Governor Chris Christie announced that none of the state's beaches were closed for water quality issues this summer, during a press conference in Pier Village on Tuesday afternoon.
DEP Commissioner Bob Martin echoed the governor's statement and estimated that 98 percent of the waterway debris caused by Hurricane Sandy has been removed.
Christie said 96,000 cubic yards of debris have been removed from the state's waterways and that DEP has also removed over 200 vessels from the water.
Christie also defended the Stronger Than The Storm ad campaign, saying that he felt it helped bring tourism back to the Jersey Shore this summer and was not designed as a way to say that everybody is back in their homes.
"It doesn't mean that everything is fixed and perfect," Christie said. "We haven't forgotten about those who have not yet returned to their homes or rebuilt their businesses."
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