S3618

An Act concerning the movement of wildlife throughout the State, supplementing Title 23 and Title 27 of the Revised Statutes, and making an appropriation.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. As used in this section:

"Action plan" means the Wildlife Corridor Action Plan developed and implemented pursuant to subsection b. of this section.

"Wildlife corridor" means a swath of land proximate to wildlife populations along which wildlife may move freely without risk of injury or death from motor vehicles or interference due to other man-made barriers.

b. No later than 24 months after the effective date of this act, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Transportation shall jointly develop and implement a "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan," which shall be updated at least every 10 years. No later than 60 days after the completion of the development of the plan, and any update or revision thereto, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Transportation shall prepare and submit to the Governor, and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature, a summary of the Wildlife Corridor Action Plan.

c. The Wildlife Corridor Action Plan shall:

(1) identify wildlife corridors, wildlife-vehicle collision hotspots, and existing or planned barriers to wildlife movement along these corridors;

(2) prioritize and recommend crossing projects to promote motor vehicle driver safety and wildlife connectivity with natural and wildlife areas conducive to quality of life and safety for wildlife;

(3) use relevant State databases and complement and incorporate existing conservation strategies developed in the State, including but not limited to, any State wildlife action plans and the Department of Environmental Protection’s “Connecting Habitats Across New Jersey” project (NJ CHANJ);

(4) consider the impact of road projects on wildlife corridors incorporating strategies to mitigate threats to wildlife and wildlife corridors by modifying and incorporating safety measures into road and highway construction projects; and

(5) coordinate action between the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Transportation, other State agencies and independent authorities, federal agencies, and national and State conservation, environment, and wildlife groups and organizations to maximize the effectiveness and safety of wildlife corridors.

d. While developing and implementing the action plan pursuant to subsections b. and c. of this section, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Transportation may call upon the advice and services of other State agencies and independent authorities, federal agencies, and national and State conservation, environment, or wildlife groups and organizations.

e. The Department of Environmental Protection shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

2. The Department of Transportation shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

3. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Transportation, to be allocated to each department as necessary, the sum of $90,000 to implement the provisions of this act.

4. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Transportation, no later than 24 months after the effective date of the bill, to jointly develop and implement a Wildlife Corridor Action Plan that identifies wildlife corridors, wildlife-vehicle collision hotspots, and existing or planned barriers to wildlife movement along these corridors, maximizes the effectiveness and safety of wildlife corridors, and incorporates the other elements and actions enumerated in subsection c. of section 1 of the bill. The bill requires that the plan be updated every 10 years. The bill authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Transportation, while developing and implementing the Wildlife Corridor Action Plan, to call upon the advice and services of other State agencies and independent authorities, federal agencies, and national and State conservation, environment, or wildlife groups and organizations.

The bill authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Transportation to adopt regulations necessary to implement the bill’s provisions. Finally, the bill appropriates $90,000 from the General Fund to the departments, to be allocated to each department as necessary, to implement the provisions of the bill.