Applicants shall discuss and analyze in the environmental impact statement those factors set forth hereinafter for the proposed project and any other factors pertinent to the proposed project. Applicants shall retain one or more competent professionals to perform the necessary work. All applicable material on file in the township pertinent to local conditions shall be consulted. Any additional material pertinent to evaluation of regional impacts shall also be considered. As much original research as necessary shall be conducted by the applicant and at the applicant's expense develop the environmental impact statement. In general:
A. The environmental impact statement shall include a description of the proposed project, with suitable sketches and plans, indicating the purpose and scope of the project. This item shall summarize, rather than duplicate, the site plan and building plan, shall enumerate the benefits to the public which will result from the proposed project and shall describe the suitability of the site for the intended use. The description of the proposed project shall indicate the extent to which the site must be altered, the kinds of facilities to be constructed and the uses intended. The resident population, working population and visitor population shall be estimated. The compatibility or incompatibility of the proposed project shall be described in relation to the Township Master Plan, the Master Plans of adjacent municipalities, the Warren County Master Plan, the State Master Plan and any other pertinent planning documents.
B. The applicant shall submit a survey and description of the environmental features of the property on which the proposed project is to be located. The applicant may utilize resource information available from the Township, Warren County Planning Board, Warren County Soil Conservation District and any other agencies. Generally the inventory will consider:
(1) Air Quality
(2) Topography
(3) Surface water bodies
(4) Surface water quality
(6) Aquatic biota
(7) Soils
(8) Geology
(9) Ground water quality, availability and depth
(10) Location, depth, and capacity of existing water supply wells on or within five hundred (500) feet of the site
(11) Vegetation
(12) Wildlife
(13) Endangered and threatened species
(14) Archaeological, historical and scenic features
(15) Forest vegetation classified by type and age. The distribution of types and classes shall be indicated on a map having a scale of 1 inch = 100 feet. The location, species and diameter at six (6) feet above the ground of all isolated trees of four (4) inches or more shall also be shown, except that where trees are in mass, only the limits thereof, if proposed to remain, need be shown or, if proposed for removal, only trees over nine (9) inches in diameter need be shown.
(16) Current land use of the property and adjacent properties within 500 feet shall be shown on a separate map.
(17) Existing features such as roads, houses, accessory structures, outbuildings, utility lines, etc. not considered part of the natural environment shall be described or mapped.
**Webmasters Note: The previous subsection, B., has been amended as per Ordinance No. 03- 4.
C. The applicant shall submit an estimate of the flow of sewage, process water or other wastewater expected from the proposed development.
(1) If on-site disposal is proposed, the applicant shall indicate topography, soils and underlying geology, including the water table, aquifer recharge area and all wells within 500 feet of the disposal area and shall include all soil logs and results of required percolation tests.
(2) If disposal is to an existing or new private or public treatment facility, the owner of the plant or facility, its location and the location of existing collection points to which the proposed project would be connected shall be identified. The applicant shall document that any expected flows from the proposed development will be accepted and treated at the facility.
(3) Applicants shall document compliance with all applicable federal, state, county and municipal health regulations and groundwater standards.
D. The applicant shall submit an estimate of all influent water requirements and evaluate the impact of the proposed plan on the water resources.
(1) If water is to be supplied from the site and the plan includes six (6) or more dwelling units or if the total projected demand is in excess of two thousand (2,000) gallons per day, the environmental impact statement shall substantiate and explain the anticipated demand, present evidence that the aquifer can yield the amount of water proposed to be withdrawn and assess the effect of proposed withdrawals on existing and proposed wells and surface water bodies within the predicted cone of depression. As part of the assessment the applicant shall be required to install a test well and conduct a step drawn down test and an aquifer test in accordance with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and New Jersey Geological Survey (NJGS) procedures.
(2) If the plan includes twenty-five (25) or more dwelling units or if the total projected water demand is in excess of one hundred thousand (100,000) gallons per day from on or off-site sources, new or existing, the applicant shall in addition to the information required in (1) above, document all permits which are required, including a diversion permit from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and withdrawal permit from the Delaware River basin Commission. The appropriate permit(s) shall be obtained and copies shall be provided to the Planning Board as a condition of subdivision or site plan approval along with copies of any resource information provided to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Delaware River Basin Commission.
(3) The EIS shall include the installation of monitoring wells or piezometers at sufficient locations to identify the depth to groundwater and the rate and direction of groundwater flow. The location of the monitoring wells and results shall be provided.
(4) The EIS shall provide a chemical analysis of the existing groundwater at the site and of the surface water body located nearest to the site. The results should be compared with the water quality criteria established by NJDEP for ground water, safe drinking water, and surface water.
(5) The EIS shall document measures to be taken to ensure that the construction of the project will not degrade ground water quality or surface water quality. The documentation shall include but not be limited to an analysis of anticipated pollutant loadings and the assimilative capacity of the water body, the use of structural and non-structural measures to limit the discharge of contaminants froth the site and the employment of best management practices (BMP's) to limit the source of contaminants.
(6) If the project includes the storage or manufacturing of toxic or hazardous substances, an explanation of the activity should be provided, including provisions for ensuring surface and ground water quality.
(7) On sites located within the Carbonate Area District as defined in the Township's Critical Geologic Areas Ordinance, the EIS shall address how groundwater quality will be protected, especially in areas where there is evidence of sinkhole activity, faulting, fracturing of the rock, and where limestone is shallow.
**Webmasters Note: The previous subsection, D., has been amended as per Ordinance No. 03- 4.
E. The applicant shall submit data establishing the rate and volume of storm water runoff and identify the receiving bodies for such runoff under original natural conditions, during site construction and after construction is completed. On-site retention or detention or other techniques for reducing the impact of peak storm flows and controlling or mitigating down gradient flooding shall be provided in accordance with the requirements in Chapter 224, Site Improvement Standards. Flood hazard areas boundaries shall be clearly indicated on the plans, and applicants shall document compliance with all applicable storm water and flood plain regulations.
F. Applicants shall document compliance with steep slope regulations and practices, with soil erosion and sedimentation control regulations, especially as regards construction site management of soil erosion and stream encroachment. No diversion of or encroachment on a stream shall be approved unless the applicant shall demonstrate prior approval of such diversion or encroachment by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and notwithstanding such approval, the certification of the Pohatcong Planning Board Engineer that the environmental impact of such diversion or encroachment is acceptable shall be required before site plan approval. Resource information supplied to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to support an application for a stream encroachment permit shall be supplied as part of the environmental impact statement.
G. The environmental impact statement shall discuss waste production and disposal. Volumes of solid and liquid waste to be produced and how they shall be managed, treated and disposed of shall be addressed. Any hazardous materials to be used on the site, other than those quantities normally used in the home, and any hazardous wastes to be produced or handled on the site shall be discussed in detail. Full compliance with state, county or municipal solid or hazardous waste regulations shall be documented.
H. The environmental impact statement for any nonresidential development or for residential development of three homes or more shall discuss sources, locations and emission quantities and rates for any furnace or other device in which coal, fuel oil or other combustible materials will be burned. Sources of air pollutants such as vehicles attracted to or using the facility shall be documented. Where state or federal air quality permits are required, documentation of permit applications and all resource information supporting such applications shall be included in the environmental impact statement.
I. The environmental impact statement for all nonresidential developments shall include a discussion of noise levels and, where warranted, noise reduction or abatement techniques proposed.
J. Wetlands delineation shall be provided as part of the environmental impact statement. If approval by the United States Army Corps of Engineers is required, site plan approval shall be contingent upon such approval. The Township Environmental Commission and/or Planning Board shall be empowered to required development applicant to secure from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection a Letter of Interpretation (LOI) confirming the classification and delineation of any wetlands existing on a proposed development site which the Township Environmental Commission or Planning Board has a reasonable basis to believe is attended by New Jersey Freshwater Wetlands.
K. Historical, archaeological and scenic features associated with the site shall be discussed. The environmental impact statement shall address such questions as the architectural merit of structures which may be impacted, the historical significance of the site or of structures on it, especially as regards American Indian settlement of the site, association of the site with historical activities such as original settlement of the region, Indian wars, the American Revolutionary War, or historical people, or any historically, archaeologically or aesthetically significant structures or features. Applicants shall indicate steps proposed to preserve scenic treasures or historically or archaeologically significant finds should any be uncovered during development.
L. The environmental impact statement shall list measures proposed to protect the environment should the project be approved. This discussion shall pay particular attention to measures which will avoid or minimize adverse impacts on the natural environment of the site and its surrounding features and structures during construction. Protective measures proposed for the operation phase shall be listed separately.
M. The environmental impact statement shall summarize, without discussion, the potential adverse environmental impacts which cannot be avoided by implementation of the project. Short-term and long-term impacts shall be distinguished from irreversible impacts. Impacts on streams, flood ways, flood hazard areas, wetlands, slopes of 20% percent or greater, highly acidic soils, highly erodible soils, areas of unusually high water table, aquifer recharge areas and stands of mature trees shall be identified as critical impacts.
N. The environmental impact statement shall open or close with a concise summary of the environmental impact, which shall discuss negative and positive environmental effects of the project should it be approved, public benefits if any which the proposed project may bring, alternatives to the project, including the no-action alternative, which might avoid some or all of the environmental impacts, and the reasons for nonacceptance of these alternatives.
