Opinion ID: 2189290
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: General Permits and Vernal Habitats, N.J.A.C. 7:7A-4.3(b)16

Text: DEP's assumed responsibilities include the issuance of general permits to allow regulated activities in freshwater wetlands. N.J.S.A. 13:9B-23. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 13:9B-23a, DEP is authorized to adopt any Nationwide Permit previously issued under the CWA by the Corps. The Act also mandates that: [DEP] shall issue a general permit for an activity in a freshwater wetland [i.] which is not a surface water tributary system discharging into an inland lake or pond, or a river or stream, and [ii.] which would not result in the loss or substantial modification of more than one acre of freshwater wetland, provided that this activity will not take place in a freshwater wetland of exceptional resource value. [DEP] shall issue a general permit for a regulated activity in a freshwater wetland located in an area considered a headwater pursuant to the [CWA] if the regulated activity would not result in the loss or substantial modification of more than one acre of a swale or a man-made drainage ditch. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any wetlands designated as priority wetlands by the [EPA]. [ N.J.S.A. 13:9B-23b (emphasis added).] A wetland is [p]art of a surface water tributary system if it is connected to a surface water that discharges into a lake, pond, river, stream or other surface water feature. The connection may be through any surface water feature, whether regulated or not, including a stormwater or drainage pipe.... Wetlands adjacent to a surface water are connected to the surface water and are part of the surface water tributary system. [ N.J.A.C. 7:7A-1.4.] Isolated wetlands are defined as a freshwater wetland that is not `part of a surface water tributary system,' id., and surface waters, are defined as any above-ground water of the State except for groundwater, including the ocean and its tributaries, all springs, streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, wetlands, and artificial waterbodies, N.J.A.C. 7:9B-1.4. Thus, N.J.S.A. 13:9B-23b is concerned with isolated wetlands. N.J.S.A. 13:9B-23c authorizes DEP to issue additional general permits for certain enumerated categories of activities, if it determines that: the activities will cause only minimal adverse environmental impacts when performed separately, will have only minimal cumulative adverse impacts on the environment, will cause only minor impacts on freshwater wetlands, will be in conformance with the purposes of [the Act], and will not violate any provision of the [CWA]. Finally, N.J.S.A. 13:9B-23d authorizes DEP to modify or rescind general permits under certain conditions. [DEP] may, on the basis of findings with respect to a specific application, modify a general permit issued pursuant to this section by adding special conditions. [DEP] may rescind a general permit and require an application for an individual permit if the commissioner finds that additional permit conditions would not be sufficient and that special circumstances make this action necessary to insure compliance with [the Act] or the [CWA]. [ Ibid. ] General Permit 6 (GP 6), codified at N.J.A.C. 7:7A-5.6, is the isolated wetlands general permit required by DEP pursuant to N.J.S.A. 13:9B-23b. GP 6 authorizes regulated activities in freshwater wetlands, transition areas adjacent to those wetlands, and/or State open waters, if the freshwater wetlands and/or State open waters are not part of a surface water tributary system discharging into an inland lake or pond, or a river or stream. N.J.A.C. 7:7A-5.6(a). A prior rule prohibited any GP 6 activity in vernal habitats. N.J.A.C. 7:7A-5.6(c)5. However, that rule was deleted and a new rule was adopted directing that any activity authorized under a general permit shall not take place in a vernal habitat, ... or in a transition area adjacent [thereto]. N.J.A.C. 7:7A-4.3(b)16. A vernal habitat is defined as a wetland that (1) [o]ccurs in a confined basin depression without a permanent flowing outlet; (2) [f]eatures evidence of breeding by one or more species of fauna adapted to reproduce in ephemeral aquatic conditions; (3) [m]aintains ponded water for at least two continuous months between March and September of a normal rainfall year; and (4) [i]s free of fish throughout the year, or dries up at some time during a normal rainfall year. N.J.A.C. 7:7A-1.4. By definition, a vernal habitat occurs in an isolated wetland. See id.