Bill Text: NJ S2369 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Limits application of DEP shellfish habitat rules for certain dredging activities.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-2)
Status: (Passed) 2017-08-07 - Approved P.L.2017, c.196. [S2369 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-S2369-Chaptered.html
§1 - C.12:5-3.1
An Act concerning the application of shellfish habitat rules to certain dredging activities, and supplementing Title 12 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Department of Environmental Protection shall not require a person to comply with the requirements of N.J.A.C.7:7-9.2, or any substantially similar rule or regulation concerning shellfish habitat, when the person applies to the department for any permit or other approval to dredge:
(1) the established footprint of a functioning marina in operation on the date of enactment of this act 1, or the footprint of a marina that was in operation up to 10 years prior to the date of enactment of this act1;
(2) along a 75-foot wide direct channel between 1[the existing, functioning] any1 marina 1described in paragraph (1) of this subsection1 and its docks and the closest State or federal navigation channel serving the locality for the marina; 1[or]1
(3) within 250 feet of a vertical timber or other material bulkhead supporting an upland development with a water dependent use 1[, as authorized by a riparian grant or lease in effect on the date of enactment of this act] or that had a water dependent use up to 10 years prior to the date of enactment of this act; or
(4) within 250 feet of the mean high water line adjacent to an upland development with a water dependent use or that had a water dependent use up to 10 years prior to the date of enactment of this act1.
b. 1(1)1 A person dredging pursuant to 1paragraph (3) or (4) of1 subsection a. of this section shall dredge only the area of the bay floor that is essential to the water dependent use of the 1upland1 development 1[existing on the date of enactment of this act]1.
1[Subsection] (2) Paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection1 a. of this section shall not apply to 1[new] any upland1 development 1the construction of which is commenced after the date of enactment of this act,1 or to an expansion of any water dependent use at 1[the existing] any upland1 development. A person dredging for the purposes of 1[new] an upland1 development 1the construction of which is commenced after the date of enactment of this act1, or an expansion of any water dependent use at 1[the existing] any upland1 development, shall be required to address impacts to shellfish habitat in accordance with applicable rules and regulations of the department.
c. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the application of any other law, rule, regulation, or ordinance to dredging activities. A person dredging pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall obtain all other permits and approvals for the dredging as may be required pursuant to State or federal law, rule, or regulation, or local ordinance.
d. For the purposes of this section, "water dependent use" 1[means development that cannot physically function without direct access to the body of water along which it is located. "Water dependent use"]1 includes, but is not limited to, a 1commercial or residential1 pier, dock, or marina activity 1[requiring access to] that takes place on or near1 the water, such as commissioning or decommissioning a new or used boat, boat repairs, boat 1[parking] docking1, boat storage, fish processing plants and other commercial fishing operations, port activities requiring the loading or unloading of vessels, and water-oriented recreation.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Limits application of DEP shellfish habitat rules for certain dredging activities.
