A1435

A Supplement to "An Act making appropriations for the support of the State Government and the several public purposes for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1996 and regulating the disbursement thereof," approved June 30, 1995 (P.L.1995, c.164).

1. In addition to the amounts appropriated under P.L.1995, c.164, there is appropriated out of the General Fund the following sum for the purpose specified:

STATE AID 42 DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 40 Community Development and Environmental Management 42 Natural Resource Management -- State Aid
21-4895 Natural Resources Engineering .................................................		$20,000,000
Total Appropriation, Natural Resource Management ..........................................................		$20,000,000
State Aid:
Grants to municipalities for beach restoration due to blizzard of 1996............................................	($20,000,000)

The amount appropriated hereinabove for Grants to municipalities for restoration of beaches damaged by the blizzard of 1996 shall be allocated based on a formula which includes, but need not be limited to, the extent of sand loss, oceanfront mileage, and the extent of beachfront property, as determined by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection.

This bill would appropriate $20 million to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for grants to municipalities that have suffered damages to beaches as a result of the blizzard of 1996. The grants would be based on a formula developed by the Commissioner of Environmental Protection that considers, but need not be limited to, extent of sand loss, oceanfront mileage and extent of beachfront property. The sponsor recognizes that any federal funds received by the State for beach restoration necessary due to the blizzard would be credited to the General Fund, and would essentially offset any appropriations made by this bill.

The blizzard of January 7, 1996, was an extraordinary storm event that resulted in the near destruction of several beaches along the New Jersey shoreline. The severe damage, as witnessed by the heavy losses of sand, cannot be repaired using monies in the Shore Protection Fund alone. This supplemental appropriation would supply emergency funding so urgently needed by many of New Jersey's coasal municipalities.