EPA Priority Wetlands in New Jersey

The identification of a priority wetlands list for New Jersey is part of EPA's commitment to develop comprehensive policy framework to establish a technically sound and consistent basis for EPA positions on proposed dredged or fill material discharges into waters of the United States, including wetlands. An important step in this effort is to focus regional resources on the identification and protection of the most important wetlands in the region. In general, the list for New Jersey recognizes those areas identified by various federal, state and private contributors which are considered to be the most important and vulnerable wetlands in the state. This is not a comprehensive inventory; rather it is a listing of areas currently known to EPA to be important and/or under particular threat. It must be noted that failure to include any particular area on the list in no way implies that it will/should receive less than full protection under the Section 404 regulatory Program. In New Jersey, the Legislature has decided to incorporate the EPA Priority Wetland List into the Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act and Rules to ensure that the State program complies and is consistent with the federal program. The New Jersey Freshwater Wetlands Act prohibits the use of certain general permits within areas on this list. This list replaces the former listing which was dated May 1989.