N.J. Admin. Code § 7:8-3.2

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 7:8-3.2 - Regional stormwater management planning committee and lead planning agency

(a) A regional stormwater management planning committee (the committee) shall be established for the purposes of creating a regional stormwater management plan.

(b) A person or entity seeking to establish a regional stormwater management committee shall solicit participation from municipalities, interstate agencies, regional agencies, counties, designated planning agencies under N.J.A.C. 7:15, Soil Conservation Districts, regional environmental commissions, Pinelands Commission, mosquito control and extermination commissions, public water supply and wastewater treatment utilities and agencies, lake associations, watershed associations, the watershed management planning area public advisory committee, environmental organizations, businesses, the Department and other appropriate State and Federal agencies and, members of the general public in the drainage area(s) to be addressed by the proposed plan. The solicitation for members of the general public to be part of the regional stormwater management planning committee can be performed through notices in local paper.

(c) The regional stormwater management planning committee shall designate a lead planning agency, which shall be recognized as the primary contact for the committee. The regional stormwater management planning committee, through the lead planning agency, shall:

1. Prepare the regional stormwater management plan;

2. Coordinate the regional stormwater management planning process with any applicable watershed management area planning process;

3. Provide opportunities for public participation throughout the regional stormwater management planning process; and

4. Perform other activities appropriate to facilitate the regional stormwater management planning process, including mediation, public information, providing technical assistance, and seeking and providing grants or other financial assistance, as available, to municipalities and/or local or regional agencies pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-99 or other applicable authority.

(d) A request for recognition as a regional stormwater management planning committee shall be submitted to the Department at the address listed in N.J.A.C. 7:8-1.3 by the lead planning agency, and include the following information:

1. A draft work plan and schedule for completing a regional stormwater management plan;

2. A copy of the mailing list used to solicit participation, including the entities identified in (b) above;

3. A copy of the letter of invitation to participate in the committee;

4. A copy of each response to the letter of invitation; and

5. In cases where no response from a public entity to the letter of invitation is received within 60 days, the group shall send a follow-up request by certified mail, return receipt requested, and submit proof of such follow-up.

(e) The Department shall respond in writing within 45 days of the receipt of a complete request for recognition as a regional stormwater management planning committee. The Department shall either approve the application, request additional information or deny the request for recognition. Denials will include a justification for the decision.

The Department shall base approval or denial on the information submitted in the draft work plan and schedule for plan completion, completion of the requirements to involve and notify impacted parties, and whether there are other competing or overlapping requests for recognition for the same regional stormwater management planning area.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:8-3.2