For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Jackie Greger, Jackie.Greger@sierraclub.org
NJ PACT REAL Rules Delayed Another Year As NJ Families Face Increased Flood Risk in 2026
Trenton, New Jersey – Today, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) announced in the NJ register that the NJ Protecting Against Climate Threats Resilient Environments and Landscapes (NJ PACT REAL) rules will be delayed one year to engage in public review to a ensure a balanced framework.
The NJ PACT REAL rules are a set of regulations that update existing rules to make communities safer and more resilient to climate threats like severe flooding and ongoing sea level rise. They do this by requiring new and redeveloped buildings to be elevated, mandating stormwater management, encouraging nature-based solutions like wetlands restoration, strengthening protections for natural areas, and requiring the use of current climate science in planning.
The process for New Jersey to pass the NJ PACT REAL rules has been ongoing since at least early 2020. The rules were officially adopted in January of this year and were set to begin implementation in July. The NJ Sierra Club has been a strong supporter of these critical rules since they were first proposed.
NJ Sierra Club Director, Anjuli Ramos-Busot, issued the following statement:
“We are very disappointed by this delay by the Sherrill Administration. There is no more time to lose. New Jerseyans are at risk, property is at risk. The state builds on flood areas and sensitive areas based on precipitation data from over 30 years ago. There is great urgency for these rules to already come into effect.
When it comes to severe weather, sunny-day flooding at the shore and communities impacted by floods in New Jersey, the situation is not getting any better. New Jerseyans know really well what it is to lose your property, your business, and even your life because of severe rain events and never before seen flash floods. And now, in 2026, we are even expected to experience a record-breaking Super El Niño, which would just bring more drought, more flooding, and more extreme heat that will contribute to a stronger hurricane season for New Jersey and the entire region.
We need our state, a climate leader, to lead on what is most important for communities on the shore right now as we face these unprecedented conditions.
This is a nation-leading rule absolutely necessary for a state deeply impacted by climate change and severe flooding. Delaying this rule and possibly weakening it won't work in favor of the vulnerable communities and families that live here. As we always do, we will engage in the stakeholder process, speak the facts and the science, and we expect the NJDEP to continue to move in the direction of protecting us from the increasing climate impacts by finally implementing the life-saving REAL rules.”
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About the Sierra Club: The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information about our work in New Jersey, visit www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey