[Amended 10-21-2002 by Ord. No. 11-2002]
Consistent with all requirements for review and approval by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy and the Sussex County Soil Conservation District, before approving any major subdivision or any site plan that involves a nonresidential use in which there is proposed a new structure, an addition or alteration to an existing structure, a change of use or an expansion of an existing use, the Planning Board shall take into consideration the effect of the proposal for development upon the natural environment, particularly with respect to potable water, pollution of all kinds, flooding, waste disposal, soil erosion and the preservation of trees and other vegetation. The Planning Board, as a part of it administrative review of environmental factors, shall give careful consideration to the review and recommendations of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy and the Sussex County Soil Conservation District, when applicable, as well as the Byram Township Board of Health, the Byram Township Environmental Commission and all other reports that may be prepared on behalf of the Township. To this end, the applicant shall provide in an environmental impact statement all information needed to evaluate the primary and secondary impacts of the project upon the environment as set forth in this article and to demonstrate that the proposal for development can meet all of the environment protection standards as set forth.
A. 
The environmental impact statement shall be a written description of the proposed development, together with any necessary maps or drawings necessary to supplement the basic proposal, which shall specify what is to be done and how it is to be done during construction and operation of the proposed development.
B. 
The environmental impact statement, together with the application for development which it supports, shall include the following information:
(1) 
Contours, buildings, roads, paved areas, grading and regrading, adjacent natural streams, stream encroachment boundaries, the development's relation to surrounding property and utility lines and buffer zones for noise and light control.
(2) 
An inventory of existing environmental conditions at the development site and in the affected region, which inventory shall describe sewer facilities, water supply, water quality, hydrology, air quality, traffic noise and light characteristics and levels, noise, light, demography, geology, topography, slope, soils and properties thereof (including capabilities and limitations), vegetation, wildlife, wildlife habitat, aquatic organisms, land use, aesthetics, historical sites and archaeological features. Air and water quality shall be described with reference to standards promulgated by the Department of Environmental Protection and Energy of the State of New Jersey, and soils shall be described with reference to the Sussex County Soil Conservation District standards and specifications.
(3) 
An assessment, supported by environmental data, of the environmental impact of the project upon the factors described above. When possible, the assessment shall describe the anticipated impacts with reference to standards promulgated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy, the Soil Conservation Service and other federal, state or municipal agencies, where available.
(4) 
A listing and evaluation of adverse environmental impacts and damages to natural resources which cannot be avoided, with particular emphasis upon, but not limited to, air or water pollution, increase in noise, damage to plant, tree and wildlife systems and increase in sedimentation and siltation and stormwater runoff.
(5) 
A description and evaluation of the off-site impact of the proposed development, both on a local and regional level.
(6) 
The steps to be taken to minimize adverse environmental impacts, both at the project site and in the surrounding region, during construction and operation.
(7) 
A statement of alternatives to the proposed project which might avoid some or all of the adverse effects, including a no-action alternative. The statement should include the reasons for the acceptability or nonacceptability of each alternative.
(8) 
An analysis that sewage can be disposed of through facilities adequate to preclude water pollution.
(a) 
If disposal is on site: data on underlying geology, water table, soil analysis and percolation tests for every five acres, unless due to specific subterrestrial characteristics more frequent percolation tests shall be required. In addition, topography, location and depth of aquifers, depth and capacity of all wells within 500 feet of the site and other pertinent information shall be included.
(b) 
If disposal is off site: plant design capacity; monthly average and peak flows; past enforcement action against plant, if any; capacity of plant to treat industrial or commercial wastes, if appropriate; receiving water quality standards; stream quality from state, federal or private sources; stream flow (minimum average seven-consecutive-day flow with a frequency of occurrence of 10 years); plans for sewage treatment facility; state and regional sewer planning policy; and flows expected from other approved subdivisions which are dependent upon such sewage treatment facilities.
(9) 
The availability of an adequate water supply which is not threatened by other nearby land uses.
(a) 
If the supply is from public facilities off site, including private water companies: the amount of diversion granted by the New Jersey Division of Water Resources (maximum gallons of water pumped during any month) and diversions expected from other approved subdivisions which are dependent upon the present divisions granted by the New Jersey Division of Water Resources.
(b) 
If supply is from on-site sources: the location and depth of all private and public water supplies within 500 feet of the proposed development location, the depth and adequacy of proposed private or public water supplies to serve the proposed development, a geologic description of subsurface conditions including expected groundwater yields (using published geologic reports or a report by a geologist) and compliance with all state and local regulations.
(10) 
A statement demonstrating that stormwater runoff from the site is so controlled that on-site and off-site erosion is neither caused nor worsened and that the potential of downstream flooding is not increased from the proposed development.
(a) 
In calculating the foregoing, 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.
(b) 
The changes in runoff rates and volumes to be caused by alterations in land use and the time of concentration.
(c) 
The plans for disposition of stormwater, whether by retention or detention on site or by means of channeling, in detail, so as to protect downstream property.
(d) 
A description of potential flood damages, including a summary of flood stages from state and federal sources and an erosion and sedimentation control plan for both the construction phase and postconstruction phase, including a review by the Sussex County Soil Conservation Service.
(e) 
Description of any nonstructural stormwater management mechanisms/elements being considered, including the areas/volumes of such facilities involved in treatment, storage and recharge.
[Added 6-20-2017 by Ord. No. 10-2017]
(11) 
Description and quantification of proposed water use, reuse and recharge.[1]
[Added 6-20-2017 by Ord. No. 10-2017]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection B(11), providing for the submission of a plan for solid waste disposal, was repealed 7-18-1994 by Ord. No. 5-1994.
(12) 
Data on landscaping, vegetation and tree and ground cover existing on the site compared with that proposed.
(13) 
A statement indicating that no visible smoke or deleterious chemical changes produced in the atmosphere by heating or processing of materials not otherwise permitted by regulation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy (NJDEPE).
[Amended 9-7-1993 by Ord. No. 5-1993]
(14) 
An inventory of existing and projected flow of traffic on all bordering and access roads and a determination of air pollution and noise caused thereby.
(15) 
An inventory of existing air quality as well as anticipated air pollution caused by the proposed development.
(16) 
A statement of the magnitude and characteristics of the anticipated effects of noise levels related to on-site activities, including a proposed method of control.
(17) 
A statement of the magnitude and characteristics of anticipated effects on light levels related to on-site activities and the proposed methods of control, with particular attention to the impact of sky glow.
(18) 
A statement of the on-site and off-site effect on the utilization of public facilities due to subject development.
(19) 
Identification of any critical area, condition or feature which is environmentally sensitive or which, if disturbed during construction, would adversely affect the environment. Critical impact areas include but are not limited to, stream corridors, streams, wetlands, floodplains, estuaries, slopes greater than 14%, highly acidic or highly erodible soils, areas of high-water table, mature stands of native vegetation and aquifer recharge and discharge areas. There shall also be included a statement of impact upon critical areas and of adverse impacts which cannot be avoided; environmental protective measures, procedures and schedules to minimize damage to critical impact areas; and a listing of steps proposed to minimize environmental damage to the site and region during construction and operation.
(20) 
An encroachment permit, if required from the New Jersey Division of Water Resources, for filling or the diversion of a water channel, alteration of a stream or repair or construction of a bridge, culvert, reservoir, dam, wall, pipeline or cable crossing.
(21) 
A list of other licenses, permits and other approvals required by municipal, county or state law and the status of each.