N.J. Admin. Code § 7:7-11.4 - Standards for reporting the results of impact assessments and habitat evaluations

(a) All habitat evaluations and impact assessments submitted to the Department shall include:

1. An introduction describing the goals of the habitat evaluation and/or impact assessment;

2. A copy of the USGS quad map(s) showing the location of the site, with the State plane coordinates of the site. The accuracy of these coordinates shall be within 50 feet of the actual center point of the site. For linear sites, 2,000 feet in length and longer, additional coordinates shall be provided at each 1,000 foot interval;

3. The lot, block, municipality and county in which the site is located;

4. For wildlife habitat evaluations and impacts assessments only, a map identifying the site, and the areas mapped as endangered or threatened wildlife species habitat on the Landscape Maps onsite and abutting the site, along with a list of the endangered or threatened species that resulted in the mapping of endangered or threatened species habitat;

5. For impact assessments for plant species only, a map identifying the location of the species habitat on the site or abutting the site along with a list of the potential plant species from the Department's Natural Heritage Database;

6. A description of the habitat requirements for each of these species identified at (a)4 and/or 5 above, including appropriate literature citations; and

7. The names and qualifications of all investigators who performed habitat evaluations, species surveys, and/or impact assessments.

(b) Wildlife habitat evaluations shall include a narrative with supporting documentation, including maps, photographs, and field logs, which contains the following:

1. A description, for each species, of the findings of the habitat evaluation performed in accordance with 7:7-11.3;

2. If a survey was conducted in accordance with 7:7-11.3(c), literature citations for the methodology used and a description of how the methodology was applied to the survey, giving the following information: surveyor's name(s), dates and times surveys were performed, number of samples, and number of replications. This information shall be provided for each species surveyed; and

3. A comparison of the findings of the habitat evaluation with the known habitat requirements for each species, as provided at (a)6 above, and a description of the specific attributes and characteristics of the site that limit or eliminate the site's suitability as habitat.

(c) Impact assessments shall include a narrative with supporting documentation, such as maps and photographs, which contains the following:

1. A description for each species, of how the proposed development will alter habitat, including vegetation, soils, hydrology, human disturbance, and effects on competitor, parasite, or predator species. The impact assessment shall describe the likely effects of the proposed development on the local populations of the particular species on or abutting the site and why the development would not directly or through secondary impacts adversely affect each endangered or threatened species habitat; and

2. Literature citations used to reach the conclusions in (c)1 above.

(d) Rationale: Standard reporting requirements ensure that the Department can accurately determine whether a proposed activity would impact threatened or endangered wildlife or plant species and allow the Department to determine if an area regulated as threatened or endangered wildlife or plant species habitat should continue to be regulated as such. Certain specific requirements apply depending on whether the species in question is an animal or plant species because endangered and threatened wildlife species habitat is identified on Landscape Maps while endangered or threatened plant species habitat is identified using the Natural Heritage Database. Requiring the names and qualifications of all investigators involved ensures that only information from qualified professionals will be considered by the Department.

Notes

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:7-11.4

Renumbered from 7:7E-3C.4 by 47 N.J.R. 1392(a), effective 7/6/2015 Amended by 50 N.J.R. 361(a), effective 1/16/2018