Should you have any questions, comments, concerns and would like to discuss them with an environmental health professional, please do not hesitate to call us at (732) 341-9700, extension 7416. Our courteous and professional staff is ready to assist.
Environmental Health Services
Normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm, excluding holidays. On-call inspectors are available for environmental health emergencies after hours by calling the main phone number for the OCHD and leaving information with the answering service. Anonymous after-hours complaints may be called into the NJDEP Hotline at 1-877- WARN-DEP (1-877-927-6337).
For life threatening emergencies, please dial 9-1-1 or call your local police department.
Environmental Health personnel enforce compliance with all applicable laws, codes, rules and regulations pertaining to matters within its jurisdiction. Investigators educate violators and pursue appropriate enforcement actions, as deemed necessary, to achieve on-going compliance with these regulations.
Environmental Health Resources
Pursuant to the County Environmental Health Act (CEHA), Environmental Health Specialists respond to and investigate environmental incidents/complaints received and referred by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) through the 1-877-WARN DEP hotline, along with complaints received directly into the office from concerned citizens of the County. Standard compliance inspections are conducted at various facilities to ensure operating permit compliance and to promote environmental stewardship.
Environmental incidents/complaints and/or compliance inspections are categorized in the following areas:
Concerns regarding dust (particulate), odors and other potential air pollutants emitted from commercial and industrial sources are investigated.
Information on particulate dust.
Information on odor enforcement.
State regulated (minor) sources of air pollution such as, commercial emergency generators, commercial boilers/heaters, auto body shops and spray booths, dry cleaners, and above-ground fuel storage tanks are inspected.
Complaints are investigated in effort to prevent pollution of all bodies of water including the ocean, bays, rivers, streams and lakes, as well as the land area which drain into these waters.
Complaints regarding improper storage, transportation & disposal of solid waste (‘garbage’) or recyclables are investigated. Solid waste and recycling facilities including sanitary landfills, transfer stations, compost facilities and municipal convenience (recycling) centers are inspected to ensure adherence to State operating approval plans, as applicable. Solid waste hauler and vehicle compliance inspections are conducted. Additional compliance inspections include food waste recycling, soil processing and hauling (‘dirty dirt’), single-use plastics ban, and mandatory source recycling.
Pertaining to solid waste compliance and enforcement.
Response is conducted for non-emergency and emergency hazardous materials incidents and complaints. The OCHD utilizes a certified subcontractor for Emergency HazMat response. The Berkeley Emergency Response Team (BERT) Station 85 is an elite team of highly trained and certified volunteers available 24/7. In the interest of protecting the waters and land of Ocean County, Ordinance 83-2 is enforced, along with the New Jersey Spill Compensation and Control Act, as necessary.
Information regarding hazardous waste basics.
Information regarding hazmat transportation.
Complaints regarding noise are investigated per the NJ Noise Control Act and accompanying regulations. A number of municipalities in Ocean County have adopted a model noise ordinance to investigate noise concerns at the local level. Additionally, municipalities can enforce noise locally under a nuisance code (not reviewed/approved by the State) using the “plainly audible” standard which is usually enforced by the police. Please contact your municipality to inquire if a State-approved model noise ordinance has been adopted or a nuisance code is in place.
Concerns regarding public drinking water quality are directed either to the applicable local water department or municipal utilities authority. Privately owned wells should be tested on a routine basis to ensure a safe water supply. Should a problem arise following water testing OCHD (Environmental) should be contacted directly.
Water systems meeting specified parameters under the New Jersey Safe Drinking Water regulations are inspected for adherence to State and Federal requirements to ensure drinking water safety, quality, and complete administrative & public health deliverables.
Water sampling is conducted at designated public recreational bathing sites on the Atlantic coast and estuary shorelines in the County during the summer bathing season (Memorial Day through Labor Day).
More information on Cooperative Coastal Monitoring Program (CCMP).