Bill Text: NJ A2226 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes Bergen Watershed Flood prevention and Protection Task Force.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-27 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee [A2226 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A2226-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman TIMOTHY J. EUSTACE
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblyman JOSEPH A. LAGANA
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblywoman MARLENE CARIDE
District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblywoman HOLLY SCHEPISI
District 39 (Bergen and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Auth, Assemblywoman Sumter, Assemblymen Wimberly and Johnson
SYNOPSIS
Establishes Bergen Watershed Flood Prevention and Protection Task Force.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing the Bergen Watershed Flood Prevention and Protection Task Force.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established the "Bergen Watershed Flood Prevention and Protection Task Force." The purpose of the task force shall be to review past flooding events within the Bergen watershed along the Hackensack River, Sparkill Brook/Creek, Saddle River, Ramapo/Mahwah River, and their tributaries, including those that cross the New Jersey and New York border, and recommend measures to reduce future impacts of flooding on residents, businesses, and local government units within the Bergen watershed and surrounding area.
b. The task force shall:
(1) identify existing and projected flood hazards and options to remediate those hazards along the Hackensack River, Sparkill Brook/Creek, Saddle River, Ramapo/Mahwah River, and their tributaries, including those that cross the New Jersey and New York border;
(2) seek to identify both short-term and long-term recommendations to enhance flood mitigation efforts and emergency response planning, and streamline requirements that may impede post-flooding recovery;
(3) review the status and effectiveness of any emergency response plans for the Bergen watershed and the municipalities located therein;
(4) identify opportunities to promote open space preservation and recreational opportunities along the Hackensack River, Sparkill Brook/Creek, Saddle River, Ramapo/Mahwah River, and their tributaries, and consider the potential for the purchase of properties that have been damaged by storms or storm-related flooding, that appear likely to incur such damage, or that may buffer or protect other lands from such damage; and
(5) offer recommended regulations, procedures, policies, planning strategies, and model ordinances and resolutions pertaining to the protection, preservation, maintenance, management, and enhancement of the Bergen watershed area, including the bistate region, for implementation as appropriate on a voluntary basis by the municipalities within the region.
2. a. The Bergen Watershed Flood Prevention and Protection Task Force shall consist of 15 voting members as follows:
(1) the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, or the commissioner's designee;
(2) the Director of the State Office of Emergency Management in the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety, or the director's designee, who shall serve ex officio;
(3) the County Executive of the County of Bergen, or a designee thereof, who shall serve ex officio;
(4) one representative from the Bergen County Office of Emergency Management;
(5) one representative of United Water, Inc.; and
(6) 10 members of the public who are residents of the County of Bergen and who have relevant expertise in the protection, preservation, maintenance, management, or enhancement of rivers or the natural, scenic, or recreational resources associated therewith, or with a background or experience in building or engineering.
b. The public members shall be appointed by the Governor within 30 days after the date of enactment of this act. Any vacancy in the membership of the task force shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
c. The task force shall organize as soon as may be practicable after the appointment of its members, and shall select a chairperson from among its members and a secretary who need not be a member of the task force.
d. The task force shall call upon the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency and request the participation of a representative from each agency to serve on the task force, as a non-voting advisor, to provide information on the current status of federal flood mitigation efforts along the Hackensack River, Sparkill Brook/Creek, Saddle River, Ramapo/Mahwah River, and their tributaries, including those that cross the New Jersey and New York border.
e. The task force shall meet regularly as it may determine, and shall also meet at the call of the chairperson of the task force or a majority of the membership.
f. A majority of the membership of the task force shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of task force business. Action may be taken and motions and resolutions adopted by the task force at any meeting thereof by the affirmative vote of a majority of the membership of the task force in attendance at the meeting.
g. The task force shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of such employees of any State, county, or municipal department, authority, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for the purpose of carrying out its duties under this act.
h. In conducting its business, the task force may consult with experts in the public or private sector on any aspect of its mission.
i. If requested by the task force, the Department of Environmental Protection shall provide primary staff support to the task force.
3. The Bergen Watershed Flood Prevention and Protection Task Force shall prepare and submit a final report, including its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for legislation, administrative action, or action by local governments, to the Governor and Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), within 18 months after its organization. The task force shall also submit a copy of its final report to the mayor of each municipality located in the Bergen watershed area and to the Governor and Legislature of the State of New York. Copies of the report shall be provided to the public upon request and free of charge, and the report shall be posted on the Internet website of the Department of Environmental Protection.
4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire on the 30th day after the task force submits the final report required pursuant to section 3 of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes the Bergen Watershed Flood Prevention and Protection Task Force. The task force is charged with reviewing past flooding events along the Hackensack River, Sparkill Brook/Creek, Saddle River, Ramapo/Mahwah River, and their tributaries, including those that cross the New Jersey - New York border, and recommending measures to reduce future impacts of flooding on residents, businesses, and local government units within the district and surrounding area.
The task force would consist of 15 voting members as follows: the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, or the commissioner's designee, who shall serve ex officio; the Director of the State Office of Emergency Management, or the director's designee, who shall serve ex officio; the County Executive of the County of Bergen, or a designee thereof, who shall serve ex officio; one representative from the Bergen County Office of Emergency Management; one representative of United Water, Inc.; and 10 members of the public with relevant expertise in the protection, preservation, maintenance, management, or enhancement of rivers or the natural, scenic, or recreational resources associated therewith, or with a background or experience in building or engineering, and who are residents of the County of Bergen.
The task force is also directed to call upon the United States Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to request the participation of a representative from each agency to serve as a non-voting advisor to the task force and to provide information on the current status of flood mitigation efforts in the Bergen watershed.
The bill requires the Governor to appoint the public members of the task force within 30 days after the bill's enactment, and the task force to organize as soon as practicable after the appointment of its members. Upon request, primary staff support would be provided by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
The task force would be required to submit, within 18 months after its organization, a final report, including its findings, conclusions, and recommendations for legislation, administrative action, or action by local governments, to the Governors and Legislatures of the States of New Jersey and New York. The task force would also submit a copy of its final report to the mayor of each municipality located in the Bergen watershed area. Copies of the report would be provided to the public upon request and free of charge, and the report would be posted on the DEP's website.
