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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2006

 

Contact: Darlene Yuhas (609) 984-1795
Elaine Makatura (609) 292-2994

 

DEP COMMISSIONER REAFFIRMS VALIDITY OF NEW JERSEY HIGHLANDS RULES

(06/41) TRENTON -- Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Lisa P. Jackson today appeared before members of the New Jersey Highlands Council to make clear that regulations adopted last year to protect the environmentally sensitive Highlands region remain in effect.

"The DEP is committed to preserving our wealth of precious natural resources in the Highlands. To that end, we will take formal action on final environmental regulatory standards in the coming months. Until then, the existing Highlands rules are still valid," Commissioner Jackson said. "To dispel misinformation and to avoid any possible misunderstandings, we are working to let the public know that these interim rules are still in effect, and our communications efforts include correspondence to New Jersey's mayors."

The interim rules are effective until November 2006.

First adopted in May 2005, the interim Highlands rules established regulatory standards for implementing the landmark Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act, including permit review for major Highlands development, septic systems, historic and archaeological resources and unique and irreplaceable resources.

The rules' expiration date, originally set for May 2006, was automatically extended last December when the DEP proposed to readopt the interim rules, as allowed under the state's Administrative Procedure Act, after consulting with the Highlands Council, the State Planning Commission, and the Departments of Community Affairs, Transportation, and Agriculture.

For more information on the DEP's Highlands rules, visit www.nj.gov/dep/highlands.

 

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