NJDEP Land Use Regulation Program (DLUR) - Mitigation

MITIGATION COUNCIL

The Council role in the State's wetland mitigation program is to serve as a repository for land donations and monetary contributions collected as a result of freshwater wetland/state open water impacts that cannot be mitigated for on-site, off-site or at a wetland mitigation bank. The Council also reviews and approves freshwater wetland mitigation banks.

The Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act required the establishment of the Wetlands Mitigation Council (Council). The Council is comprised of seven members as follows: the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, who shall serve ex officio; and six members from the general public to be appointed by the Governor with the advise and consent of the Senate, two of whom shall be appointed persons recommended by recognized building and development organizations; two of whom shall be appointed from persons recommended by recognized environmental and conservation organizations; and two of whom shall be appointed from institutions of higher learning in the State. Each member appointed from the general public shall serve for a term of three years and until a successor is appointed and qualified. Click here for a list of members.

Meetings

Land Donations

Monetary Contribution

Freshwater Wetland Mitigation Banks

Use of Mitigation Fund

Meetings

The Council meets bimonthly and their meetings are open to the public. Click here for a list of upcoming meeting dates, locations, agendas and minutes of previous meetings.

Land Donations

An applicant may be referred by NJDEP to the Council to make a land donation as a form of wetland mitigation provided it is consistent with the Freshwater Wetland Protection Act Rules NJAC 7:7A-15. Click here to see a copy of the application checklist for land donations made to the Council.

Monetary Contribution

An applicant may be referred by NJDEP to the Council to make a monetary contribution as a form of wetland mitigation provided it is consistent with the Freshwater Wetland Protection Act Rules NJAC 7:7A-15. Click here to see a copy of the application checklist for cash contribution proposals made to the Council.

Freshwater Wetland Mitigation Banks

The Council reviews and approves all freshwater wetland mitigation banks. Please review the Freshwater Wetland Protection Act Rules NJAC 7:7A-15 for details on the bank approval process.

Click here to view a map showing the mitigation bank service areas of your proposed project.
Click here for a list of approved wetland mitigation banks, contact person, and service area. (Pdf Format)
Click here to see an application checklist for a freshwater wetland mitigation bank proposal. (Pdf Format)

Use of Mitigation Fund

The collected monetary contribution dollars are deposited into the Wetland Mitigation Fund. The Council is responsible for the management and disbursement of dollars from the Wetland Mitigation Fund to finance mitigation projects. The Council with those Funds has the power to purchase land to provide areas for enhancement or restoration of degraded freshwater wetlands, to engage in the enhancement or restoration of degraded freshwater wetlands on any public lands, including public lands other than those acquired by the Council, and to preserve freshwater wetlands and transition areas determined to be of critical importance in protecting freshwater wetlands.

For further information regarding how to make a land donation, monetary contribution, a freshwater wetland mitigation bank proposal, or a request for a wetland mitigation grant please contact Jill Aspinwall, NJDEP staff to the Wetlands Mitigation Council at NJDEP, Land Use Regulation Program, P.O. Box 439, 501 East State Street, Trenton NJ 08625 or via email at Jill.Aspinwall@dep.state.nj.us or by telephone at (609) 777-0454.

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