PRO's Environmental Resource Center

Protection of C-1 Water Resources, Round Two

• Correspondence to Assistant Commissioner Mauriello Regarding C-1 Buffers and Mapping
  
  
• Correspondence to NJDEP Watershed Management Director Baier

  Protection of C-1 Water Resources

  Correspondence Regarding C-1 Buffers (in chronological order)

  • First letter to NJDEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson Regarding 300' Buffers around C-1 Waters
    
    
  • First response from NJDEP
    
    
  • Response to email from Lawrence Baier, Director, NJDEP, Division of Watershed Management to NJDEP
    
    
  • Second letter to NJDEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson
    
    
  • Press Release: DEP Improperly Reducing Buffers on Pristine Streams, Endangering Water Quality and Hurting Flood Protection
    
    
  • Email from Assistant Commissioner Mauriello regarding new Administrative Order governing permit decisions
    
    
  • NJDEP Functional Value Analysis Administrative Order 2007-01
    
    
  • DEP Says Major Development Good, Farming Bad on C1s: Email to DEP Commissioner
    
    
  • Cover Letter to Commissioner Jackson, February 11, 2007
    
    
  • FVA Guidance Letter to Commissioner Jackson, February 11, 2007
    
    
  • PRO's Harmony Projects Committee letter to NJDEP Watershed Management Director Larry Baier
    
    
  • Correspondence with Mark N. Mauriello, Assistant Commissioner NJDEP, Land Use Management, regarding implementation of Administrative Order #2007-1.
    
    
    

    Newspaper Articles about C-1 Buffers

  • Flood rules raise protests: Environmental groups protest loophole in state regulations. Corzine proposing tougher rules.

    The Express-Times, Thursday, October 12, 2006

  • Activists assail development near protected streams: They blame state for not enforcing buffer zone on former farmland

    The Asbury Park Press, Thursday, October 12, 2006

  • Editorial: DEP must enforce 300-foot buffer zones around creeks

    The Express-Times, Sunday, October 15, 2006

  • DEP tightens rules on water for developers: Impact on environment targeted

    The Asbury Park Press, Saturday, January 6, 2007

  • Flood rules to affect Sussex plans

    New Jersey Herald, Wednesday, November 14, 2007

    Highlands-Related Issues

  • Highlands Preservation and Global Warming
    • Click here to read full text of NJ DEP Sustainability Greenhouse Action Plan.
    • Click here for excerpts from the Plan.
      
      
  • Comments to Highlands Council regarding Regional Master Plan
    
    
  • We Must Imagine a Future Without Cars by James Howard Kunstler, truthout.org
    
    
  • Letter to the editor in the Express-Times, February 9, 2007
    
    
  • Highlands Council Scoping Document
    Click here to read press release.
    
    
    

    Smart Growth

    REALSmart: The League for Real Smart Growth

    
    Join REALsmart: The League for Real Smart Growth

    THE PROBLEM

    The loss of topsoil/farmland due to erosion and development ranks among the world's most serious environmental problems. Many people have heard of global warming and overpopulation but not enough about the ever worsening environmental challenge of the loss of top soil, often due to unwise land use practices. Around the world, topsoil, vital to life on earth, is allowed to blow away in the wind or flow away as it rains. Too often agricultural lands are not being managed to sustain an ever growing population of humans in New Jersey and around the world that must be fed or threatened with starvation.

    ACT LOCALLY

    Recognizing the high quality soils on our area farms and taking steps towards keeping these acres available for agriculture is something we must do to counter the global loss of top soils and agricultural lands. Viable alternatives exist to save our New Jersey farms.

    Let's consider, that in the global economy, farmland is key to niche market agribusiness and economic success. It can create many jobs in the agricultural industry. Consider the Champagne region of France or the Parmigiana area of Italy which derives a good part of its wealth from niche markets which its agricultural lands make possible (i.e., the champagne beverage, and parmigiana cheese).

    The loss of farmland in our area to development results in the permanent loss of the economic potential of the land and replaces it with ugly, wasteful sprawl. The "quality of life" enhancements that emerge from REALsmart growth in our cities (or on already developed lands) and not on our farms are:

    • Reduce greenhouse gases which cause Global Warming
    • Pedestrian-friendly centers
    • Readily available and reliable mass transit
    • No expansions of infrastructure (sewer, water, and roads) onto agricultural lands
    • Greater neighborhood density so those that choose can thrive without a car
    This alternative plan avoids the crippling costs we pay as taxpayers to provide more roads and other infrastructure to larger lot subdivisions (e.g., 1-5 acre lots) built out of the city core. Public costs consequently are lower overall and public spending can be redirected to "quality of life" enhancements such as education, art and parks. This is why we formed REALsmart.

    WHAT IS REALsmart?

    No more houses on farmland. No more developments where a car is required. Builders and developers have captured and manipulated the "smart growth" language with concepts such as "clustering" of houses on just a part of the farmland. REALsmart wants to recapture and redefine "smart growth."

    JOIN US

    Our mission is to form a league of like-minded individuals and organizations that agree new growth should occur only on previously developed lands, not on our farmland. We ask that you consider joining REALsmart, the League for Real Smart Growth.
    

    More about REALsmart

  • Highlands confab at fair: Announcement of new committee in Warren. Goal of panel meets with mixed reactions

    The Express-Times, Saturday, August 5, 2006

  • REALsmart Launched at Fair Press Release
  • REALsmart: No More Houses on Farmland Brochure

    More about Smart Growth

  • Court approves of town centers: OKs designations for development, but stresses environmental rules

    The Star Ledger, Saturday, March 4, 2006

  • Letter to the editor in the Express-Times, April 4, 2006
  • Letter to Governor Corzine regarding Smart Growth, March 5, 2006

  Links

  • Riparian Buffer Conservation Zone Model Ordinance
    
    
  • Model Stormwater Control Ordinance for Municipalities
    
    
  • Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act Rules
    
    
  • Category 1 Water Bodies
    
    
  • NJ Candidates for Category 1 Protection-Map
    
    
  • DEP-Identified Waters for Category 1 Designation
    
    
  • NJDEP OPRA Application Forms
    
    
  • Surface Water Quality Standards
    
    
  • Restoring NJ Riparian Forest Buffers
    
    

  
  
  
  
  
  

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