N.J. Admin. Code § 7:7A-10.3

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 7:7A-10.3 - Additional requirements for a non-water dependent activity in a wetland or special aquatic site

(a) In addition to meeting the requirements of N.J.A.C. 7:7A-10.2, a non-water dependent activity in a freshwater wetland or special aquatic site shall meet the requirements of this section. If an activity is water-dependent, or if it disturbs only a State open water that is not a special aquatic site, this section does not apply to the activity.

(b) There shall be a rebuttable presumption that there is a practicable alternative to a non-water dependent activity in a freshwater wetland or in a special aquatic site, which alternative does not involve a freshwater wetland or special aquatic site, and that such an alternative would have less of an impact on the aquatic ecosystem.

(c) In order to rebut the presumption established in (b) above, an applicant must demonstrate all of the following:

1. That the basic project purpose cannot reasonably be accomplished using one or more other sites in the general region that would avoid or reduce the adverse impact on an aquatic ecosystem;

2. That the basic project purpose cannot reasonably be accomplished if there is a reduction in the size, scope, configuration, or density of the project as proposed;

3. That the basic project purpose cannot reasonably be accomplished by an alternative design that would avoid or reduce the adverse impact on an aquatic ecosystem;

4. That in cases where the applicant has rejected alternatives to the project as proposed due to constraints such as inadequate zoning, infrastructure, or parcel size, the applicant has made reasonable attempts to remove or accommodate such constraints; and

5. If any portion of the proposed activity will take place in an exceptional resource value wetland or in trout production waters, that the requirements of N.J.A.C. 7:7A-10.4 are met.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:7A-10.3

Amended and recodified from 7:7A-7.4 by 49 N.J.R. 3849(a), effective 12/18/2017