New Jersey Assembly Bill A1735

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/11/22
• Refer: 1/11/22

Caption

Specifies minimum 20-year planning duration for NJ Statewide Water Supply Plan and adds new requirements for plan.

Impact

By establishing a compulsory 20-year timeline for water supply projections, A1735 sets a precedent for how the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will allocate resources and manage planning. The bill requires the incorporation of various considerations like assessing ecologically sensitive water sources and evaluating climate change impacts such as sea level rise and altered rainfall patterns. Additionally, the bill mandates that funding from the Water Supply Bond Act cannot be allocated unless the DEP has updated the Water Supply Plan, thereby ensuring financial resources are contingent upon adherence to the new standards.

Summary

Assembly Bill A1735 seeks to amend the New Jersey Statewide Water Supply Plan by instituting a minimum planning duration of 20 years and introducing new requirements to fortify the state's approach to water resource management. The legislation aims to ensure that water supply planning is more proactive, with an emphasis on long-term forecasts of water supply demands and availability. Specifically, it mandates that regional assessments be grounded in the latest population projections, addressing potential deficits in water supply over a significant time frame.

Contention

Opposition to A1735 may arise from concerns that the newly outlined requirements could impose additional regulatory burdens on the DEP, potentially slowing down water supply project approvals. Critics might argue that mandating extensive assessments and projections could hinder timely responses to immediate water supply issues. Furthermore, as ecological considerations are emphasized, there may be debates surrounding the definition of 'ecologically sensitive areas' and how they impact existing water management practices, prompting discussions about balancing ecological protection with human water needs.