On March 2, 2021, the updated New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) New Jersey Stormwater Management regulations at N.J.A.C. 7:8 became operative.
The regulations now require use of green infrastructure to achieve water quality, water quantity, and groundwater recharge standards, rather than requiring use of nonstructural strategies to the “greatest extent practicable.” Green infrastructure best management practices (BMPs) treat and infiltrate stormwater close to its source in a way that maintains or closely replicates natural systems.
Other updates to the regulations include amending the definition of major development to reference a quarter acre of “motor vehicle surface” rather than impervious surface and changes to support water quality and stormwater improvements in communities with combined sewer systems.
Kleinfelder has extensive experience working with green infrastructure and has been designing stormwater management systems using green infrastructure BMPs for years. Our knowledge of the new stormwater management rules combined with our expertise in green infrastructure puts us in a strong position to assist our clients, from municipalities working to update their local rules to permittees and developers planning projects that now need to comply with the new rules.
Kleinfelder Principal Engineer Brian Friedlich and Kleinfelder Vice President/Principal Jim Cosgrove, licensed Professional Engineers in New Jersey, have given numerous seminars and presentations on stormwater regulations, are published in the New Jersey Environmental Law Handbook, and have designed dozens of successful projects incorporating green infrastructure. And they are happy to answer your questions!
