Christie DEP Says NJ’s Coastal Planning Is “By Invitation Only”

 DEP’s Version of Arrogant “Sit Down and Shut Up” Approach To Governing

Direct Contradiction of NOAA Policy

Hugely controversial public debates about the future of the ocean and NJ’s coastal zone management – from Hurricane Sandy rebuilding, to threats from climate change, sea level rise and storms, to over-fishing, pollution, and off shore LNG, oil & gas drilling, and energy development – are proliferating.

Yet, remarkably, just when the public is demanding more transparent and participatory planning and government, the Christie DEP is closing down and limiting public opportunity to participate in that debate.

We have written here numerous times about various individual coastal and ocean issues, so I won’t go into them here.

The point is, DEP is responsible for planning, regulation, and management of a myriad of critical coastal zone resources and near ocean waters.

Under federal law, DEP is required to prepare submit a coastal zone management assessment every 2 years and a coastal strategy every 5 years.

Improvements to state and territory coastal management programs are encouraged through this program. The focus is on nine enhancement areas: wetlands, coastal hazards, public access, marine debris, cumulative and secondary impacts, special area management plans, ocean and Great Lakes resources, energy and government facility siting, and aquaculture. The program was established in 1990 under Section 309 of the Coastal Zone Management Act.

Every five years states and territories review their programs to identify priority needs and opportunities for improvement. The programs then work with NOAA to develop multi-year improvement strategies that focus on one or more of the priority enhancement goals.

On Thursday Feb. 12, DEP will hold a one time “by invitation only” “Stakeholders” meeting in Trenton to develop NJ’s coastal strategy and plan.

Did you get that? “BY invitation only!”

At a minimum, given the recent dispute on sea walls, I figured the folks in Mantoloking would want to ask a few questions or relay their concerns – but DEP didn’t invite them!

Here are the federal NOAA Guidelines on how DEP is supposed to allow the public to participate on coastal planning:

E. Public Review

Because the CZMA places a strong emphasis on public participation, CMPs must provide opportunities for public review and comment on the Assessment and Strategy. Since OCRM is encouraging a combined Assessment and Strategy, CMPs may hold the public review period concurrently with OCRM’s review of the draft submission. The public review process does not require formal public hearings and may occur through a variety of means, e.g., public comment websites, advisory committees, Commission meetings, or informal public workshops. At a minimum, CMPs should provide adequate public notice, document availability, and a minimum 30-day public comment period. CMPs are encouraged to use the Internet, as feasible, to make the document widely available for public comments. A summary of public comments and responses must be included with the final Assessment and Strategy.