Multi-billion dollar plans to stop sewage overflows have been submitted to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), and communities and stakeholders have reviewed the plans and have sent in comments to the NJDEP. Now what?
Step one: Review by NJDEP Division of Water Quality
Currently, the NJDEP Division of Water Quality is reviewing the combined sewer overflow Long Term Control Plans (LTCPs) and the public input that were submitted. The NJDEP Division of Water Quality is also thinking about what happens next and is coordinating an additional stakeholder meeting to solicit input on a future public participation process.
Step two: Finalize the CSO Long Term Control Plans
Once the NJDEP Division of Water Quality has finished its review, it will issue technical comment letters back to the municipal and utility combined sewer overflow permit holders. These letters will be posted on the NJDEP website. The technical comment letters will require that the permit holders update their LTCPs and submit them back to the NJDEP. After both technical issues and implementation schedules are adequately addressed, the NJDEP Division of Water Quality will make a decision on the LTCP.
Step three: Issue the New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES) CSO permits
The Division of Water Quality will prepare a draft five-year New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES) combined sewer overflow permit, based on the approved Long Term Control Plan. Releasing the draft permit will trigger a public comment period which will allow for public input. The Division of Water Quality will respond to all public comments as part of a final NJPDES permit action. After this public comment period, the NJDEP will finalize the permits and the first five years of implementing the Long Term Control Plans will begin.
