{"id":8837,"date":"2024-09-26T15:57:13","date_gmt":"2024-09-26T19:57:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/?p=8837"},"modified":"2024-09-30T10:44:44","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T14:44:44","slug":"24_0042","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deptest.nj.gov\/newsrel\/24_0042\/","title":{"rendered":"Murphy Administration Launches $20 Million Resilience Program to Modernize Stormwater Infrastructure and Management in Face of Climate Change Threats (24\/P042)"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=””]FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/strong>
\nSeptember 26, 2024[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Contact: <\/strong>
\nVincent Grassi (609) 984-1795
\nLawrence Hajna\u00a0 (609) 984-1795
\nCaryn Shinske\u00a0 (609) 984-1795<\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Murphy Administration Launches $20 Million Resilience Program to Modernize Stormwater Infrastructure and Management in Face of Climate Change Threats<\/strong><\/h3>\n

(24\/P042) TRENTON<\/strong> \u2013 To mark Climate Week, the Murphy Administration today announced the launch of the Department of Environmental Protection\u2019s Ready to Be Resilient Stormwater and Resilience Funding Program to modernize stormwater infrastructure and management strategies in the face of increased precipitation that is resulting from a warming climate. The program is funded by $20 million from the Biden-Harris Administration\u2019s American Rescue Plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"NJThe program will provide $9 million for a variety of resilience-related efforts, including grants to incentivize regional watershed management (with a priority to overburdened communities), development of local technical assistance programs, advancement of flood mapping, and improvement of post-disaster damage assessment protocols. In addition, the program will make $11 million available as principal forgiveness loans through the State Revolving Fund for local stormwater resilience infrastructure projects that focus on green technologies.<\/p>\n

\u201cHelping our local communities modernize infrastructure and get ahead of the next storm is key to building a more climate resilient future for our state,\u201d said Governor Phil Murphy<\/strong>. \u201cThanks to this additional funding from the American Rescue Plan, the Biden-Harris Administration is helping further our efforts to prevent and respond to the increasing threat of climate change in New Jersey.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe science, including New Jersey-specific rainfall studies<\/a>, clearly demonstrates that precipitation is becoming more intense and frequent as a result of climate change,\u201d Environmental Protection<\/strong> Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette said<\/strong>. \u201cThrough this new program, the DEP is focusing its expertise and resources on providing communities with the resources they need to replace outdated stormwater infrastructure that significantly exacerbates localized flooding while modernizing our stormwater management practices and strategies to meet the increasing threats of climate change.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUnderstanding the full scope of your community’s climate vulnerabilities is fundamental to developing and implementing plans and projects that will effectively reduce those risks, both today and in the long-term,\u201d said Nick Angarone, New Jersey\u2019s Chief Resilience Officer<\/strong>. \u201cThe 2021 amendment to the Municipal Land Use Law recognizes this importance, and we are proud to support municipalities in satisfying the new requirements through our Resilient NJ program. We continue to seek creative ways to expand our reach to additional municipalities across New Jersey.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ready to Be Resilient Stormwater and Resilience Funding Program in Detail:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Local Technical Assistance ($3,600,000) <\/strong><\/p>\n

Rutgers Cooperative Extension Engineers ($1,600,000)<\/em><\/p>\n

Technical assistance with stormwater planning, design and implementation will be offered regionally through a task order with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources program.<\/p>\n

Regionally located engineers (Highlands\/northwest, northeast, central, and south), under the direction of the Water Resource Program Extension Specialist with Rutgers Cooperative Extension, will help communities better position themselves for funding opportunities, begin to evaluate lasting solutions such as formation of stormwater utilities, and support Municipal Separate Storm Sewer and Combined Sewer Outfall Long-term Control Plan compliance, through efforts such as:<\/p>\n