58:29-6 Loan and grant program.

6. a. (1)The department shall establish a loan and grant program to assist watershed management groups in the funding of watershed management activities. A watershed management group may apply to the department for a loan or grant pursuant to this subsection on forms prescribed by the department. The application shall state the objectives of the group, including the watershed management activities proposed and for which loan or grant monies are requested.

(2) A watershed management group may, pursuant to guidance provided or rules or regulations adopted by the department, distribute all or part of the loan or grant to another person who is to perform a watershed management activity for which the loan or grant was provided. If the watershed management group distributes the loan or grant to a person who has a NJPDES permit to discharge pollutants into the waters of the State pursuant to P.L.1977, c.74 (C.58:10A-1 et seq.), the distribution shall be conditioned upon the permittee providing a match of one dollar for every dollar provided by the loan or grant. The match may be made either as a monetary payment or as an in-kind contribution. Any person who has a NJPDES permit and who accepts a loan or grant pursuant to this subsection shall agree not to use any of the loan or grant monies for the purpose of complying with NJPDES permit requirements.

b. The department shall establish guidelines for the development of watershed management plans by watershed management groups. The department shall provide guidance and technical assistance to watershed management groups seeking assistance in the development of a watershed management plan or in the development and implementation of watershed management activities.

L.1997,c.261,s.6.