Assumption, New Jersey Style

On December 22, 1993, New Jersey became the second state to assume the Clean Water Act §404 wetlands protection program. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's decision to approve the state's program culminated a none-month debate in New Jersey focusing on the legal and regulatory requirements for state assumption. While the assumption affects only New Jersey, the issues and problems that arose during the negotiation process may provide lessons for other states striving to eliminate regulatory inefficiencies while maintaining a high level of environmental protection.