Proposed Amendments to NJ Ground Water Quality Standards

Tuesday, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) published a rule proposal in the New Jersey Register that will amend the Ground Water Quality Standards (N.J.A.C. 7:9C). The proposed amendments are extensive, affecting 65 out of 73 constituents, with 50 becoming more stringent. Notably, seven constituents, including 1,1-biphenyl, Cobalt, Cyanide (free), 1,3-dichlorobenzene (meta), Heptachlor epoxide, Methoxychlor, and Vinyl Chloride, will experience a significant increase in stringency by one or more orders of magnitude as shown in the table below.

In addition to the changes noted above, NJDEP is also looking to amend the rounding provisions for new or revised ground water quality criteria or PQLs to two significant figures instead of one, which could have substantial impacts on remediation strategy.

A virtual public hearing is scheduled for January 30th, providing an opportunity to voice concerns or seek clarifications, with all comments on the proposed rule changes to be submitted to the NJDEP by close of business on March 2nd.

We strongly recommend reviewing the proposed amendments and assessing their potential impact on your operations. If you have any questions or require assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.