State now alone in checking for Jersey shore pollution from sky after feds stop to save money

New Jersey environmental officials are alone this summer in checking for pollution from high above the state's shore.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency ended its coastal pollution-monitoring flights this year to save money.

That makes similar flights carried out six days a week by the state Department of Environmental Protection more important than ever.

Bruce Friedman is in charge of the program and says officials look for trash, pollution or potentially harmful algae blooms.

So far this year, he likes what he sees.

Friedman calls water quality off the Jersey shore "pristine."