N.J. Admin. Code § 8:26-7.15

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 12, June 17, 2024

Section 8:26-7.15 - Pre-operational assessment for bathing beaches

(a) Before a bathing beach opens each year, the owner or operator shall conduct a pre-operational assessment of the bathing beach and the surrounding areas using the Checklist for Public Recreational Bathing Facilities, found at N.J.A.C. 8:26 Appendix E, incorporated herein by reference. This assessment shall include:

1. A review of historical sampling and epidemiological data;

2. A field investigation of the bathing and surrounding areas to identify physical hazards and sources of potential contamination. During this investigation all changes to the bathing and surrounding areas shall be documented and evaluated;

3. A sampling of waters in the bathing area and in areas of suspected sources of contamination; and

4. All of the items listed on the Department's Checklist for Public Recreational Bathing Facilities.

(b) Records of the pre-operational assessment, including the Checklist for Public Recreational Bathing Facilities, found at N.J.A.C. 8:26 Appendix E, incorporated herein by reference, shall be submitted to the health authority and maintained as part of the permanent file.

(c) The health authority shall annually review monitoring stations at Cooperative Coastal Monitoring Program (CCMP)-participating bathing beaches to determine:

1. The extent to which the water is representative of the quality of near shore ocean and bay waters;

2. The proximity of the monitoring stations to the ocean and bay public recreational bathing areas; and

3. The extent to which the monitoring stations enable the health authority to assess the effects of point and non-point sources of pollution.

(d) The health authority shall prepare a list of monitoring stations to be included in the Cooperative Coastal Monitoring Program (CCMP).

1. This list shall be submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) prior to May 1 of each year.

2. The DEP shall approve or disapprove the stations within 14 days after receiving the proposed list, based upon the extent to which the DEP expects them to meet the criteria listed above.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:26-7.15

Amended by 50 N.J.R. 481(b), effective 1/16/2018