On May 1, approximately 300 New Jersey Builders Association (NJBA) members, affiliates, and friends attended the New Jersey Senate Legislative Oversight Committee meeting to oppose two specific New Jersey Dept of Environmental Protection (DEP) rule proposals - the Water Quality Management Planning (WQMP) rules and the Site (Soil) Remediation Standards.

The Oversight Committee took three hours of testimony to determine whether proposed regulations from the state Department of Environmental Protection overstep the DEP's authority.

Much of the conversation centered on builders telling the committee the new rules will continue to hamper their ability to have predictability and finality in projects.

Stephen Patron, President of the NJBA and Tim Touhey, Executive Vice President of NJBA delivered remarks highlighting the negative consequences the new rules would bring to the building industry. Touhey expressed concern that the DEP rule proposals would halt development throughout the State, thus eliminating jobs and create a devastating impact on housing affordability, the state’s economy and the industry’s future. 

Opponents of the rules have noted groundwater beneath most of the state's identified brownfields is not used for public drinking. They also contend the new standards stood to stall, kill or force costs to rise on existing projects in which developers are trying to return brownfields to usable commercial properties and housing developments.

"The general concern was, the rules are changing midway. You can start down a path, having met the criteria, met it all the way, and then find yourself back to square one," said Amy Whilldin, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey Builders Association.

There are eight DEP rule proposals pending adoption beginning this month. 

Following the hearing, there have been ongoing discussions in the public policy arena about the adoption of the rules and their economic implications.  However, it is unclear in what form they will be adopted, or whether they will be adopted as scheduled. 

About the New Jersey Builders Association (NJBA)
The New Jersey Builders Association is a housing industry trade association of 2,000 member firms including builders, developers, remodelers, subcontractors, suppliers, engineers, architects, consultants and other professionals dedicated to providing safe, healthful homes for New Jersey residents. The NJBA is committed to finding balanced solutions to the state’s critical housing shortage. Additional information is available at http://www.njba.org.

  [ return to top ]