SENATE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3618

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 10, 2024

      The Senate Environment and Energy Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 3618.

      This bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Department of Transportation (DOT), 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 and wildlife-vehicle collision hotspots, prioritizes and recommends crossing projects to promote motor vehicle driver safety and wildlife connectivity, and incorporates other elements 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 DEP and the DOT, 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 DEP and the DOT to adopt regulations necessary to implement the bill’s provisions.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amendments to the bill:

      (1)  explicitly direct the DOT to incorporate wildlife crossing projects identified in the plan into road construction, maintenance, or repair projects whenever practicable; and

      (2)  remove the $90,000 appropriation from the bill.