| WHEREAS, the Ramapo River Watershed,
consisting of Sterling Forest, Torne Valley, and
the Tuxedo Reserve, provides drinking water for over two million
New Jersey residents, and:
WHEREAS, the Ramapo River is already severely stressed and barely
able to meet Federal Environmental Protection
Agency water standards, and:
WHEREAS, acquiring land for watershed protection is much less
expensive and also more effective than building
water treatment plants, and;
WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey and the State of New York have
already acquired over 17,000 acres of Sterling
Forest in both States, but have not secured the
water rights to much of this land, and;
WHEREAS, much of the Ramapo River Watershed is unprotected and
under threat of development with plans to build:
1,300 housing units on 2,200 acres in Sterling
Forest, a stone quarry on 500 acres along Torne Brook, two massive,
gas-fired power plants along the Ramapo River itself,
and another large housing development on 2,000
acres in the Tuxedo Reserve, and;
WHEREAS, this development will jeopardize the drinking water of
millions of New Jersey residents, threatening
their health and well-being;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that
1. The Borough (Township, Village) of______________ calls for the
preservation and protection of the properties contained
within the Ramapo River Watershed either through
direct acquisition or conservation easement.
2. The Borough (Township, Village) of ________________ urges the
State governments of New York and New Jersey to
take swift action to safeguard the drinking
water of millions of Americans.
3. A copy of this resolution is to be sent to the Governors of New
York and New Jersey, the Legislatures of New
York and New Jersey, the U.S. Senators of New
York and New Jersey, and the United States Environmental Protection
Agency.
___________________________ Date Enacted ______
Mayor, Borough (Township, Village) of _________
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