The purpose of an environmental impact statement
is to provide the Planning Board with adequate information to assess
the impact of a proposed land use on the environment.
No site plan shall be approved by the Planning
Board until a satisfactory environmental impact statement has been
submitted. Fourteen copies of an environmental impact statement shall
be submitted with each application for site plan approval. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, no environmental impact statement shall be required
in the case of subdivision or individual lot applications for detached
one- or two-dwelling-unit buildings.
After receiving a preliminary and informal application,
the Planning Board may find that the impact of a proposed development
will be restricted or limited, or different in kind or degree from
that suggested by the applicant. In such cases the Planning Board
may limit the scope of the environmental impact statement, or may
require that it be amplified or expanded in particular respects.
The environmental impact statement shall include
the following:
A.
Plan and description of the proposed projects. A project
description, complete with maps and drawings, which shall specify
what is to be done and how it is to be done during construction and
operation. The description shall include, but not be limited to, topography,
buildings, roads, paved areas, grading, adjacent natural streams and
the project's relation to surroundings.
B.
Comprehensive description of construction. A comprehensive
description of the proposed construction, including a schedule, work
force, traffic, parking, clearing of vegetation, erosion control,
temporary drainage, off-site natural resource materials, truck routes,
safety plans, topsoil protection, temporary structures, temporary
sanitary facilities, temporary utilities, point of access to the site,
dust control, solid waste disposal, monitoring of surface water quality
and necessary Township services during construction.
C.
Inventory of existing environmental conditions. An
inventory of existing environmental conditions at the project site
and in the affected region which may have a significant relationship
to the project, such as land use, soils, geology, surface water, groundwater,
vegetation, wildlife habitat, aquatic life, air quality, wind patterns,
precipitation, noise characteristics and levels, mineral resources,
usual physical features, aesthetic features, historical, archaeological
or architectural features, sewage facilities, drainage facilities,
public utilities, roads, highways and other transportation facilities,
publicly owned lands, water supply, recreational facilities, economic
development, local and regional services, employment, housing and
economic development. Air and water quality shall be described with
reference to standards promulgated by the New Jersey Department of
Environmental Protection, and soil shall be described with reference
to the Morris County Soil Survey and the criteria contained in the
Morris County Soil Conservation District Standards and Specifications.
D.
Assessment of environmental impact. An assessment of the probable impact of the project on all conditions listed in Subsection C.
E.
Listing of all unavoidable adverse environmental impacts.
A listing and evaluation of adverse environmental impacts and damages
which cannot be avoided, with particular emphasis upon, but not limited
to, air or water pollution, increase in noise, damage to plants, trees
or wildlife, displacement of people and businesses, displacement of
existing farms, increase in sedimentation and siltation, increase
in municipal services and consequences to municipal tax structure.
Off-site impact shall also be set forth and evaluated.
F.
Steps to minimize and mitigate environmental damage.
A description of steps to be taken to minimize and mitigate adverse
environmental impacts during construction and operation, both at the
project site and in the affected region. Such description shall be
accompanied by necessary maps, schedules and other explanatory data
as may be needed to clarify and explain the actions to be taken.
G.
Steps to minimize and mitigate impact of arterial
streets. A description of steps to be taken to minimize and mitigate
the adverse impact of light and noise from traffic on arterial streets,
in the case of projects on or near arterial streets.
H.
Water supply. A showing that an adequate water supply
is available and not threatened by nearby use of other land, and:
(1)
Off-site supply. If the supply is from public
facilities off-site, including private water companies, the amount
of diversion granted by the Division of Water Resources (maximum gallons
of water pumped during any month), present diversion (gallons of water
pumped each month during the past 24 months), diversions expected
from other approved projects which are dependent upon the present
diversions granted by the New Jersey Division of Water Resources;
or
(2)
On-site supply. If the supply is from on-site
sources, the location and depth of all private and public water supplies
within 500 feet, location, depth and adequacy of proposed private
or public water supplies to serve the proposed project, geologic description
of subsurface conditions, including expected groundwater yields, using
published geologic reports or report by a geologist; and
(3)
Compliance with other regulations. Compliance
with all state and local regulations.
I.
Sewerage facilities. A showing that sewage can be
disposed of through facilities adequate to preclude water pollution,
including data on underlying geology, water table, soil stratigraphy,
percolation tests, topography, location and depth of aquifers, depth,
capacity and type of construction of all wells within 500 feet of
the site and any other pertinent data, plant design capacity, monthly
average and peak flows for past 12 months, daily average and peak
flows, enforcement action against the plant, if any, the capacity
of the plant to treat industrial or commercial wastes, if applicable,
reviewing water quality standards, stream quality data from state,
federal or private sources, stream flow (minimum average seven-consecutive-day
flow with frequency of occurrence of 10 years), plans for sewage treatment
facility, including local plans and state regional planning policy,
flows expected from other projects which are dependent upon the sewage
treatment facilities in question and compliance with all local, state
and federal laws and regulations.
J.
Drainage. A showing that:
(1)
Stormwater runoff from the site can be so controlled
that on- and off-site erosion is neither caused nor worsened.
(2)
The potential of downstream flooding is not
increased.
(3)
Volume and peak flow rates of stormwater runoff
expected from a totally vegetated site and to be generated by the
project, including volumes and rates for one-, five-, ten-, twenty-five-,
fifty- and one-hundred-year storm frequencies having durations producing
maximum flow rates before and after the proposed development.
(4)
Data on landscaping, vegetation map, tree and
ground cover existing on the site compared with that proposed.
(5)
Changes of runoff rates and volumes to be caused
by changes in land use and the time of concentration.
(6)
Plans for disposition of stormwater, whether
by retention on-site or means of channeling, so as to protect downstream
property.
K.
Stream encroachments. If there is a stream encroachment,
proof that an appropriate permit or approval has been obtained from
the New Jersey Division of Water Resources for fill or diversion of
a water channel, alteration of a stream, repair or construction of
a bridge, culvert, reservoir, dam, wall, pipeline or cable crossing.
L.
Floodplains. A description of potential flood damages,
including a summary of flood stages from state and federal sources,
shall be provided.
