3. a. The department shall study the nature and extent of the areas affected by flooding in the State. After public hearing upon notice, and pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.), the department shall adopt rules and regulations which delineate as flood hazard areas such areas as, in the judgment of the department, the improper development and use of which would constitute a threat to the safety, health, and general welfare from flooding. These delineations shall identify the various subportions of the flood hazard area for reasonable and proper use according to relative risk, including the delineation of floodways necessary to preserve the flood carrying capacity of natural streams. The department shall, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available therefor, update delineations of flood hazard areas as appropriate as provided in subsection b. of this section. The department shall update its delineations of flood hazard areas at least once every 15 years and shall prioritize the preparation of updates based upon flood risk. The department may, after public hearing upon notice and pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” revoke, amend, alter, or modify such regulations if in its judgment the public interest so warrants.

b. (1) The department shall wherever practicable, make flood hazard area delineations at least as protective as the floodplain delineations approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the National Flood Insurance Program. Immediately upon adoption of a floodplain delineation approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the National Flood Insurance Program, the department shall include the federal floodplain delineation as the department’s minimum flood hazard area delineation for that watercourse, provided that the department has determined that the federal floodplain delineation is sufficient to carry and discharge the flood flow of the watercourse and is at least as protective of the public safety, health, and general welfare as the department’s delineation.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, or rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, to the contrary, a person shall apply for a permit or other approval or authorization issued by the department pursuant to the “Flood Hazard Area Control Act,” P.L.1962, c.19 (C. 58:16A-50 et seq.), for a site based upon a floodplain delineation at least as protective as one approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the National Flood Insurance Program, provided that (a) the federal floodplain delineation is more recent than the department’s delineation for the same watercourse, and (b) the department has determined that the federal floodplain delineation is sufficient to carry and discharge the flood flow of the watercourse and is at least as protective of the public safety, health, and general welfare as the department’s delineation.

c. The department shall establish a procedure for reducing any delineated flood hazard area when a change has been made which increases the flood carrying capacity of the concerned stream at that location.

L.1962, c.19, s.3; amended 1979, c.359, s.4; 2015, c.270.