In any protected areas so determined and delineated, no person, firm, corporation or other entity shall divert or withdraw water for domestic, municipal, agricultural or industrial uses in excess of such quantities as the commission may prescribe by general regulation, except (i) pursuant to a permit granted under this article, or (ii) pursuant to a permit or approval heretofore granted under the laws of any of the signatory States.
N.J.S. § 32:11D-53