nj home citizen business government services A to Z departments
new jersey department of environmental protection  
site remediation program

Guidance Documents CEA Biennial Cert Compliance

CEA Biennial Cert Compliance: Tools for Performing Well Searches for CEA Biennial Certifications

A Department computer generated well search for all wells within one mile up-gradient, side-gradient and downgradient of the ground water classification exception area is required as part of each CEA biennial certification. This requirement is outlined in the Tech Rules, specifically N.J.A.C. 7:26E-8.6(a)3. [pdf 189 Kb] However, the Department is experiencing a delay in the processing of well search requests made through the Bureau of Water System and Well Permitting. In an effort to reduce the number of requests, the Department has developed a web-based tool that identifies well permit applications in a given area. This Web page provides links and instructions for using the web-based tool.

Please note that while this tool is an acceptable means of meeting your requirements outlined in N.J.A.C. 7:26E-8.6(a)3, it is currently not acceptable when a traditional and more thorough well search is required (for example to comply with the Preliminary Assessment and Site Investigation provisions in NJAC 7:26E-3.7 and the Remedial Investigation provisions in NJAC 7:26E-4.4) These well searches must still follow the traditional means, and information regarding Department’s well searches may be found in the Division of Water Supply’s website at http://www.nj.gov/dep/watersupply under "forms" and "well permitting."

Obtaining a Well Permit Search

The Department has provided you with two possible ways to conduct your own well search:

  • (Recommended) You look up and enter the Well Grid Numbers of interest. This can be done using the New Jersey DEP I-Map System. Then open the NJDEP Data Miner System's SRP Insitutional Controls Reports page, select the "Well Search for CEA Biennial Certification By Atlas Grids" and enter the Grid Numbers of interest when prompted.
  • (Alternative) Determine on your own the municipalities of interest. Then open the following link to the NJDEP Data Miner System's SRP Insitutional Controls Reports page, select the "Well Search for CEA Biennial Certification By Municipality", and enter the municipalities of interest when prompted.

More detailed instructions and sample screen shots can be found through the CEA Biennial Certification Well Search Report Instructions page. As noted above, the Department recommends using the Well Grid Numbers to find the well permits. Even though the initial effort of finding and then entering Well Grid Numbers may be cumbersome (a well search encompasses 70-80 grids), the resulting list of well permits that need detailed evaluation is usually much smaller.