Littoral Society Speaks Out In Support of NJ PACT REAL Rules at Trenton Earth Day Hearing

Lucia Osborne, American Littoral Society Delaware Bayshore Program Director, speaks to a reporter outside the Joint NJ Senate & Assembly Environment and Energy Committees hearing on the NJPACT REAL rules.

Littoral Society Board Vice President Mark Mauriello testifies at the REAL Rules joint committee hearing in Trenton, NJ.

On Earth Day (April 22), the American Littoral Society defended the coast by speaking out against SCR-106, a resolution from the New Jersey State Senate that attempts to invalidate the NJ PACT REAL Rules, which protect coastal environments, steer development away from high risk areas, and require new homes be built with climate change in mind.

We submitted written testimony to the Joint Senate & Assembly Environment and Energy Committees, which met in Trenton to hear testimony on the importance of the NJ PACT REAL Rules.
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Officially called the Resilient Environments and Landscapes (REAL) rules, they are designed to make new homes in New Jersey more resilient to flooding. These rules were created after an executive order issued by then-Governor Phil Murphy in 2020. The state adopted the rules in January 2026.

Lucia Osborne, the Littoral Society's Delaware Bayshore Program Director, explained it plainly: “In New Jersey, we’ve gotten stuck on this merry-go-round of build, flood, rebuild and repeat. The NJ PACT REAL Rules break that cycle by using common sense, science-based guidelines that protect critical environments, people, and homes along the coast. They are the best chance we have at maintaining a vibrant and healthy coast in the face of climate change.”

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Speaking from his experience as a former NJ Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner and builder, Littoral Society Board Vice President Mark Mauriello testified at the hearing, saying: "Will the REAL Rules positively impact me in my lifetime? Probably not. But will the REAL Rules positively impact my children and grandchildren? Most definitely."

"We’re proud to have board members like Mark contributing their expertise to ensure that regional coastal resilience planning protects New Jersey's future alongside us," Osborne said.
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The REAL Rules are scheduled to go into effect on July 19.​