Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Martin announced yesterday that the State has obtained more than 80 percent of the property easements needed to enable construction of shore protection and flood mitigation projects designed to safeguard New Jersey residents against a future hurricane or other significant coastal storm.
In response to the destruction caused by Superstorm Sandy two years ago, as well as the announced availability of federal funding for coastal hurricane and storm damage reduction projects, Governor Chris Christie issued Executive Order No. 140 in September 2013. Among other things, the Executive Order directed the Attorney General’s Office and DEP to take whatever action was required to obtain property easements that would enable a series of projects involving beach widening and construction of engineered dunes along the New Jersey coast.
At the time Executive Order 140 was issued, the State needed approximately 2,850 public and private easements. As of today, approximately 2,400 of those easements have been obtained, and vigorous efforts to acquire the remaining 400 easements are continuing.
Acting Attorney General Hoffman explained that the vast majority of easements obtained to date have been provided voluntarily by property owners.
“ The property easements we have obtained, and the easements we still seek, are vital to coastal protection efforts that benefit all New Jersey residents ,” Acting Attorney General Hoffman said. “ We appreciate that many property owners – clearly mindful of the destruction caused by Superstorm Sandy — have unselfishly donated easements for the greater good rather than engage the State in protracted litigation. But to those who continue to hold out, our message is that we remain committed to acquiring these easements as expeditiously as possible, and — consistent with a landmark Supreme Court decision issued in 2013 — without paying a king’s ransom as compensation.”
“ Governor Christie and I have been extremely clear on this matter, “ Commissioner Martin said. “ Sandy taught us sobering lessons about the critical need for beach and dune systems as an integral part of making New Jersey more resilient in the face of future storms and floods. We commend the property owners who have done the right thing by working with us and understanding their civic responsibility in helping to protect their communities and their neighbors. Those who continue to hold out must step up as well, or we will take necessary steps to secure those easements.”
Planned shorefront protection projects requiring easements include:
In addition DEP, working with the Federal Highway Authority, is proceeding with a “steel revetment” project in Mantoloking and Brick as a last line of defense in the area where the ocean breached the barrier island to create an inlet during Sandy. To date, no compensation has been paid to any private property owners for easements provided voluntarily.
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Press Release