Take notice that the NJ Department of Environmental Protection is proposing amendments to the Lists of Endangered and Nongame Wildlife in the Division of Fish and Wildlife Rules, N.J.A.C. 7:25.

A statement of the substance of the proposal follows: The proposal contains the listing, de-listing, and change of conservation status for species on the Endangered Species List, at N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.13, as well as the Nongame Species List, N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.17. There are also proposed amendments to the definitions for threatened and endangered species, minor scientific nomenclature changes throughout, and amendments to the Endangered and Nongame Species Advisory Council’s (ENSAC) rules at N.J.A.C. 7:25-4.18. The Department proposes corresponding amendments to the following: N.J.A.C. 7:3-1.3, Forestry (definition of “State listed threatened or endangered species”); N.J.A.C. 7:7-9.36, Coastal Zone Management Rules (description of endangered and threatened species); N.J.A.C. 7:15-1.5, Water Quality Management Planning (definition of “endangered wildlife species” and “threatened wildlife species”); N.J.A.C. 7:36-3.1, Green Acres Program (definition of “endangered species” and “threatened species”); and N.J.A.C. 7:38-1.3, Highlands Water Protections and Planning Act Rules (definition of “endangered species” and “threatened species”).

The proposal is scheduled to be published in the New Jersey Register dated June 3, 2024. A copy of the proposal is available from: NJDEP website at www.dep.nj.gov/rules; by request from NJDEP Fish & Wildlife email nongame@dep.nj.gov; and LexisNexis (free public access to the New Jersey Register, www.lexisnexis.com/njoal).

Submit written comments electronically by August 2, 2024; or send in hard copy to:

Alice A. Previte, Esq.

ATTN: DEP Docket No. 04-24-05

NJ Department of Environmental Protection

Office of Legal Affairs

Mail Code 401-04L; PO Box 402

401 East State Street, 7th Floor

Trenton, NJ 08625-0402