New NJ Regulations Coming To Combat Future Flooding: DEP

Princeton NJ

07 January, 2022

5:40 PM

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NEW JERSEY — The Garden State will be releasing a set of regulations aiming to curb the threat of flooding and force development projects to adapt to the climate change threat, according to state officials. Dubbed "Resilient Environments and Landscapes," the new rules will help local communities and governments evaluate all future development projects to ensure they don't exacerbate the state's chronic flooding problems. "We want to empower them with information and make sure that what we built today will stand the test of time amid changing climate," New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Commissioner Shawn LaTourette told Patch. In the past few years, New Jersey has been battered by record rainfall and tropical storms. In September, tropical storm Ida slammed the state, claiming the lives of 30 residents. New developments send rainwater into nearby streams, rivers, and stormwater systems, causing neighborhoods to flood. LaTourette said New Jersey's stormwater system was "fundamentally flawed" and "outdated" because the data used to build the system was from 1999. Since then, much has changed. "In the last 22 years, we've seen more rain. Because of climate change and because of the emissions that we've pumped into the atmosphere over the last 100 or so years, that's going to continue worsening," LaTourette said. The NJDEP recently put out "new science" that will help plug the gap of the last 22 years, the Commissioner said. And since the state has the benefit of deploying new federal infrastructure money, they want to ensure communities are protected and new projects "stand the test of time." A new study released by a Cornell University professor and the NJDEP shows that rainfall and other precipitation amounts are 2.5 percent to 10 percent higher than 1999. Those amounts are likely to increase by more than 20 percent statewide by the end of the century, according to the study. "As we move into a warmer and wetter world, it is crucial that the most recent rainfall observations and state-of-the-art climate model simulations of future rainfall be incorporated into decisions regarding flood potential, infrastructure design and resiliency planning," said Arthur DeGaetano, author and professor of Earth and atmospheric sciences at Cornell. The new set of rules will not affect infrastructure or development projects in a "negative way," the Commissioner said. "Because they want to make sure that their assets are protected — whether it's transportation assets, whether it's a new high-density development, the downtown they're hoping to rehabilitate — we want to make sure that that's done the right way," LaTourette said. In the past few years, New Jersey has seen property being washed away and experienced loss of life. The new regulations will ensure there are no buildings where they shouldn't be built. Developments will require a study on how climate change would affect them. "It doesn't mean that construction companies won't make money anymore. Which is why it's such a great opportunity to put people to work and build better." Climate change has been a focus for Gov. Phil Murphy since he took office in 2018. The rulemaking process began two years ago and the administration has involved various stakeholders. Academics, community leaders, environmentalists, infrastructure developers, and others were involved in sharing ideas over the last two years, LaTourette said. The proposal will be made in the first quarter of 2022. The earliest, effective date of adoption would be early 2023, LaTourette said. None of this will disrupt projects that are already in the pipeline. "When you're in a community that has never flooded before, you're shocked that it happened. And it can feel hopeless," LaTourette said. "But it's important for New Jerseyans to understand that their government and the Department of Environmental Protection has got their back." Thank you for reading. Have a correction or news tip? Email [email protected] Get breaking news alerts on your phone with our app. Download here. Sign up to get Patch emails so you don't miss out on local and statewide news.