From Garden State Environmental News

In the interest of fairness, I would be happy to print the other side of this report. Whether or not this article expresses my opinion, I would like to keep these pages open to all points of view. If it is beginning to seem slanted, please understand I can only publish what I recieve. I would be happy to hear from the Governor's office, from state officials, anyone who wishes to express an opposing point of view.

**Ocean County Cancer Hot Spot**

After Gov. Whitman opposed any state funding for a study of the high rates of childhood cancer in Ocean County, Rep. Bob Torricelli contacted Vice-President Al Gore for help. Children under 5 living near a Ciba-Geigy Superfund site in Toms River suffer from brain and central nervous system cancer at a rate 7 times higher than the norm. Gore's office has pledged to fund the study estimated to cost between $100,000 and $500,000. NJ health officials knew about these cancer statistics 18 months ago, but did nothing to alert the public. "It is an outrage that any parent facing loss of child and spending hundreds of thousands in medical bills should be told that $100,000 is too much to spend to see whether we have an environmentally based cancer cluster," said Torricelli.

**NJ "Dirty Water" Bill**

Hearings have been held for S. 385, a repeal of the strongest clean water laws in the nation. The Senate Environment Committee has heard plenty of opposition. If you haven't contacted the bill's sponsor, Sen. McNamara, and your State Senator, it's not too late!

Call or write Senator McNamara and your State Senator, telling them of your opposition to S. 385.

Henry McNamara 801 Franklin Ave, PO Box 663 Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417 201-848-9600; 201-848-0378(F)

Call 1-800-792-VOTE for your State Senator's name.