NJ DEPARTMENT of ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Water Resource Management
Division of Water Monitoring and Standards

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

PUBLIC NOTICE
Take notice that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is proposing amendments to the Surface Water Quality Standards (SWQS), N.J.A.C. 7:9B, to upgrade 749 river miles to Category One (C1) antidegradation designation based on exceptional ecological significance and exceptional fisheries resource.  The upgrades based on exceptional ecological significance protect waterbodies with suitable habitat verified by the Department to support specified endangered and threatened species and exceptional aquatic community.  The Department is additionally proposing to reclassify waters based on trout sampling data and to make other administrative changes to correct or clarify rule language.

The proposal is scheduled to be published in the New Jersey Register dated March 4, 2019.  A copy of the proposal is available from the Department’s website at https://njdepwptest.net/wp-content/uploads/rules/proposals/20190304a.pdf, the Department’s Bureau of Environmental Analysis, Restoration and Standards website at https://www.state.nj.us/dep/wms/bears/swqs-rules.htm and LexisNexis free public access to the New Jersey Register (https://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/njoal).

A public hearing concerning this notice of proposal will be held on Monday, April 8, 2019 at 1:00 P.M. at:

New Jersey Forensic Science Technology Center Auditorium
1200 Negron Drive, Hamilton, NJ 08691

Directions to the New Jersey Forensic Science Technology Center Auditorium are available at https://www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement/pcp/bpo/directions/directions-Hamilton.pdf.

Written comments may be submitted electronically by May 3, 2019 at https://njdepwptest.net/rules/comment-on-dep-rulemaking-2/ or in hard copy to:

Gary J. Brower, Esq.
ATTN: DEP Docket No. 01-19-01
NJ Department of Environmental Protection
Office of Legal Affairs
Mail Code 401-04L; PO Box 402
401 East State Street, 7th Floor
Trenton, NJ 08625-0402