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DEP Extends Opportunity
for Public Comment on BIG Map:
Revised Map to be Released in May
(03/46) TRENTON - The Department
of Environmental Protection (DEP) is extending the current
informal public comment period for the Blueprint for Intelligent
Growth (BIG) Map from the original deadline of today to
April 25, 2003.
Following the April 25 deadline, a revised
BIG Map incorporating public comments as well as a more
in-depth description of regulatory considerations will be
released in May for an additional 30-day informal public
review. DEP will formally propose a final draft of the BIG
Map through the rulemaking process in the fall.
To achieve smart growth and to improve
the quality of life for all New Jersey residents, the DEP
launched Big Map to show where the department, through streamlined
regulatory approaches, will encourage growth, new development
and redevelopment, and where it will discourage inappropriate
growth to protect the state's waters and natural resources.
In seeking public comment, the department is interested
in the following six topics:
- The overall concept of this "traffic light"
approach to environmental regulation;
- The appropriateness of the use of the different data
sets to construct the draft BIG Map;
- Recommendations for additional data sets to further
refine the green, yellow and red light areas;
- The appropriateness of the suggested regulatory changes
in accordance with the BIG Map;
- Specific recommendations for regulatory changes that
may contribute to achieving the department's objectives
for its Smart Growth strategy; and
- Recommendations on methods to encourage appropriate
redevelopment of already built areas of the state, including
both regulatory and non-regulatory methods.
Public comments may be submitted via the
DEP homepage (www.nj.gov/dep)
or in writing to:
Janis E. Hoagland
E-mail: bigmap@dep.state.nj.us
Attn: DEP Docket No. 03-03-02
Department of Environmental Protection
Office of Legal Affairs
401 E. State Street
P.O. Box 402
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0402
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