NJDEP Helps the Garden State Remain the Garden State

Many facility owners and occupants in the Garden State are only familiar with the New Jersey Department of Environment Protection because of NJDEP permit compliance, but other than that, don’t know what goes on behind the scenes of this particular government organization.

Aside from being responsible for the regulation of toxic materials and hazards, waste and spill cleanups, and ensuring water and air quality through sets of permits and requirements,  the NJDEP also helps the Garden State remain the Garden State by protecting and preserving the acres of farmland and open spaces in New Jersey.

Specifically, under the supervision of Green Acres Program, this mission of NJDEP is crucial to ensure that even despite the thriving urban setting, the Garden State will remain a model of developed land uses that are in full harmony with the environment.

Over the years, the New Jersey government has passed several laws which aim to preserve the open spaces and farmlands in the Garden State. Most of this legislation is now being administered by NJDEP, and therefore, must be known by all facility owners so that they’ll understand their critical role of keeping their facilities sustainable and eco-friendly in the long run.

The Garden State Preservation Trust Act

Signed into law on June 30, 1999, the Garden State Preservation Trust Act (GSPT) is considered the most significant land conservation legislation which allowed the state to preserve acres of land for over ten years. This bill established a stable source of funding for preservation efforts and the statutory framework necessary to implement the preservation plan approved by the citizens of New Jersey in 1998.

Since 1998, the trust, managed by a nine-member board, has overseen the expenditure of some $2.7 billion to keep green space open, bolster parkland, prevent condos from cropping up in farm fields, and keeping historical sites from crumbling.

Another sub-program was created in 2009, called Blue Acres Program, which has been authorized to use $12 million of the GSPT fund to acquire lands in the floodways of the Delaware River, Passaic River, and Raritan River for recreation and conservation purposes.

In 2014, New Jerseyans approved additional funding for these efforts with a constitutional dedication of Corporation Business Taxes that ranges up to $120 million a year.

As of 2017, 431,919 acres were acquired with GSPT funds. Those acres are spread among 364 towns throughout the state’s 21 counties.

Benefits of Land Space Conservation

The magnificent farmlands, woodlands, and wetlands that lie across the Garden State provide habitat and support human health and recreation. According to “Conservation: An Investment that Pays – The Economic Benefits of Parks and Open Space,” the following benefits can be achieved by successful open space protection programs, such as of those of NJDEP.

• Open spaces within and in close proximity to urban centers increase livability and enhance property values.
• Open spaces boost local economies by attracting residents and businesses.
• Parks and green spaces have been demonstrated and can be proven to be actual preventative measures that impact positively on health care and health care costs.
• Green open spaces function as the Garden State’s “lungs” that offset the effects of air pollution.
• The protection of natural areas can help resolve water-related environmental problems. Protection of wetlands, for example, can help reduce the need for costly flood-control structures.
• Open spaces provide the needed habitat for endangered animals and rare plants. For instance, the 588 acres of land in Hamilton Township preserved by NJDEP’s Green Acres Program has been the habitat for a number of rare plants native to the area as well as the endangered Pine Barrens Tree frog.

For all of the above reasons – and not even considering the fact that preserving nature might extend humankind’s own survival on this planet – New Jersey’s farmlands and green spaces enrich its people’s lives, allow them to be healthy and help them cultivate their “higher” selves.

Lockatong Engineering is also an environmentally focused firm that also believes in doing our individual part to keep New Jersey’s environment healthy and sustainable in the long run. Our professional engineers are skilled in environmental consulting and investigations which help businesses and facilities to protect the health, livelihood, and well-being of their employees and of the surrounding community, as well as achieve NJDEP permit compliance as well.

Contact us to learn more about our environmental consulting and evaluation services today.