4:24-40 - Legislative findings

4:24-40.  Legislative findings
    The Legislature finds that sediment is a source of pollution and that soil erosion continues to be a serious problem throughout the State, and that rapid shifts in land use from agricultural and rural to nonagricultural and urbanizing uses, construction of housing, industrial and commercial developments, and other land disturbing activities have accelerated the process  of soil erosion and sediment deposition resulting in pollution of the waters of  the State and damage to domestic, agricultural, industrial, recreational, fish  and wildlife, and other resource uses.  It is, therefore, declared to be the  policy of the State to strengthen and extend the present erosion and sediment  control activities and programs of this State for both rural and urban lands,  and to establish and implement, through the State Soil Conservation Committee  and the Soil Conservation Districts, in cooperation with the counties, the municipalities and the Department of Environmental Protection, a Statewide comprehensive and coordinated erosion and sediment control program to reduce the danger from storm water runoff, to retard nonpoint pollution from sediment  and to conserve and protect the land, water, air, and other environmental  resources of the State.

     L.1975, c. 251, s. 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1976.