Sponsored by:
Assemblyman AL BARLAS
District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)
Assemblyman CHRISTOPHER P. DEPHILLIPS
District 40 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)
Assemblyman ALEX SAUICKIE
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Makes $500,000 supplemental appropriation from General Fund to DEP for dredging and restoration of Peckman River.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Supplement to the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, P.L.2023, c.74.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. In addition to the amounts appropriated under P.L.2023, c.74, the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, there is appropriated from the General Fund the following amount for the purpose specified:
42 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
40 Community Development and Environmental Management
42 Natural Resource Management
STATE AID
21-4895 Natural Resources Engineering .............................. $500,000
Total State Aid appropriation,
Natural Resources Management.......................... $500,000
State Aid:
21 Peckman River Dredging and Restoration Project ($500,000)
The amount hereinabove appropriated for the Peckman River Dredging and Restoration Project shall be allocated to the Township of Cedar Grove, the Township of Little Falls, the Township of Verona, and the Borough of Woodland Park, pursuant to an application process established by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, subject to the approval of the Director of the Division of Budget and Accounting. The Peckman River Dredging and Restoration Project shall include the dredging, restoration, cleaning, desnagging, and any other purpose or activity consistent with the Statewide general permit issued for the dredging and restoration of the Peckman River, and provided for in the municipalities joint plan submitted to the commissioner. The municipalities shall file a joint application on a form prescribed by the commissioner, which application shall include such information as the commissioner may deem necessary to determine the amount of funding allocated to each applicant, including, but not limited to, the municipalities joint plan for the dredging and restoration of the Peckman River. The Department of Environmental Protection shall waive any permit fee for any activity consistent with the Statewide general permit issued for the dredging and restoration of the Peckman River, and provided for in the municipalities joint plan submitted to the commissioner.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill appropriates an additional $500,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for dredging and restoration of the Peckman River. The Peckman River is a tributary of the Passaic River that flows through the Townships of Cedar Grove and Verona in Essex County, and the Township of Little Falls and the Borough of Woodland Park in Passaic County. The bill requires the supplemental appropriation to be allocated among the aforementioned municipalities. The bill directs the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to establish an application process to determine the amount of funding provided to each municipality. The application shall include such information as the commissioner may deem necessary to determine the amount of funding allocated to each applicant, including, but not limited to, the municipalities joint plan for the dredging and restoration of the Peckman River.
The bill further provides that:
1) the Peckman River Dredging and Restoration Project would include the dredging, restoration, cleaning, desnagging, and any other purpose or activity consistent with the Statewide general permit issued for the dredging and restoration of the Peckman River, and provided for in the municipalities joint plan submitted to the commissioner; and
2) the Department of Environmental Protection would waive any permit fee for any activity consistent with the Statewide general permit issued for the dredging and restoration of the Peckman River, and provided for in the municipalities joint plan submitted to the commissioner.