NUCA staff recently responded to regulations proposed by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection related to increased flooding in the state. With torrential rain events becoming more frequent and severe, it makes sense for future projects in flood prone areas to be better constructed with these natural disasters in mind. Road projects and utility projects, however, should receive the same protections under any of the new rules. Supporting the position of UTCA NJ, we sought to ensure that utility projects already far along be exempt from the new rules, just like those in the transportation sector. Having additional requirements added at the eleventh hour to either type of work is not only unfair but could derail projects altogether. We will continue to push for a level playing field for utility projects on all DEP matters.