It is important to evaluate and ensure that maximum pollutant reductions are being attained through the existing regulatory framework before requiring municipalities and other regulated entities to implement new Additional Measures under the New Jersey Discharge Elimination System Municipal Stormwater General Permits. To that end, DEP will provide compliance assistance to municipalities and other regulated entities within the Barnegat Bay watershed to help advance compliance with existing New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit requirements and achieve practical and tangible reductions. This approach succeeded in working with municipalities and local partners to address pathogen impairments through a "find and fix" approach and will be used in the Barnegat Bay watershed to identify sources of nutrient loading or other water quality impairments.

DEP’s Office of Compliance and Enforcement will work with municipalities and other regulated entities to improve New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Municipal Stormwater General Permit compliance, including identifying unpermitted discharges and ensuring compliance with stormwater management rules. DEP will help inform appropriate municipal officials about applicable regulations and will provide technical support. Other goals include facilitating cross-media awareness, encouraging innovative approaches to compliance, providing support to municipal officials to assure compliance with all applicable rules within the municipality, establishing a working dialogue 14 with municipal officials to assist with best use of resources to achieve reductions, and working together on solutions to address non-compliance issues. The ultimate goals are to improve compliance, improve water quality, and achieve positive environmental outcomes.

• Actions: Implement a Compliance Assistance Program aimed at improving New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Municipal Stormwater General Permit compliance to achieve load reductions
• Lead: DEP - Division of Water and Land Use Enforcement
• Partners: Municipal stakeholders and other regulated entities