On August 5, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) proposed its Protecting Against Climate Threats (PACT) Resilient Environments And Landscapes Rule in the NJ Register. The proposal, if adopted, could significantly impact the home building industry across the state.
The proposed REAL rule aims to address various environmental concerns and would result in changes such as increased buffer zones and modifications to stormwater management practices statewide. These changes are not confined to coastal areas but will affect regions throughout New Jersey.
The DEP has outlined four core aspects of the rule: Sea Level Rise, Environmental Protections, Coastal Protections, and Stormwater Management. A detailed analysis of these components is available from NJBA Environmental Counsel Michael Gross and Steven Dalton of NJBA Patron Sponsor Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla.
Public hearings on the proposal have been scheduled, allowing stakeholders and members of the public to express their views. Details for accessing these virtual hearings can be found at https://dep.nj.gov/njreal/hearings/.
