Bill > A2093

Introduced Session

This bill would require development projects larger than five acres in size that would result in deforestation to include the implementation of a compensatory reforestation plan, in the form of tree plantings or moneys deposited into the "State Compensatory Reforestation Fund," (fund), a special, nonlapsing fund in the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that would be established by the bill. The bill would also direct the DEP to create a program that would subsidize the costs of tree plantings for private landowners, using moneys from the fund. Specifically, under the bill, the DEP would be required to create a new permitting program to review compensatory reforestation plans submitted by persons seeking to carry out development projects larger than five acres in size that would result in deforestation. The bill defines "deforestation" as the removal of all trees from a contiguous area greater than one-half acre in size with a tree density greater than 204 mature trees per acre. The new permit would be required beginning three months after the DEP adopts rules and regulations to implement the bill. The bill would establish various requirements for a compensatory reforestation plan, as enumerated in subsection b. of section 1 of the bill, including that the plan establish a goal of no net loss of State forested area resulting from the development. The bill would also establish various requirements for the compensatory replanting, as enumerated in subsection c. of section 1 of the bill, including that the replanting be carried out on the same property as the deforestation, whenever practicable, and in the same municipality, whenever practicable. A person would be authorized to meet the compensatory reforestation requirements of the bill by implementing the reforestation plan, contracting with a third party to implement the reforestation plan, or by depositing an amount sufficient to cover the costs of the reforestation, as determined by the department, into the fund. The bill would also direct the DEP to develop and administer a grant program to subsidize the costs of private landowners who plant trees on their property. The DEP would use moneys in the fund to issue the grants. The bill would specify that grants could not be awarded or used to fund the implementation of a compensatory reforestation plan.

Committee Categories

Jim Kennedy (D)*,  Anthony Verrelli (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document