The bill mandates that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) must notify property owners of any changes to their property's status as a wetlands area when the department reevaluates or remaps wetlands. The notification must inform owners whether their property was previously designated as a wetlands area but is no longer classified as such, or vice versa. Additionally, the notification must provide a detailed description of the extent of the wetlands designation on the property, including any changes in size resulting from the reevaluation or remapping.
Furthermore, the bill establishes a formal appeals process for property owners who wish to contest the DEP's designation of their property as a wetlands area. This appeals process will follow the procedures outlined in the Administrative Procedure Act, and the DEP is required to include information about this process in the notifications sent to property owners and on its website. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage.