, honor and celebrate the achievements of American women. There has also been a continuous effort to bring and engage women in the STEM and environmental fields. In honor of Women’s History Month, Chief of Staff Magdalena Padilla sits down with three women who are making significant contributions to DEP. Leslie McGeorge, manager in the bureau of Freshwater and Biological Monitoring, Blanca Chevrestt, Swartswood State Park Superintendent, and Gladys Giron, Communications Assistant, discuss how the times have changed and the roles of women at DEP. For more information on Swartswood State Park, please visit: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/swartswood.html. For more information on the New Jersey Chapter of the Society of Women Environmental Professionals, please visit http://www.njswep.org/. Photo: (from left to right) Blanca Chevrestt, Leslie McGeorge, Magdalena Padilla, Gladys Giron

New Jersey’s drinking water is regularly tested, and our water systems are clean and up to standard - less than 1% of public water systems incurred maximum contaminant levels or national exceedances in 2016. When anomalies do happen, particularly with private wells, our team here at DEP is ready to respond to these cases of Immediate Environmental Concern. Drew Sites, manager of the Immediate Concern Unit that is part of DEP’s Site Remediation Program, sits down with Bob Bostock to discuss how DEP responds when a New Jerseyan’s water source is not up to standard. For more information on Immediate Environmental Concern cases, please visit http://www.nj.gov/dep/srp/guidance/IEC/. To report an environmental incident impacting NJ, call 1-877-WARNDEP.

Although winter is soon coming to a close, it is not yet over. New Jersey’s cold blooded animals have a unique set of challenges to deal with in the cold winter months, but they’ve developed ways to survive and thrive in conditions year-round. Brian Zarate, Senior Zoologist in the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Endangered and Nongame Species Program, sat down with Bob Bostock to talk about how reptiles and amphibians adapt to the change of seasons in New Jersey. For more information on reptiles and amphibians in New Jersey, please visit http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/ensp/herps_info.htm.

The AmeriCorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program is now in its 17th year and promotes watershed stewardship through education, direct community involvement and monitoring of stream health through visual and biological assessments. This week is AmeriCorps week and it is a time when individuals, programs and organizations honor and celebrate the contributions that the AmeriCorps volunteers make to their communities. In honor of AmeriCorps week, Ismail Sukkar and Alexis Bowman join Bob Bostock to talk to about their experience so far as Watershed Ambassadors and the projects that they are currently working on. For more information on the AmeriCorps Watershed Ambassador Program, please visit: https://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps http://www.nj.gov/dep/wms/bears/americorps.htm https://www.facebook.com/NJWAP/

Groundwork Elizabeth is an innovative initiative that is improving access to sustainably grown local produce for urban communities surrounding Kean University. As one of the 10 winners of the 2016 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards, Groundwork Elizabeth stood out for their Come Grow With Us! Community Farm and Garden Initiative. In this week’s podcast, Jonathan Phillips, executive director of Groundwork Elizabeth, and Jackie Park Albaum, Director of Come Grow With Us! Farm and Garden, joined Bob Bostock to discuss this incredible organization, its current initiatives and the many partnerships – including one with DEP -- that make it possible. For more information on Groundwork Elizabeth, please visit http://www.groundworkelizabeth.com/ or call (908) 289-0262.