Statewide Sewer Service Area for New Jersey

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) administers the WQM Planning rules, N.J.A.C. 7:15, in conjunction with the Statewide WQM Plan, which together constitute the Continuing Planning Process conducted pursuant to the Water Quality Planning Act, N.J.S.A. 58:11A-1 et seq., the Water Pollution Control Act, N.J.S.A. 58:10A-1 et seq., and N.J.S.A. 13:1D-1 et seq., and as required by Sections 303(e) and 208 of the Federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.). According to these regulations, the Commissioner of the DEP shall not undertake, or authorize through the issuance of a permit, any project or activity that conflicts with the applicable sections of adopted WQM Plans or the WQM Planning rules. The existing rules establish a mechanism for the determination of consistency between proposed projects or activities requiring Departmentally issued permits and the WQM Plans. One component of the WQM Plans is a Wastewater Management Plan (WMP). A WMP is a document that provides 20 year planning for wastewater and certain other water quality concerns for a specific planning area. SSA mapping is required to be prepared for all WMP's and is used in conjunction with the text of the adopted plans to determine consistency between projects and the WQM Planning rules, N.J.A.C. 7:15