Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the AB1468 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Advocates urge adding ecological damages to New Jersey dam hazard classifications
Summary
Rebecca Hilbert of The Nature Conservancy of New Jersey testified in favor of Assembly Bill 1468, saying the measure would require the DEP to consider natural-resource impacts in dam hazard classifications to better protect rivers, wildlife and downstream communities; the committee released the bill unanimously.
Rebecca Hilbert, policy associate for The Nature Conservancy of New Jersey, told an Assembly committee that Assembly Bill 1468 would require the Department of Environmental Protection to consider potential impacts to natural resources when classifying dams by hazard potential.
Hilbert said New Jersey currently has “1700 regulated dams” and about 1,000 unregulated barriers, and that many structures are past typical service lives. She told the panel that dam infrastructure in the state averages closer to 60 years old and that the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the state’s dams a D grade in its 2017 report. “558 dams are considered high and significant risk,” she said, and “only 8% of our regulated dams are used” for water supply.
Why it matters: Hilbert argued that failing dams can release large amounts of water, sediment and debris that can destroy habitat, displace wildlife, erode riverbanks and contaminate downstream waters. She described classifying natural-resource damages — sometimes called natural resource damages — as a step toward prioritizing removals and restorations that benefit both public safety and ecological resilience. “Including impacts on natural resources in classification is not a new concept,” she said, pointing to similar rules in 13 other states and guidance from FEMA.
Committee members asked for clarification about dredging behind dams; Hilbert said she did not have specific answers for the rivers at issue and offered to provide more information later, noting that many rivers where removals occur do not have ongoing dredging projects.
At the conclusion of testimony, a member moved to release Assembly Bill 1468 as referred to the committee and a second was recorded. The clerk read roll-call yes votes from Assemblyman Sharpenberger; the member recorded in the minutes as “Ganimore”; Assemblywoman Katz; Assemblywoman Hall; Assemblywoman Gill; Vice Chairwoman Sumter; and Chairman Kennedy. The clerk announced the bill was released.
The testimony asked lawmakers to consider additional staffing and funding for DEP’s dam safety program so the agency can work with nonprofits on monitoring, removal and restoration.
