Environmentalists Fume After Christie Vetoes Waste Dumping Bill
By Pat Loeb
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) --- Environmentalists are fuming after Governor Chris Christie vetoed a bi-partisan bill that would have banned the dumping of frack waste in New Jersey waterways.
The bill passed both houses of the state legislature with super-majorities, so Doug O'Malley of Environment New Jersey says clean water advocates are hopeful about an override.
"This is a no-brainer," O'Malley said. "New Jersey has been dumped on for decades and the New Jersey public is incredibly in favor of banning fracking waste and the legislature knows that too."
The veto came late on Friday with a statement asserting the law is unconstitutional because it places restraints on interstate commerce.
O'Malley rejects that argument. "It's protecting New Jersey from getting fracking waste dumped in our waterways," he said.
O'Malley says the waste is toxic and threatens residents' health.