Ramapo College of New Jersey Environmental Rules: Erosion Control Rules (2026)

The New Jersey Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Act (N.J.S.A. 4:24-39 et seq., enacted 1975) requires a certified soil erosion and sediment control (SESC) plan for any project disturbing 5,000 square feet or more of land surface. The Bergen County Soil Conservation District (BCSCD), headquartered in Paramus, is the designated certifying authority for all 70 Bergen municipalities. Standards follow the NJ Standards for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control (most recent 2017 edition). Required best management practices (BMPs) include silt fencing, stabilized construction entrances (typically 50 feet minimum of 2-3 inch crushed stone), inlet protection, sediment basins for larger sites, erosion control blankets on slopes, and temporary seeding. Plans must be certified before any municipal building permit is issued per N.J.A.C. 2:90. BCSCD inspectors conduct field inspections throughout construction. Disturbed areas must be stabilized within 14 days of final grading per the 2017 Standards. Violations result in stop-work orders, fines up to $3,000 per day per N.J.S.A. 4:24-53, and potential cease-and-desist orders from NJDEP. Discharge of sediment into the Hackensack River, Saddle River, Passaic River, Overpeck Creek, or any waterway leading to the Hudson River triggers additional Clean Water Act enforcement under N.J.A.C. 7:14A and federal CWA §402. Bergen County's dense development and steep topography in western and northern municipalities (Mahwah, Oakland, Upper Saddle River, Alpine) make erosion control especially critical.