These sediments range in age from Cretaceous to Holocene and can be classified as continental, coastal or marine deposits. There are five major aquifers within the Coastal Plain Aquifer System. Natural recharge to the New Jersey Coastal Plain Aquifer System occurs primarily through direct precipitation on the outcrop area of the geologic formations. A smaller component of natural recharge to the deeper layers of the system occurs by vertical leakage from the upper layers. The New Jersey Coastal Plain Aquifer discharges to the surface through streams, springs and evapotranspiration.
Many streams ultimately flow into bays or directly into the ocean.
Development of the ground water reservoir as a water supply source constitutes another discharge component which today accounts for a significant portion of discharge from the overall system. The information utilized in this determination includes the petition, written and verbal comments submitted by the public, and various technical publications. Therefore, in order to streamline EPA s review of the possible environmental impacts on designated aquifers, when an action is analyzed in an EIS, the two reviews will be consolidated and both authorities cited. Outside the New Jersey Coastal Plain Area and further than two miles from the Delaware River in the streamflow source zone, only those Federally assisted proposed projects requiring the preparation of an EIS will be reviewed. The Agency has chosen a two-mile limit for the project review area along the Delaware River based on the climate and hydrologic setting of the area.