The NJDEP officially proposed its Protecting Against Climate Threats (PACT) Resilient Environments And Landscapes (REAL) Rule in the NJ Register on August 5th. The rule proposes to raise the Coastal Flood Hazard Areas by 5 feet, changes to the Green Infrastructure and Water Quality treatment standards, the addition of “reconstruction” to the definition of “major development” in the stormwater rules, as well as many changes to the Coastal Zone Management Rules (NJAC 7:7), Stormwater Management (NJAC 7:8), and the Flood Hazard Area Control Act Rules (NJAC 7:13). It is anticipated that the REAL Rule proposal will be adopted next year around July/August 2025.
The NJDEP will conduct three public hearings for the rule proposal on the following dates:
- September 5, 2024, Live at 6:00 P.M., at Ocean County College, Gateway Lecture Hall #104 (Bldg. #101), College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754;
- September 12, 2024, Virtually at 2:00 P.M.; and
- September 19, 2024, Virtually at 10:00 A.M.
- The link to the virtual meetings can be found on the NJDEP’s website https://dep.nj.gov/njreal/hearings/
Additional details regarding the public hearings, the rule proposal and public comments are provided on the Department’s NJREAL website: https://dep.nj.gov/njreal/