Vol. 7 No. 1 Summer 1999
A Newsletter About New Jersey's Water Quality Programs

Chapter 22A governs local government units that own/operate combined sewer overflows and provides a mechanism for them to receive planning and design grants. In addition, Chapter 22A establishes requirements associated with mapping and monitoring stormwater discharges in affected municipalities, as well as provides the means for municipalities to receive planning and design grants for eliminating interconnections/cross-connections. Under the Sewage Infrastructure Improvement Act (SIIA - N.J.S.A. 58:25-23 et seq.), affected municipalities are those with stormwater sewer systems discharging into the salt waters of Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic or Cape May counties.

The SIIA established the statutory authority for the DEP to promulgate rules to implement its provisions. While the initial appropriation for SIIA grant funding was greatly reduced, funds from the Stormwater Management and Combined Sewer Overflow Abatement Bond Act of 1989 were made available for these activities.

The rule has seven subchapters. Subchapter 1 includes general provisions and definitions. Subchapter 2 describes the grant agreement procedures and requirements. Subchapters 3 and 4 address preliminary and final mapping and monitoring responsibilities for 94 affected municipalities. Subchapter 6 identifies provisions specific to the combined sewer overflow (CSO) abatement planning and design grant aspects of the SIIA. Subchapter 7 identifies the planning and design grant funding qualifications for municipalities that identify one or more interconnection(s) and/or cross-connection(s).

The DEP plans to publish this rule proposal in the New Jersey Register in late summer with final readoption in fall.

If you are interested in finding out more about this rule, please contact Scott Shymon, Bureau of Program Development and Technical Services, at (609) 292-3859.