Bill Text: NJ S2284 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Directs DEP and Monmouth County to form study commission to examine nonpoint source pollution and stormwater management issues in Wreck Pond Watershed.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-10-25 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Environment and Energy Committee [S2284 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-S2284-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator ROBERT W. SINGER
District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Directs DEP and Monmouth County to form study commission to examine nonpoint source pollution and stormwater management issues in Wreck Pond Watershed.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act directing the Department of Environmental Protection and Monmouth County to form a study commission to examine nonpoint source pollution and stormwater management in the Wreck Pond Watershed.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Department of Environmental Protection, in conjunction with the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, shall form a study commission to examine nonpoint source pollution and stormwater management issues in the southern area of Monmouth County, including from Howell Township to Wall Township.
b. The study commission shall focus on nonpoint source pollution and stormwater management issues affecting the Wreck Pond Watershed, and consider actions to improve water quality, reduce flooding, and reduce or eliminate beach closures caused by Wreck Pond through restoration initiatives that improve the water quality of the pond. The study commission shall identify both short-term and long-term recommendations to address stormwater infrastructure, flood control, land use including impervious cover, soil health, and soil compaction issues, watershed restoration, and water quality within the study area.
c. (1) In selecting the membership of the study commission, the department shall work with the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the local governing body of any municipality within Monmouth County that requests to be included as a member. The department and county shall also consult with, and include a representative of, the Wreck Pond Brook Watershed Regional Stormwater Management Plan Committee. The department and county shall also request the participation of experts in the public or private sector.
(2) The study commission shall organize as soon as may be practicable after the appointment of its members, and may select a chairperson from among its members and a secretary who need not be a member of the study commission. The study commission shall meet regularly as it may determine is necessary to fulfill its duties, and shall also meet at the call of the chairperson or a majority of the membership.
(3) Members of the study commission shall serve without compensation.
(4) The study commission 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, agency as it may require and as may be available to it for the purpose of carrying out its duties under this section.
(5) The Department of Environmental Protection shall provide primary staff support to the study commission.
d. The department shall submit a written report to the Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), on the work of the study commission. The report shall identify the recommendations developed by the study commission and the actions necessary to implement the recommendations. The report shall also include a summary of the efforts taken to date to address nonpoint source pollution and stormwater management within the Wreck Pond Watershed and provide an update on the Wreck Pond Restoration Action Plan developed by the department. A copy of this report shall be made available on the department's website.
2. This act shall take effect immediately, and shall expire upon submission of the report required pursuant to subsection d. of section 1 of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in conjunction with the County of Monmouth, to form a study commission to examine nonpoint source pollution and stormwater management issues in the southern area of Monmouth County, including from Howell Township to Wall Township. The study commission is to focus on nonpoint source pollution and stormwater management issues affecting the Wreck Pond Watershed, and consider actions to improve water quality, reduce flooding, and reduce or eliminate beach closures caused by Wreck Pond through restoration initiatives that improve the water quality of the pond.
The bill requires the DEP to submit a report to the Legislature on the work of the study commission. A copy of the report would also be made available on the DEP's website. The report is to: identify the recommendations developed by the study commission and the actions necessary to implement the recommendations; include a summary of the efforts taken to date to address nonpoint source pollution and stormwater management within the Wreck Pond Watershed; and provide an update on the implementation of DEP's Wreck Pond Restoration Action Plan.
