13:9B-3. Definitions

As used in this act:

"Bank" means the Wetlands Mitigation Bank established pursuant to section 14 of this act;

"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection;

"Council" means the Wetlands Mitigation Council established pursuant to section 14 of this act;

"Department" means the Department of Environmental Protection;

"Environmental commission" means a municipal advisory body created pursuant to P.L. 1968, c. 245 (C. 40:56A-1 et seq.);

"Federal Act" means section 404 of the "Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972" as amended by the "Clean Water Act of 1977" (33 U.S.C. s. 1344) and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto;

"Freshwater wetland" means an area that is inundated or saturated by surface water or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances does support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions, commonly known as hydrophytic vegetation; provided, however, that the department, in designating a wetland, shall use the 3-parameter approach (i.e. hydrology, soils and vegetation) enumerated in the April 1, 1987 interim-final draft "Wetland Identification and Delineation Manual" developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and any subsequent amendments thereto;

"Freshwater wetlands permit" means a permit to engage in a regulated activity issued pursuant to this act;

"Hydrophyte" means plant life adapted to growth and reproduction under periodically saturated root zone conditions during at least a portion of the growing season;

"Linear development" means land uses such as roads, drives, railroads, sewerage and stormwater management pipes, gas and water pipelines, electric, telephone and other transmission lines and the rights-of-way therefor, the basic function of which is to connect two points. Linear development shall not mean residential, commercial, office, or industrial buildings;

"Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, association, the State, municipality, commission or political subdivision of the State or any interstate body;

"Regulated activity" means any of the following activities in a freshwater wetland:

(1) The removal, excavation, disturbance or dredging of soil, sand, gravel, or aggregate material of any kind;

(2) The drainage or disturbance of the water level or water table;

(3) The dumping, discharging or filling with any materials;

(4) The driving of pilings;

(5) The placing of obstructions;

(6) The destruction of plant life which would alter the character of a freshwater wetland, including the cutting of trees;

"Transition area" means an area of land adjacent to a freshwater wetland which minimizes adverse impacts on the wetland or serves as an integral component of the wetlands ecosystem.

L. 1987, c. 156, s. 3.