CMC & All Municipalities Therein Take Unified Position on NJ's Proposed 'REAL' Rules

Cape May Court House, NJ - With growing public concerns regarding the impacts of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's (NJDEP) REAL Rules, Cape May County and all 16 municipalities therein have formally taken a unified position regarding the REAL Rules NJDEP proposed as a result of Governor Murphy's Executive Order 100 that established the New Jersey Protection Against Climate Threats (NJPACT) initiative. Cape May County and all of its municipalities have adopted a Resolution requesting Governor Murphy to consider a more incremental approach to adopting these rules, further requesting the State of New Jersey to engage the legislature rather than enacting these regulations into law by way of Executive Order. A copy of that Resolution and additional information, including a study Analysis on the REAL Rules prepared by Lomax Environmental Consulting, can be found at the following County website link: NJPACT/REAL | Cape May County, NJ - Official Website (capemaycountynj.gov).

The proposed REAL rules include higher regulatory building standards that will increase construction costs for public and private projects countywide, putting distress on low and moderate income families and establishing unachievable compliance standards for historic structures and public infrastructure projects; expand flood hazard areas that will shrink developable land and increase construction costs that will impact development and redevelopment opportunities including affordable housing; impact ADA access due to the new stringent height requirements for new roads and construction; and revise current State environmental regulations to allow for offshore wind developers to be able to trench utility infrastructure through shellfish habitats by making a monetary donation to the State's shellfish habitat mitigation fund.

With a Tourism Industry responsible for producing over 40,000 jobs, greater than $625 million in state tourism tax revenues, and $50 billion in net ratables, Cape May County and its municipalities have growing concerns regarding the impacts these REAL Rules will have on the economy, and the potential distress it may cause for the residents living and working in Cape May County.

Commissioner Director Desiderio stated, "My fellow County Commissioners and I acknowledge the importance of good environmental policy, and our County and its municipalities continue to practice coastal resiliency and the highest degree of floodplain management in all public planning and infrastructure projects. However, the REAL Rules based on sea level rise projections for the year 2100 with a less than 17% probability of occurring, are too much too quickly and the unknown economic impacts are too great of a concern for our County taxpayers. IF BRYCE HARPER BATTED AT A 17% SUCCESS RATE, HE WOULD BE UNEMPLOYED. That is why we are requesting the State to take a more incremental approach and engage the Legislators that the people voted in to serve their best interest, rather than approving these Rules into law by way of Executive Order. The Cape May County Board of County Commissioners and I encourage all concerned members of the public to participate in the public comment period to ensure that their voices and concerns are heard, and concerned citizens can find more information on the County's website."

Cape May County Officials are registered to participate in the NJDEP's Public Hearing on September 5^th, 6 p.m. at Ocean County College in Toms River, NJ.

Cape May County Officials and the Mayors of Cape May County have also scheduled a Press Conference on Friday, September 6^th, 11:15 a.m. in the County's Commissioners Meeting Room, located at 4 Moore Road, CMCH, NJ 08210. Members of the Press are encouraged to attend.