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DEP Fines Property Owner for Illegal Removal of Oceanfront Dune:
Full Restoration Mandated
(03/10) TRENTON – Ordering the restoration of more than 5,000 square feet of oceanfront dune in Deal Boro, Monmouth County, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) cited and fined a private landowner for unauthorized dune destruction in violation of the Coastal Area Facility Review Act (CAFRA).
“Hasty, unauthorized activities along the New Jersey shore – like those conducted by Ms. Hedaya – can harm our coastline’s fragile ecosystem and impact the natural beauty that attracts visitors,” said DEP Commissioner Bradley M. Campbell. “Only by appropriately regulating development activities can we prevent pollution, destruction of vital wildlife habitat, increases in rainwater runoff, and in some cases prevent the loss of life and property from coastal storms, erosion, and flooding.”
The DEP issued the property owner, Alice Hedaya, a penalty assessment in the amount of $15,000 for failing to comply with the applicable CAFRA permitting requirements in a coastal zone. The violations occurred as a result of Hedaya’s unauthorized destruction of a dune at 1 Ocean Lane in Deal Boro. In addition, the DEP has ordered the submission of a restoration plan to restore the site to its pre-disturbance condition. The plan must include a time schedule for implementation through project completion. The department reserves the right to modify inadequate or incomplete information within the proposal.
The CAFRA law regulates almost all development activities involved in residential, commercial, or industrial development, including construction, relocation, and enlargement of buildings or structures; and all related work, such as excavation, grading, shore protection structures, and site preparation.
A copy of the Administrative Order and Notice of Civil Administrative Penalty Assessment issued to Alice Hedaya is available upon request.
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OFFICIAL SITE OF THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY