N.J.S.A. 13:1B-15.12a — Short title

13:1B-15.12a. Short title This act shall be known as, and may be cited as, the "Natural Areas System Act." L.1975, c. 363, s. 1, eff. March 3, 1976. 13:1B-15.12a1. Natural areas system; standards for inclusion of area For inclusion in the system, it is not necessary that an area be wholly unmarked by man, but that the impact of man be not permanent, not seriously destructive of the area's potential for developing natural values, and not obtrusively apparent to the casual observer, and is of such character that the lessening of human impact will allow the land or water to recover natural values of interest. Notwithstanding the above definition and criteria, lands subject to the noise of vehicular traffic and of commercial and industrial operations, and subject to air and water pollution as the result of the activities of man, may nevertheless be designated as parts of the system if they lie on the perimeters of primary natural areas within the system, and if the purpose of their inclusion within the system is to protect or buffer the primary natural areas. L.1975, c. 363, s. 2, eff. March 3, 1976. 13:1B-15.12a2. Review and update of planning for natural areas The Department of Environmental Protection shall within 2 years of the effective date of this act review and update the planning for natural areas as part of the New Jersey Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan and shall recommend certain areas for inclusion within a New Jersey Natural Areas System, hereinafter referred to as "the system." L.1975, c. 363, s. 3, eff. March 3, 1976. 13:1B-15.12a3. Establishment of system; inclusion of additional areas The department shall have the authority to establish the system initially by declaring those areas designated as natural areas as of January 1, 1975 and, after suitable studies and public hearings, up to 5,000 additional acres of State parklands, State forests, hunting and fishing preserves, or other State lands within the jurisdiction of the department to be within the system. L.1975, c. 363, s. 4, eff. March 3, 1976. 13:1B-15.12a4. Inclusion of other additional state lands; study; public hearings; periodic recommendations The department shall as rapidly as possible study all remaining State lands that may have the required potential for natural values, and after a public hearing as to each such area of land being considered for inclusion in the system, make periodic recommendations to the Governor concerning additional lands to be included within the system. L.1975, c. 363, s. 5, eff. March 3, 1976. 13:1B-15.12a5. Study of private lands for inclusion The department shall also, as rapidly as possible study lands that are not State-owned lands to determine their natural values and potential for inclusion with the system. L.1975, c. 363, s. 6, eff. March 3, 1976. 13:1B-15.12a6. Registry of lands suitable for inclusion The department shall, in keeping with the findings of the studies conducted pursuant to sections 5 and 6 of this act, maintain a registry of all lands, public and private, which are suitable for inclusion within the system under the provisions of this act and the act to which this act is a supplement. L.1975, c. 363, s. 7, eff. March 3, 1976. 13:1B-15.12a7. Limitations on use of land in system No land in the system may be leased, sold or exchanged or be taken by any corporation, public or private, nor shall the timber thereon be sold, removed or destroyed, nor minerals extracted, except by authorizing special legislation. L.1975, c. 363, s. 8, eff. March 3, 1976. 13:1B-15.12a8. Acquisition of land by purchase, gift or otherwise The department is authorized to acquire by purchase, gift, or otherwise any land or any interest therein that will serve to further the purposes of this act and the act to which this act is a supplement. L.1975, c. 363, s. 9, eff. March 3, 1976. 13:1B-15.12a9. Designation and regulation of classifications and uses of land within system The department shall designate and regulate those classifications and uses of lands within the system as it shall deem proper to effectuate the purposes of this act and the act to which this act is a supplement, such that the New Jersey Natural Areas System shall include: a. Areas of limited public access which are dedicated and restricted to ecological research and study, wherein the only permissible development shall be that of temporary, unobtrusive structures erected for scientific purposes and later removed; b. Areas which provide opportunities for public interpretation of the natural processes, flora and fauna of this State, wherein the development of nature trails and educational facilities shall be permitted; c. Areas of minimal interference by man wherein those recreational activities at those levels, to be determined by the department, which will not have serious or long-term effects on natural values and processes shall be permitted. L.1975, c. 363, s. 10, eff. March 3, 1976. 13:1B-15.12a10. Permitted activities and obligation of users Swimming, canoeing, rowboating, fishing and hunting may be permitted in designated sections of the system at the discretion of the department, but only at levels of activity that will not have serious or long-term effects on the natural values of areas within the system. Hiking may also be permitted in lands of the system, but only to the extent of minimal impact on natural values. Camping may be permitted but shall be restricted to occasional overnight camping along trails and shall not include day-long camping or camping at established campgrounds. Auto campgrounds are excluded from all natural areas. Overnight trailside shelters of the type called lean-tos are permitted, but there may not be two such shelters within 3 miles of each other, and such shelters may not be used for day-long camping or for more extended stays. Nothing may be brought into a natural area and left there except upon specific approval of the department. Nonburnable camping trash shall be removed for disposal elsewhere. L.1975, c. 363, s. 11, eff. March 3, 1976.

This is the verbatim text of N.J.S.A. 13:1B-15.12a, retrieved from the New Jersey Legislature's public statute corpus. Statutes are amended periodically — for the most current version, check the external source link above. Kyzer is not a law firm and this page is not legal advice.