NJ DEPARTMENT of ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Land Use Management
Division of Water Monitoring and Standards

Notice of Rule Proposal
Surface Water Quality Standards, Category One  (N.J.A.C.
7:9B)

Public Notice
Take notice that the NJ Department of Environmental Protection is proposing amendments to the Surface Water Quality Standards at N.J.A.C. 7:9B. A statement of the proposal follows:

The Department proposing to amend N.J.A.C. 7:9B-1.4 to revise the definition of “category one waters” and introduce new definitions for “Exceptional Ecological Significance”, “Exceptional Fisheries Resource(s)”, “Exceptional Water Supply Significance”, and “HUC 14”. In addition, the Department is proposing to upgrade the antidegradation designation of approximately 910 river miles to Category One.  Streams will be upgraded in the following watersheds:  Musconetcong River, Wallkill River, Pequest River, Ramapo River, Stony Brook, Lamington River, Salem River, Pompeston Creek, Maurice River, Toms River, Rockaway River and Pequannock River.  In addition, the antidegradation designation for Split Rock Reservoir, Oak Ridge Reservoir, Canister Reservoir and tributaries to the Swimming River Reservoir and the Wanaque Reservoir are also being upgraded at this time.

The proposal is scheduled to be published in the New Jersey
Register dated May 21, 2007. A copy
of the proposalis
available from the Department’s Web site at https://njdepwptest.net/wp-content/uploads/rules/proposals/052107b.pdf (PDF). A map of the proposed waterbodies is also available from the Department’s Web site at http://www.state.nj.us/dep/wms/bwqsa/2007C1upgrade.html.

Public hearings concerning the proposal are scheduled as follows:

Thursday,
June 28, 2007, 3:00-5:00 P.M. and at 6:00-7:00 P.M.
Rutgers EcoComplex
Environmental Research and Extension Center
1200 Florence-Columbus Road
Bordentown, NJ 08505-4200
http://ecocomplex.rutgers.edu/

Written comments may be submitted by July 20, 2007 (comment
period extended to August 20, 2007) to:

NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Gary J. Brower, Esquire
ATTN: DEP Docket Number 11-07-04/557
Office of Legal Affairs
401 East State Street
PO Box 402
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0402