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Contaminated Sediments
Save Our Shores has focused on problems caused by
contaminated underwater sediments that exist in our
rivers, harbors, bays and ports. In 1988, SOS was an
important contributor in a national coalition of
citizen leaders concerned about the impacts of
contaminated sediments on fish and shellfish, birds
and wildlife, and humans organized by the Coast
Alliance.
In 1996, Save Our Shores helped the successful fight
to prevent the weakening of the Ocean Dumping
Regulations, which have been in place for 20 years.
Working with New Jersey-based groups, SOS was
instrumental in striking a deal that ended ocean
dumping off the coast of New Jersey as of September 1,
1997.
Coastal Zone Management and Polluted Runoff
Save Our Shores has produced many educational
materials and held numerous public education workshops
and conferences. In 1979 and 1980, Save our Shores was
a mainstay in the massive public education campaign
known as the Year of the Coast organized by the Coast
Alliance. The campaign increased public awareness
about the coast, and contributed to the strengthening
of the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) in 1980.
Public input also aided in the creation of the Coastal
Barrier Resources Act (CBRA) in 1982 and its expansion
in 1990.
In 1995, SOS helped build momentum for the
reauthorization of the Coastal Zone Management Act,
which Congress reauthorized by a unanimous vote in
1996.
Shoreline Conservation
In addition to its ongoing involvement with the
Coastal Zone Management Act, SOS concentrates on ways to strengthen federal programs to better protect
sensitive river and coastal shoreline areas. The
National Flood Insurance Program is a
taxpayer-underwritten program that offers inexpensive,
guaranteed insurance for development in high-hazard,
ecologically sensitive coastal areas. Many areas would
be better protected from harmful shoreline development
if the National Flood Insurance Program were
redesigned.
2001 © TIES
Project, Ramapo College, NJ
