Heavy equipment operator
Kelly Von Ellingtton, of Egg Harbor Township, N.J., loads salt onto his
truck at the Atlantic County Department of Public Works in Northfield,
N.J. last month. There is a statewide salt shortage due to the heavy
snowstorms already this winter.
New Jersey's crisis over rock salt is due to an American flag.
State transportation officials say a 40,000-ton shipment of rock salt,
badly needed across the state, cannot make its planned shipment from
Maine to Newark because the ship does not have an American flag.
The 1920 federal Maritime Act requires the shipment to arrive on a
vessel flying a U.S. flag, and so far the federal government has not
issued a waiver.
RELATED: NYC BRACES FOR MORE ANOTHER SNOWSTORM
The news is damaging to many New Jersey municipalities that have
exhausted their rock salt supply after the many snowstorms this winter.
The lack of salt has meant especially hazardous conditions to drive on
the roadways, and the area is expected to receive further snowfall
Tuesday morning.
State Department of Transportation Spokesman Joe Dee said Monday the
department has applied for a waiver from the federal government but it
appears "unlikely" it will be granted, the
Washington Free Beacon reported.
"We were pursuing a waiver, but we've been advised we wouldn't get one," Dee said. "It seems unlikely we will get it.
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop tweeted Monday that the city received
500 tons of salt Monday. He joked that the improvement authority gave
the materials a bigger welcoming party than when the two Super Bowl
teams arrived last month.
"I would never have imagined that a delivery 4 salt would improve my
day drastically. We are on target 2 get 500 tons of salt in am," the
mayor tweeted Sunday evening.
RELATED: DEADLY WINTER STORM KILLS 13, MOVES NORTH
Fulop told the Daily News the regional shortage has had a major impact.
The city placed an order 18 days ago and the salt hasn't arrived. An
order usually takes 2 or 3 days to arrive, he said.
"It's as frustrating as frustrating can be. People aren't getting the
services they need," he said. "We need salt and some help with Mother
Nature."
The few hundred tons the city received today will not be enough for Tuesday's storm, he said.
